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Houston Area Traditional Dance Society

Houston Area Traditional Dance Society

Come Dance with Us!

HATDS is a volunteer organization that sponsors contra dancing and English Country dancing in Houston, Texas.

Contra Dances

At the dance

Contra dances are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of most months. Check our schedule page or sign up for email reminders to stay current. Updates will also be posted to our Facebook group and Instagram page.

Specifics about each dance are posted on our Google calendar.

Become a member to receive a $5 discount at every regular contra dance.

Volunteer!

HATDS members, please volunteer to be a door manager or hall manager at a contra dance. Sign up on our SignUp Genius page.

English Country Dances

English Country Dancing

HATDS English dances are on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays with the occasional exception. For details, see our ECD page. To stay current with the ECD schedule, subscribe to the HATDS ECD mailing list or check the HATDS calendar.

Upcoming Special Events

March 30: Contra for Beginners

This special 5th Saturday dance will consist entirely of easy dances for those new to contra dance. Of course everyone, beginner or experienced, is invited.

Even better, there is no admission charge!

The dance will start at our usual time (7:30 pm) at Dauntless Dance & Movement.

March 29–31: Set for Spring in Austin

Set for Spring is the English country dance weekend that rotates between Oklahoma and Texas cities. The 2024 festival will be in Austin and feature Susan Kevra calling and playing clarinet with Audrey Jaber and Ben Schreiber on violins and Jacqueline Schwab on piano.

Details at SetForSpring.org.

April 26–28: When In Doubt, Swing! in Dallas

North Texas TDSWIDS is the contra dance festival of the North Texas Traditional Dance Society. The 2024 festival will feature Wendy Graham calling to the Gaslight Tinkers. Details on nttds.org.

Location, Policies, & Prices

All regular dances are open to the public and are currently held at Dauntless Dance & Movement, 3221 Houston Ave, 77009.

Attend at your own risk. Do not attend if you are not feeling well.

Masks are welcomed but not required.

Do not attend our dances smelling of alcohol, smoke, or fragrances .

To protect the floor and keep the space clean:

  • Do not wear street shoes for dancing. Bring clean, low-heel shoes that will not scuff or damage the floor, or dance in stocking feet.
  • You may bring water in closed containers—there's no water fountain. No other beverages are allowed.
  • You may bring snacks but they must be consumed outside.

The admission price for contra dances is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. ECD is $10 for members and non-members alike.

Cash, checks, credit cards, and digital wallets are currently accepted at the door. If paying cash, please bring correct change. No large bills accepted.

Special events have their own pricing structure.


Join HATDS!

Follow this link to learn about HATDS membership or click the button below to go directly to the membership form.

Lost?

Use the MENU in the upper right, the search function (tap on the next to MENU), the links below, or the site map.

No partner necessary | All dances taught and prompted