English Country Dance

Overview

English Country dancing is the direct ancestor of contra dance and is still very much alive today, with newly composed dances entering the repertoire almost weekly.

Compared to contra, ECD offers much greater variety in musical styles, dance formations, and dance styling. It can also be more challenging than contra, and dancers who dance both ECD and contra find that their contra dance skills improve thanks to the skills practiced in ECD.

The music for English Country dance is as varied as the dances. For many of us who love ECD, the music is an important reason why. You'll hear some of the same jigs, reels, and waltzes that you hear at a contra dance plus many more, ranging from classical compositions of Purcell and Handel to bawdy pub tunes.

There are three ECD groups in the Houston area; see the group listings below.

Introduction to ECD (YouTube)
Childgrove Channel on YouTube
Lambertville Country Dancers Video List
5 Things Web Chats
Up a Double Dance Animations
Kaleidoscope Dance Animations

Where to Dance

We know of three groups in the Houston area sponsoring public English country dances. For each group

• no group membership is required,
• no prior dance experience is required,
• no partner is required, and
• all dances are taught and called.

In all cases, the schedule may change due to holidays, pandemics, and other conflicts, so double check before driving.

HATDS English Country Dance

HATDS English dances are held on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays from 2:45-5:20 pm at Dauntless Dance Studio, 3221 Houston Ave, 77009. There are some exceptions; see the schedule on our Google calendar. You can also subscribe to the HATDS ECD mailing list to stay up to date.

Dancing is done to recorded music and callers donate their services. The $10 admission goes to pay the rent. Cash, credit cards, and digital wallets are accepted.

HATDS membership is not required. However, please consider becoming a member. Membership dues support our general administrative and operating expenses.

Policies

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

To protect the floor and keep the space clean:

• Dauntless requires that we protect their wood floor by wearing clean, low-heel shoes that will not scuff or damage the floor. Please do not wear street shoes on the dance floor. Bring clean shoes to dance in 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.

HATDS ECD mailing list
Map to Dauntless Dance Studio
HATDS Event Calendar
HATDS Membership

Clear Lake Dance

Meets at Serenity Movement Studio, 1314 FM 646 #5, Dickinson, TX 77539, usually every 1st and 3rd Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Email clearlakeecd@gmail.com or see their Facebook page for details and to check their schedule.

Clear Lake ECD is led by Caroline Lopez.

Email Carolyn
CLECD Facebook page
Map to Serenity Movement Studio

SCA Dance

The Society for Creative Anachronism sponsors a free dance on most 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston, 77055.

Dances include early English Country dances, 16th Century French branles (round dances), and 15th and 16th Century Italian dances.

For more information or to be added to the email list, contact Charlene Charette at charlene281@gmail.com

Email Charlene
Map to Trini Mendenhall Community Center

Set for Spring is the English Country dance weekend that rotates between cities in Texas and Oklahoma. It usually takes place in March.

For the web site of the next or most recent event, go to SetForSpring.org. For a history of Set for Spring, click here.

For a listing of special ECD events across the country and across the pond, click here.

Set For Spring
List of special ECD events