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New to contra dance? Attend our Newcomers' Session at 7:30 before each regular dance.
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Receive email reminders of upcoming dances. Details here.
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HATDS now has a Facebook page.
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HATDS Home
Welcome to the web site of the Houston Area Traditional Dance Society, the volunteer-run, non-profit organization that sponsors and promotes contra dances in the Houston, Texas metro area.
Upcoming Events
Click for an expanded schedule with footnotes and options.
Swamp Stomp
Swamp Stomp is a special double dance that will take place on May 18. There will be English Country Dancing from 2:30 to 5:30 PM, a potluck dinner at 5:00, and an evening contra dance from 8:00 to 11:00. John Bloom and Keith Holmes will share the calling. We'll dance to the exciting sounds of Four for Nothing: Kendall Rogers on keyboards with Deihl Moran and Kristin Coyle on violins.
All events will take place at Heights Presbyterian Church, 240 W. 18th, one block west of our regular dance location.
Admission will be $10 per session, or $15 for both sessions for those who qualify as a member, student, or senior.
English Country Dancing is back in the Heights
John Bloom has revived ECD in the Heights. For the details, see our About ECD page.
Lend a Hand
HATDS always needs volunteers! To see ways that you can help, take a look at our Getting Involved page. You can also email the board of directors or talk to a board member at a dance.
Contra Dan's Open Contra Dance Band
Do you play an instrument? Would you like to play for our dances? Being in a contra dance band is a lot of fun with none of the pressure of concert music. The ability to read music is a plus and sheet music is provided. See the Contra Dan's page for details.
About our dances
HATDS sponsors contra dances on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of most months at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. We offer a newcomers' session around 7:30 PM; the regular dance begins at 8:00. Check our schedule page for specifics. You may also sign up for our email reminders; read more on the Email Reminders page. If you support HATDS by becoming a member you will receive a discount at our dances.
Speaking of discounts, the admission is $6 for members of HATDS, $10 for the general public. Younger kids are free, students 16-25 with ID are $5.
Don't know what contra is? See our About Contra and Contra FAQ pages.
Looking for English Country Dancing? Our English Country page has the information you need.
All dances are open to the public, feature live music, and are smoke- and alcohol-free. We also ask that you come fragrance-free. No partner is necessary (it's contra dance eitquette to dance with different partners) and all dances are taught. See our About Contra page for more details.
Join us at a dance! We think that you will find us to be a friendly and welcoming group and contra dance to be great fun and exercise.
Live music always ♦ No partner necessary ♦ All dances taught and prompted