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Hi Friends!
Welcome to our October Social Dance Newsletter! We can't wait to fill you in on all the wonderful opportunities to dance at Glen Echo Park this month, with fall dances in full swing.
Check out Contrastock on Saturday, October 3, featuring nationally renowned bands and callers, with 8+ hours of contra dance! This annual, all day dance event is presented by Folklore Society of Greater Washington.
Sunday, October 4, swing your partner at an afternoon Bumper Car Squares dance in the climate-controlled Ballroom Back Room. Janine Smith calls to live music by Supertrad. Kids 12 & under get in free!
We've got some stellar bands joining us for Partnership-presented dances in October! Thursday, October 15, Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express join us for a Zydeco Dance. A world renowned Cajun and Zydeco artist, Horace is respected for his ability to pull an accordion and belt out vocals that will give you chills. Then we'll welcome back Rusty Sal to the Bumper Car Pavilion for a Honky Tonk Dance on Friday, October 16. A sure-fire good time for lovers of classic country, Rusty Sal is made up of all-star cast of Baltimore Americana musicians. Grab discounted advance tickets to either dance, or take advantage of the dual dance ticket deal!
The party continues Sunday, October 18 at a Sarau de Samba! Co-presented by EducArte and the Glen Echo Park Partnership, this once a month Brazilian Samba gathering features a dynamic ensemble of skilled musicians and dancers. Each session starts with a beginner dance lesson and is open to people of any skill level, no partner or instruments required.
Saturday, October 24, DC Casineros Dance Company presents dance lessons and a social dance rooted in AfroCuban, Afro-Caribbean, and French/English contra dances. If you already love contra and/or square dancing to a caller, this style will feel like home to you. Families are encouraged to come, and a special lesson for families is offered as an option. Discounted tickets for kids & teens available at the door!
Experience a real Strauss Viennese Ball in the Spanish Ballroom! DanceSport Endurance presents an elegant evening of dancing at their annual Harvest Moon Viennese Waltz Ball on Saturday, October 24.
After our first Honky Tonk Dance with Karen Collins & the Backroads Band had to be postponed due to air quality, we're back on a new date: Friday, October 30! One of the DC area's top honky-tonk groups, Karen Collins & the Backroads Band play real country music. They have an authentic vintage sound that includes shuffles, two-steps, and buckle-polishing slow tunes with some early rockabilly songs mixed in.
See more featured dances below, including Zouk, Waltz (a dance with Waltz Time and a workshop with DanceSport Endurance), Contra, Ballroom, Latin, and more!
DanceFit for Body & Mind Saturday morning drop-in classes are back! DanceFit: Shake Your Soul continues at 9:30am, and a new class DanceFit: Folk Dances of India starts up this week at 11:15am..
In addition to our fabulous social dance events, Glen Echo Park also hosts social dance classes in a variety of styles at various levels. Registration for Fall & Winter 2026-2027 classes is ongoing! Browse the Fall/Winter catalog to find upcoming dance offerings.
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Read on to learn more about all our featured dances for the month—as well as the entire Social Dances calendar, including ballroom, waltz, contra, salsa, bachata, zouk, and lots more! Keep an eye on our Social Dances page to stay up to date with future dances! We can't wait to see you at the Park soon, and as always, we appreciate your support.
Keep on Dancin',
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Emily Crews
Dance and Events Program Director
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Dual Dance Ticket
This special ticket lets you attend a Zydeco Dance with Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express (10/15/26) & a Honky Tonk Dance with Rusty Sal (10/16/26) at a $14 discount!
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DanceFit
for Body & Mind
Saturday morning, drop-in classes
Join us for a Saturday morning dance fitness class series designed to keep your body moving and your spirits up! Although bringing a friend is always welcome, a partner is never needed for any of our DanceFit classes, just come ready to move & groove.
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VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP with DanceSport Endurance
October 3 | 2:30pm - 5:00pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Learn the basics of social Viennese Waltz in this workshop with Todd and Migle of DanceSport Endurance which includes lessons and supervised and assisted dancing. Schedule: 2:30pm - 2:45pm Warm-up | 2:45pm - 4:15pm Lesson | 4:15pm - 5:00pm Social Viennese Waltz Dancing.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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BUMPER CAR SQUARES
October 4 | 2:45pm - 5:30pm | Ballroom Back Room
Join us for Sunday afternoon square dancing at the Park! We'll start out with a square dance intro lesson for all skill levels from 2:45pm - 3:00pm. Then, caller Janine Smith will lead a rousing square dance to live music from Supertrad! The band will play from 3:00pm - 5:30pm so get ready for square dancing fun that still gets you home early. We'll dance in the climate-controlled Ballroom Back Room.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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WALTZ DANCE with Waltz Time
October 4 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Enjoy a fall afternoon with waltzing and more in the Spanish Ballroom. Live music by FOOT TRAFFIC with Mike Dunn (fiddle), Rya Martin (piano). Beginner Social Waltz lesson starts at 2:45pm, included with admission. No partner required, participants are encouraged to rotate so everyone can learn and practice the moves. Live music for dancing - waltz mostly, with polka, schottische, tango, swing and more - from 3:30pm - 6:00pm.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time
October 11 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Ballroom Time presents a ballroom dance in the Ballroom Back Room on Sunday afternoon, October 11, 2026. A beginner lesson in Ballroom-style Tango will take place at 2:45pm. Music by DJ Broomtime (our volunteers) from 3:30pm until 6:00pm.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
View upcoming Ballroom Workshops >>
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ZYDECO DANCE with Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express
October 15 | 7:30pm - 10:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join us for a Zydeco dance to live music by Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express! Horace Trahan returns to the Bumper Car Pavilion for a Zydeco Dance! A world renowned Cajun and Zydeco artist, Horace is respected for his ability to pull an accordion and belt out vocals that will give you chills. This native of Ossun, Louisiana, formed a band called "The Ossun Express." The band consists of an accordion, fiddle, guitar, bass, drums, and sometimes a triangle. A beginner Zydeco dance lesson with Sharon Schiliro and Michael Hart of Dancing by the Bayou starts the evening off at 7:30pm. Lesson is included free with the price of admission.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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HONKY TONK DANCE with Rusty Sal
October 16 | 7:30pm - 10:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join us for a dance lesson in two-step with Alex Lacquement of Baltimore Honky Tonk, followed by an evening of dancing to live music! A sure-fire good time for lovers of classic country, Rusty Sal is made up of all-star cast of Baltimore Americana musicians, with the groove provided by upright bassist Alex Lacquement and drummer EJ Shaull-Thompson, the twang comes from the lead guitar work of Lucas Chohany, and sky high Dolly Parton-esque vocals from singer Letitia VanSant top it all off.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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¡MÚSICA! LATIN DANCE SOCIAL! with Moxie Movement Dance Company
October 16 | 7:30pm - 12:30am | Ballroom Back Room
¡Música! Latin Dance Social! is a social dance focusing on salsa and bachata. All levels are welcome. 🎃👻In this October edition we have a special Monster Mash Party Bash. Dress in your best, scariest, craziest costume for a chance to win a prize; first place gets a free entry to the next ¡Música!! 🧟♂️💀
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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ZOUK DANCE with District Zouk
October 17 | 6:00pm - 11:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join us for a District Zouk social at the Park! As usual, we'll have an open level beginner-friendly class followed by social dancing. We'll also have a lambada practica before the class so our lambada students and dancers can practice together. Come get your dance on!
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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SARAU DE SAMBA with EducArte
October 18 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Co-presented by the Glen Echo Park Partnership and EducArte, Sarau de Samba is an authentic samba de mesa or samba de roda (jam session). The event features a dynamic ensemble of musicians and dancers, showcasing everything from Golden Age samba classics and choro to modern pagode and high-energy carnival beats. We kick off with a beginner-friendly dance lesson, so everyone can join the fun—no partner nor experience required.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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CONTRA DANCE with Cécilia
October 18 | 7:30pm - 10:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Remember when we used to Contra Dance every Sunday? Let's do it again for old times' sake! Join us for a Sunday evening Contra Dance in the Spanish Ballroom! Chloe Levine calls to traditional Celtic and Quebecois music by Cécilia. Widely recognized as three of Canada’s finest musicians, it is a pleasure to see how much enjoyment Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy, and Courtney Drew find in playing together. While honoring their heritage as Cécilia, their music making has an undeniably fresh and high-spirited sound that sets them apart. Doors at 7pm, contra dance lesson at 7.30pm, and music kicks off at 8pm!
Learn More & Purchase Tickets >>
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CONTRA DANCE with Dancing Planet
October 25 | 2:30pm - 6:00pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Enjoy a fabulous afternoon of contra dancing in the Bumper Car Pavilion, presented by Dancing Planet. Beth Molaro will call to the music of Laura and The Lava Lamps (Laura Lengnick, Dave Wiesler, Ralph Gordon). Dance the afternoon away!
Learn More >>
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CUBAN DANCE with DC Casineros
October 24 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
DC Casineros Dance Company presents dance lessons and a social dance rooted in AfroCuban, Afro-Caribbean, and French/English contra dances. If you already love contra and/or square dancing to a caller, this style will feel like home to you. You'll be changing partners within a circle formation in response to a caller...but with a Cuban spin on it!
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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HONKY TONK DANCE with Karen Collins & the Backroads Band
October 30 | 7:30pm - 10:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Enjoy an evening of live music at a Honky Tonk Dance with Karen Collins & the Backroads Band! A free beginner lesson in two step included with admission, led by Sharon Schiliro and Michael Hart of Dancing by the Bayou. One of the DC area's top honky-tonk groups, Karen Collins & the Backroads Band play real country music. They have an authentic vintage sound that includes shuffles, two-steps, and buckle-polishing slow tunes with some early rockabilly songs mixed in.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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Dance for PD®
Wednesdays 2:30pm - 3:45pm
In collaboration with Dance for PD® (Parkinson's Disease), the Glen Echo Park Partnership presents a Dance for PD® class series. These classes are free for participants, care partners, and family members thanks to the generous support of the program's donors.
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4P's DC Reunion Concert with The Sean Fleming Band
October 23 | 7:00pm - 9:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join us for 4P's DC Reunion Concert with The Sean Fleming Band! Co-presented by The Irish Inn and the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, enjoy an evening of live Irish music and more with musicians Sean Fleming, Steve Holley, Justin Jordan, and Bruce Gordon. Beer and wine will be available for purchase onsite.
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| | | OCTOBER DANCES AT-A-GLANCE | | |
*Includes beginner lesson & social dance
KEY:
bold = Partnership-presented social dance or class/workshop
italics = Dance class/workshop (no social dance)
underline = Free for all ages or free for kids
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Want to dance for FREE?
Volunteer for Partnership Dances!
We need volunteers at many of our dances! Volunteer for one hour, to either help set up or break down for a dance or event, and gain free admission to the dance or event!
Upcoming social dances & performances in need of volunteers:
October 4 | Bumper Car Squares
October 18 | Sarau de Samba (Brazilian Dance & Music Party)
October 15 | Zydeco Dance
October 16 | Honky Tonk Dance
October 30 | Honky Tonk Dance
November 15 | Cajun Dance
To volunteer, please send an email to volunteer@glenechopark.org.
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Social Dance Classes
Have you ever wanted to attend one of our social dances but don’t feel comfortable enough with the style? Or are you looking to hone your skills and show off to the crowd? While our dances are beginner-friendly, we are proud to offer dance classes in a variety of styles at various levels.
| | | | | The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and also by funding from the Montgomery County government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (creativemoco.com). All programs are produced in cooperation with the National Park Service and Montgomery County, Maryland. | | | | |
