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Hi Friends!

Welcome to our September Social Dance Newsletter! We've got some exciting new dances and returning favorite dance programs coming up in September. Whether you're a long-time dancer at the Park or putting on those dancing shoes for the first time, we can't wait to dance with you this fall!

Sunday, September 6, swing your partner at an afternoon Bumper Car Squares dance in the covered, open air Bumper Car Pavilion. Dakota Karper calls to live music by Critton Hollow String Band. Kids 12 & under get in free!

We're thrilled that Sarau de Samba is back! Co-presented with EducArte, the Partnership presents this once a month Brazilian Samba gathering, featuring a dynamic ensemble of skilled musicians and dancers. Join us for this month's Samba event on Sunday, September 20 in the Bumper Car Pavilion. Enjoy an extra hour of this party with no additional cost!

Saturday, September 26, 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!

See more featured dances below, including Zouk, Waltz (a dance with Waltz Time and a workshop with DanceSport Endurance), Contra, Ballroom, Latin, and more!

In addition to our social dance lineup, we invite dancers and dance lovers to attend a performance this fall! Global Rhythms on September 5 is a FREE showcase of music, dance, and storytelling from around the world. Cueva Flamenca de Glen Echo on September 25 features Furia Flamenca Dance Company with live music, back by popular demand after a sold-out performance. Echo Arts Festival on September 27 is our FREE fall celebration of visual and performing arts at the Park. Lastly, UpRooted Dance and Friends will present a collection of new works around the theme "embodied," with performances October 1, 2 & 3.

DanceFit for Body & Mind drop-in classes will return in late September! Shake Your Soul with Katy Baytosh begins September 26, followed by a new Folk Dances of India class with Smita Khatri in early October. Stay tuned for more details!

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.

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',

Emily Crews

Dance and Events Program Director

VIEW THE FULL DANCE CALENDAR

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.

LEARN MORE

Global Rhythms

Saturday, September 5

12:00pm - 6:00pm

A free showcase of music, dance, and storytelling that features performances by artists who share traditions from a variety of cultures around the world! Featuring world music by our headliner Zedicus, Capital Horns playing Latin music, Hungarian folk dancers, and a new work by a contemporary Hungarian dancer/choreographer. Plus even more performers and food trucks!

Learn More >>

FEATURED DANCES

ZOUK DANCE with District Zouk

September 5 | 7:00pm - 12:30am | Ballroom Back Room

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 >>

BUMPER CAR SQUARES

September 6 | 2:45pm - 5:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion

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 Dakota Karper will lead a rousing square dance to live music from Critton Hollow String Band. The band will play from 3:00pm - 5:30pm so get ready for square dancing fun that still gets you home early.

Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>

WALTZ DANCE with Waltz Time

September 6 | 6:15pm - 9:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion

Enjoy a summer evening with waltzing and more in the breezy Bumper Car Pavilion. Live music by SOME ASSEMBLY with Mary Fiora (woodwinds), Donna Moore Boylan (keyboard), Adam Lee (guitar), Joe Klausner (strings), and Iain Sturrock (percussion, guitar, vocals). Beginner Social Waltz lesson starts at 6:15pm, 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 7:00pm - 9:30pm.

Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>

VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP with DanceSport Endurance

September 12 | 2:30pm - 5:00pm | Spanish Ballroom

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 >>

CONTRA DANCE with Dancing Planet

September 13 | 2:30pm - 6:00pm | Ballroom Back Room

Enjoy a fabulous afternoon of contra dancing in the Ballroom Back Room, presented by Dancing Planet. Janine Smith will call to the inspired music of The Second Floor (Abe Joyner-Meyers, Steven Bluestein, and Cecily Mills.) Dance the afternoon away!

Learn More >>

BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time

September 13 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Ballroom Back Room

Ballroom Time presents a ballroom dance in the Ballroom Back Room on Sunday afternoon, September 13, 2026. A beginner lesson in Slow Waltz 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 >>

¡MÚSICA! LATIN DANCE SOCIAL! with Moxie Movement Dance Company

September 18 | 7:30pm - 12:30am | Ballroom Back Room

¡Música! Latin Dance Social! is a social dance focusing on salsa and bachata. Two lessons are offered by instructor Amber Logan prior to the social: a sensational salsa lesson from 7:30pm to 8:15pm and a fiery bachata lesson from 8:15pm to 9:00pm. All levels are welcome. The social, where everyone dances together, starts after the two 45-minute lessons at 9:00pm, with DJ Sidekick spinning the best salsa and bachata songs until 12:30am!

Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>

SARAU DE SAMBA with EducArte

September 20 | 2:00pm - 6:00pm | Bumper Car Pavilion

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 >>

CUBAN DANCE with DC Casineros

September 26 | 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 >>

Echo Arts Festival

Saunday, September 27

12:00pm - 5:00pm

Join us at the Park for our fall celebration of visual and performing arts! Performances at the festival will highlight the European roots and branches in American music & dance over the last 250 years. Plus, open studios & galleries, hands-on art activities, food trucks, and more!

LEARN MORE

Cueva Flamenca de Glen Echo

an intimate Flamenco performance

Friday, September 25 | 8pm - 9:30pm

Back by popular demand after a sold-out performance! Step into Cueva Flamenca de Glen Echo, an immersive tablao‑style evening inspired by the legendary caves of Sacromonte. Featuring Furia Flamenca Dance Company with live music!

PURCHASE TICKETS

SEPTEMBER DANCES AT-A-GLANCE

Wednesday

September 2

Thursday

September 3

Friday

September 4

Saturday

September 5

Sunday

September 6

DANCE FOR PD®

-------------

FOLK DANCE*

with

Dancing Planet

BLUES DANCE*

with

Capital Blues

CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES*

with

Friday Night Dancers (OFFSITE due to Labor Day Art show)

Dance & music performances at Global Rhythms

-------------

ZOUK DANCE*

with

District Zouk

SQUARE DANCE*

(Bumper Car Squares)

-------------

WALTZ DANCE*

with

Waltz Time

-------------

TANGO DANCE*

with

Tango Brillante

Wednesday

September 9

Thursday

September 10

Friday

September 11

Saturday

September 12

Sunday

September 13

DANCE FOR PD®

-------------

FOLK DANCE*

with

Dancing Planet

BLUES DANCE*

with

Capital Blues

CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES*

with

Friday Night Dancers

-------------

SWING DANCE*

with

Gottaswing

(Back in Time weekend)

SWING DANCE WORKSHOPS

with

Gottaswing

(Back in Time weekend)

-------------

VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP

with

DanceSport Endurance

-------------

WEST COAST SWING DANCE*

with

Late Night Early

-------------

SWING DANCE*

with

Gottaswing

(Back in Time weekend)

BARN DANCE*

with

Folklore Society of Greater Washington

-------------

CONTRA DANCE*

with

Dancing Planet

-------------

BALLROOM DANCE*

with

Ballroom Time

-------------

TANGO DANCE*

with

Tango Brillante

Wednesday

September 16

Thursday

September 17

Friday

September 18

Saturday

September 19

Sunday

September 20

DANCE FOR PD®

-------------

FOLK DANCE*

with

Dancing Planet

BLUES DANCE*

with

Capital Blues

CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES*

with

Friday Night Dancers

-------------

LATIN DANCE*

(¡Música! Latin Dance Social!)

BALLROOM WORKSHOP

with

Ballroom Time

-------------

SWING DANCE*

with

Gottaswing

SARAU DE SAMBA*

with

EducArte

-------------

WALTZ

DANCE*

with

Waltz Time

-------------

TANGO DANCE*

with

Tango Brillante

Wednesday

September 23

Thursday

September 24

Friday

September 25

Saturday

September 26

Sunday

September 27

DANCE FOR PD®

-------------

FOLK DANCE*

with

Dancing Planet

BLUES DANCE*

with

Capital Blues

CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES*

with

Friday Night Dancers

-------------

Cueva Flamenca de Glen Echo (An Intimate Flamenco Performance)

CUBAN DANCE*

with

DC Casineros

-------------

SWING DANCE*

with

Gottaswing

Dance & music performances at Echo Arts Festival

-------------

BALLROOM DANCE*

with

Ballroom Time

-------------

TANGO DANCE*

with

Tango Brillante

Wednesday

September 30

Thursday

October 1

Friday

October 2

Saturday

October 3

Sunday

October 4

DANCE FOR PD®

-------------

FOLK DANCE*

with

Dancing Planet

BLUES DANCE*

with

Capital Blues

-------------

PERFORMANCE

with

UpRooted Dance and Friends

CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES*

with

Friday Night Dancers

-------------

PERFORMANCE

with

UpRooted Dance and Friends

VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP

with

DanceSport Endurance

-------------

SWING DANCE*

with

Gottaswing

-------------

PERFORMANCE

with

UpRooted Dance and Friends

SQUARE DANCE*

(Bumper Car Squares)

-------------WALTZ DANCE*

with

Waltz Time

-------------

TANGO DANCE*

with

Tango Brillante

*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

VIEW THE FULL DANCE CALENDAR

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:

September 6 | Bumper Car Squares

September 20 | Sarau de Samba (Brazilian Dance & Music Party with live music)

September 25 | Cueva Flamenca de Glen Echo (live Flamenco music and dance performance)

To volunteer, please send an email to volunteer@glenechopark.org.

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.

BROWSE THE CATALOG

glenechopark.org | 301.634.2222

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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.