photo: What a great Ball! Circles in Wrights of Lichfield
Every week
Join us for our regular Wednesday evening English Country Dance at Merion Friends Meeting Activities Building (logistical details below).
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photo:2024 - circling in Bryn Mawr College's Great Hall
English Scottish Ball 2025
Saturday, February 15th, 8pm
Great Hall, Bryn Mawr College
Musicians: Susie Petrov & Paul Woodiel
with guest Carrie Rose & piper Dan Emery
- Dances will have one walk-through. Whether you know mostly ECD or SCD, we encourage you to come!
- Registration is appreciated but not required.
- Admission is sliding scale: $10 - $30 (TriCo students free).
- Scottish dance instructions and videos
- Full information at www.ESBall2025.org
Walk Through for the English Scottish Ball
Sunday February 9th, 10am - 12:30pm
Arden Gild Hall, Arden, Delaware
Admission: Sliding scale $7 - $15, students $5
1st Saturday Workshop & Evening Dance, March 1st
Margaret (purple) with our CDSS Exec visitors last month. Photo by Jeffrey Bary
Margaret Bary from NYC calling
Music by Dave Wiesler, David Knight, and Miranda Weinberg
3:00 - 5:30 Afternoon Workshop
7:30 - 10:30 Evening Dance
- The Saturday events are programmed for **intermediate and experienced dancers.
- Admission: Sliding scale, see prices below.
- Location: Summit Presbyterian Church, Mt. Airy
- Tea break will be in the parlor. Please bring ready-to-serve bite-sized snacks to share.
CDSS Executive Board visits Philadelphia
January 22-26th
Thanks to all of you for turning out to the many events and for pitching in in so many ways. The CDSS Exec was blown away by the size and vibrancy and variety of the Philadelphia area dance communities! Here is a one page PDF of the Community Meeting notes.
From Sandy Rotenberg, who chaired the committee:
The CDSS executive board weekend in Philadelphia was a big success. The board loved visiting our community and we were so excited to have them here. I want to thank the committee which planned the events: James Mc Peak, Jenny Beer, Chloe Mohr, Dave Rupp and myself. And thanks to all the many, many others who hosted board members, fed them, provided transportation, showed them the city, did performances, played music, called dances, provided sound, set up & cleanup, and all the organization which makes events happen. Special thanks to all who participated in the community meeting, led us in song and games, and shared their thoughts about what makes our community special.
Thank you all, Sandy Rotenberg.
From the GCD Board
First Aid Kit: Merion Friends has put a large new First Aid kit in the hall. It is on the kitchen counter next to the (inside) door.
GCD Code of Conduct: This year, the GCD Board formalized a code of conduct which reflects the values that have always been a part of our community. Please read them now and again!: Code of Conduct PDF.
New COVID guidelines (11/2024): Masks are optional but welcome for all GCD dances. Please stay home if you have potential symptoms. Also if you or a household member has had a positive test within 10 days, unless you now have tested negative. We inform our participants if anyone tests positive following a GCD event. Thus 1) you will be asked to sign a contact information form the first time you attend a GCD event, and 2) If you test positive within 3 days of attending a GCD event, you must let the board know (your identity will not be revealed in the public email sent out). Full COVID policy PDF.
Regular Dances and Events
| When? | What? | Where? |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesdays Year round (occasional exceptions) 7:30 pm – Arrive for new dancers' orientation |
English Country Dancing
Sliding scale Admission: |
Merion Friends Meeting Activities Building |
| First Saturdays October - May 3:00–5:30 pm – Afternoon Workshop | ECD for intermediate and experienced dancers** see below
Sliding-Scale Admission: |
Summit Church, Mt. Airy |
| Mt. Airy Barn Dance 1st Sundays, November – April 2:00–3:45 pm |
Old time fun for all ages: FaceBook page
Adults $5-10, kids and teens (age 4-18) $3-5. |
Summit Church, Mt. Airy |
Before you come...
On Wednesday evenings and at the Mt. Airy Barn Dance, new dancers are always welcome! Each dance is taught, then prompted. You don't need to bring a partner, as we change partners throughout the session. Friendly folk will ask you to dance. English Country Dancing is community dancing, where one of the pleasures is interacting with everyone in the room.
Please wear flat-soled shoes.
** First Saturday workshops and evening programs are more difficult than on Wednesdays. The programs are intended for intermediate and experienced dancers who know standard figures, such as casts and leads, siding, single and double figures of eight, and all manner of heys.
Venues
Germantown Country Dancers holds dances in two locations:
Merion Friends Meeting Activities Building 615 Montgomery Ave, Merion, PA 19066 (on the Main Line)
Summit Church, Mt. Airy, Westview & Greene Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Join us!
Do you appreciate the events GCD sponsors for dancers and musicians? For a small amount, you can become an Official Member of this great organization! (With the side-benefit of guaranteed Ball admission if you register in time.)