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Hi Friends!
Welcome to our May Social Dance Newsletter! There are so many opportunities to get up and dance this month!
We hope you can join us next Saturday, May 2 for a concert—with room to dance!—by Beatles tribute band Nowhere Men. Nowhere Men reproduce the vocals of the Beatles with their acoustic quartet of guitars, bass, percussion, and lots of singing! The Wildflower Frequency will open the set for this evening concert in the Spanish Ballroom.
And during the day on May 2 is our annual Carousel Day festival where you can enjoy FREE dance & music performances! Don't miss your chance to catch our headliner SOLE Defined, a dance company pushing the boundaries of African Diasporic Percussive Dance. Additional performances include: Soul In Motion Players, sharing the rich traditions of West African drum and dance; The Eric Byrd Trio, bringing the spirit of swing, bebop, gospel, and the blues; and Clarence Turner, who will live up to his nickname, “The Blues Man,” when he takes the stage. Washington Revels will present a cheerful spring parade, Maypole Dance, and Mummers' Play. Elements Dance Company will showcase their Hip Hop Dance and Street Dance Training Program and National Hand Dance Association will present a performance followed by an audience lesson in DC’s own official dance form! All this and more at this festival in celebration of our 105-year-old Dentzel carousel!
Sunday, May 3, do-si-do and swing your partner at an afternoon Bumper Car Squares dance! Let's have a grand old time at a rousing square dance invigorated by music from Rachel Eddy, Jason Ashby, and Em Hammond with caller Janine Smith.
Waltz the night away at Waltz Time's annual "An Evening with Strauss" Ball on Saturday, May 9. Featuring live music by OLDE VIENNA, there's so much to enjoy on this special night—the Grand March of all dancers in the Spanish Ballroom, the fun of an old-fashioned dance card, and even a ride on the carousel (extra fee) which will be running especially for the dance!
Celebrate Mother's Day with a dance! A fun gift for the dance-loving moms in your life, check out an afternoon Ballroom Dance, Tango, or Barn Dance on Sunday, May 10.
Things are heating up at Salsa & Bachata y más! On Friday, May 15, we'll start the evening off with open level lessons in Salsa & Bachata followed by dancing with DJ Sidekick. This series, hosted by Amber Logan, meets on the third Friday of the month in the Ballroom Back Room, open to all levels of Latin Dance experience.
We invite you to join us in the Bumper Car Pavilion on May 16 for an evening fundraiser dance. The Swing Dance Afterparty keeps the Gala in the Park celebration going full swing! If you're unable to attend the gala, purchasing a ticket (or two!) to this special swing dance is a great way to support your arts Park. We're delighted to welcome The Rock-A-Sonics, who bring their exciting mix of atomic age rock ‘n’ roll, classic country, rockabilly, and rhythm & blues to the dance floor. The afterparty kicks off with a beginner-friendly swing lesson from 8:30pm - 9pm, taught by Tom & Debra of Gottaswing (lesson included with the price of admission). We'll follow the lesson with champagne, dessert, and swing dancing with the band. Every ticket fuels a creative community where art, dance, and music thrive!
Capital Blues is back with their barbecue-centric blues dance weekend, May 21-25. Red Hot Blues & BBQ features music from Robert Lighthouse, Clarence “The Blues Man” Turner, DC Blues Society 2025 Battle of the Bands Winner Nella B & the Noise, and more!
Celebrate a special anniversary with a dance deal you can't beat! Ballroom Time's 3rd Anniversary Dance on May 25 is only $3 (tickets at the door). Enjoy a beginner lesson in East coast swing followed by social dancing in a variety of ballroom styles.
DanceFit: Line Dancing is back in May & June! This dance fitness class teaches the basics of line dancing and makes a great weekend workout. Drop-in to any of our Saturday morning workouts at the door, pre-register in advance to grab the early bird discount, or try the 10-class package! Instructor Janee Murray will also lead a FREE Soul Line Dancing workshop in the Spanish Ballroom during Carousel Day, so you can get your Saturday morning line dancing in on May 2!
In addition to our fabulous social dance events, Glen Echo Park also hosts social dance classes in a variety of styles at various levels. Browse the Mindful Movement & Dance Technique section of the catalog to find classes that introduce you to new styles or improve your technique in styles you already love!
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