Dancing in southern Massachusetts

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There's plenty of (swing) dancing south of Boston with the demarcation line somewhere between Route 128 and I-495. You can jump directly to the southern MA calendar if you know what you're looking for already. Some of the events/places mentioned here are technically outside Boston but they may also appear in the regular Boston listings (I was never good in geography). If something that is outside Boston but still close to the city, you might want to check the page for dancing in Boston and the Boston Calendar. Note that for all practical purposes, Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut are pretty much "next door" so don't forget to check out their events

Any events and venues listed on this page can be cancelled without notice. Note that some of them are suspended during the summer. If you teach classes, hold workshops, play in a band, or hold dances, please read the list of frequently asked questions and follow the format guidelines when asking to have your information listed here.

Clubs and Organizations

Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers

Formerly the Cape and Island Chapter of the US Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association. For more information, contact Julie Kraft.

Dance on Martha's Vineyard

South Shore Dancers

Social ballroom dancing club centered around Norwell and serving areas south of Boston. Second Saturday dj dances at Cushing Center in Norwell; Friday night practice dances at the First Parish Church in Norwell. For more information, contact South Shore Dancers at P.O. Box 276, Norwell, MA 02061 or contact Tom Osterland at 781-659-4703.

Places to Go Dancing

Hepcats

First Congregational Church, 34 Center Street, Fairhaven.
Swing dances on the second Saturday of every month from 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm . For more information, contact Joe Perrone at 508-994-2214.
This venue has been suspended as of December, 2011.

Sunday Ballroom Dance
Knights of Columbus, 572 Nichols Street, Norwood. Ballroom dancing every Sunday from 5:45pm to 9:30 pm, with a lesson at 5:00 pm. For more information, contact Peg at 508-404-8281.

Roseland Ballroom Dancing
174 Broadway Street (Route 138), Taunton. 508-822-2888. Balroom, Latin & Swing, every Sunday, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm (doors open at noon). Single and couples welcome. Two dance floors, full bar, and various featured bands each week.
URL expired. 1/11/12

Moseley's-on-the-Charles
Dedham, MA. Ballroom dancing on Wednesdays.

First Saturday Casual Dance
Ballroom dance at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, on the first Saturday of the month from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. For more information, contact Ellen at 508-548-0036.

Paris Ballroom Dance Party
At the Taunton Elks Hall, 119 High Street, Taunton.

Saturdays with J&L Sound

Ballroom, Latin & swing dancing on some Saturdays from 7:30 to 11:30 pm in a smoke- and alcohol-free hall. Singles welcome, but please bring a partner. For more information, call 508-823-4811 (storm cancellations by 3:00 pm).

Jim & Peg's RSVP Dance Practice Night
United Church Hall (2nd floor), 30 Common Street in Walpole.
Casual practice dance every Wednesday from October to May. For more information, contact Peg Baldassari at 508-668-4494. Please RSVP.

Down East Dancers, Inc.
Taunton Elks, 119 High Street, Taunton
Down East Dancers, Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of country/western dance. Monthly Country dances are held on the 2nd Saturday of the month. For more information, contact the group at 508-653-7937.

Betsy's Ballroom
528 Forest Road (exit 8 off Route 6), West Yarmouth.
Other venues hold their events here so this is a place holder in case you need the address for later.

Dining, Drinks, and Dancing

Some drinking and dining establishments will have live music in addition to their usual attractions. Some of them even have a dance floor and will feature familar bands that play at swing dances.

Skipjack's
226 Patriot Place, Foxboro. 508-543-2200. Sunday brunch every week from 11:00am to 2:00pm with the music of the Winiker Swing Band.

Lake Pearl Luciano's
299 Creek Street, Wrentham, MA 02093. 508-384-3003.
Their website doesn't seem to show any regular dancing anymore. 09/27/10

General Information:

Help!
Sometimes I'll see a favorite dance band play at a non-standard venue and I sometimes wonder if these venues are conducive for dancing, i.e., do they have a dance floor? Some of the venues and some of the bands aren't very helpful in providing that information, particularly if it discourages people from showing up. I don't get a chance to check out most of these venues so please help me provide better information to my readers by letting me know which venues are suitable for dancing. Thanks!

The Wave, Marion

Teachers and Dance Studios

Cape Cod Dance Center
(formerly the Mary French Dance Studio)
1340 County Road, Cataumet. Private or Class Instruction in Ballroom or social dancing, American or International styles including swing and salsa, wedding preparation. Also, Argentine tango classes on Sundays with Ron Gursky. For more information, contact the studio at 508-564-6165.

"Shall We Dance?"
West Dennis.
American & Latin ballroom dance instruction with Stephen and Deirdre Burke. 508-385-4391. Private and class instruction available.

Paris Academy of Dance
85 Main Street, Taunton. 508-822-8544. For more information, contact paracaddance@comcast.net.

Arthur Murray Dance Studios of New England
544 Milford Road, Swansea. 508-679-0071.

Christine's Academy of Dance
218 Shove Street, Fall River.
Kermin Liu teaches classes in ballroom, latin, and swing. Kermin also teaches the lesson at the Sunday Ballroom Dancing at the Moose Cabin Restaurant in Attleboro. For more information, contact the studio at 508-675-0029.

Everybody Dance
Walpole.
John Peters teaches Ballroom, latin, EC swing and hustle. Group classes in Walpole, and also offers in-home private or group classes. For more information, contact John at 508-866-8356.

Jackie Davis
Trinity Episcopal Church, Rockland. On-going 6-week sessions in Ballroom, Swing and Hustle. For more information, contact Jackie at 781-871-3231.

Jim & Nancy Barrett's Dance Studio
8 Park Street, Mattapoisett. Specializing in ballroom, social, and bridal dances. For more information, contact Nancy at 508-789-6748.

Lestyn's Studio of Dance

Gilmore Hall (2nd Floor), Route 138, Raynham (just off Exit 8 on I-495).
For information, write to lestyn@comcast.net or call 508-823-4811. Singles and couples welcome. The hall is air-conditioned!

Ellen Brodsky
On-going ballroom classes at Falmouth Night School and other locations. Private lessons can be scheduled for up to 7 people. For more information, contact Ellen at 508-548-0036.

Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios
Norwood and Plymouth.

DanceSport of Boston
24 Athens Street, North Weymouth.
For more information, contact Anne Marie at 617-325-1562.

Roger & Claire Vaka
360 Grove Street, Marshfield.
Freelance Ballroom Instructors. For more information, contact The Vakas at 781-837-4943.

Club West Dance Studio
41 Richards Avenue, North Attleboro. 508-699-2269.
Lessons in Ballroom ( American style), east coast and west coast swing.

Ballroom Bliss
Yarmouth. Swing, Lindy Hop and American Style Ballroom Dances in group classes, private lessons, choreographed routines, and wedding dances. For more information, contact Doug & Kimberlee at 508-760-4071.

Savaria Dance Studio
1275 Providence Highway, Norwood. 781-769-9611.
Classes include a variety of partner/social dances.

The Southern Massachusetts Dance Calendar

February, 2012
3	Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers dance practice, at Betsy's Ballroom, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	7:30-10:00pm
4	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
4	Valentine Dinner Dance, at the Falmouth Navigator, 55 Ashumet Road, East Falmouth, featuring the Moonlighters. Proceeds to benefit the Audible Local Ledger, a radio reading service for the blind and visually impaired.	6:30pm-midnight 508-539-2030
10	Teen Swing Fridays Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	7:00-9:00pm
11	Valentine's Day dance, at Betsy's Ballroom, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth, featuring Dave Burbank.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:00 508-778-4502
11	Jazzy Valentine dance, at Lake Pearl Luciano's, 299 Creek Street, Wrentham, featuring the Roy Scott Big Band.	7:30-11:00pm 508-789-0159
18	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30

March, 2012
2	Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers dance practice, at Betsy's Ballroom, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	7:30-10:00pm
3	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
17	St. Patrick's Day Dance, at the St. Barnabas 91 West Main Street, Village Green Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
22-25	The Boston Tea Party, at the Newton Marriott, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30), Newton, MA.
24	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30
30	Teen Swing Fridays Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, featuring CJazz II.	7:00-9:00pm

April, 2012
6	*NO* Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers dance practice, in Yarmouth.	n/a
7	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, featuring the Symphony Swing Band Jazz Trio.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00

May, 2012
4	Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers dance practice, at Betsy's Ballroom, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	7:30-10:00pm
5	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the St. Barnabas, Village Green, 91 West Main Street, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
26	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30

June, 2012
2	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
8	Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers dance practice, at Betsy's Ballroom, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	7:30-10:00pm
16	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30
June 28- July 5	Beantown Lindy Hop Camp, at Endicott College, Beverly, MA.

July, 2012
1	First Sunday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
7	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30

August, 2012
4	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30
5	First Sunday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
Aug. 29. - Sept. 3	Swing Out New Hampshire, at Camp Wicosuta, Hebron, New Hampshire.

September, 2012
8	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
14-16	Vermont Swing Dance Championships, at the Hampton Inn Burlington, 432 Lower Mountain View Drive, Colchester, VT.
29	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30

October, 2012
6	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the St. Barnabas 91 West Main Street, Village Green Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
20	Saturday Night with Jack & Lestyn, at Betsy's Ballroom in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, Yarmouth.	8:00-11:00pm lesson: 7:30

November, 2012
3	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00

December, 2012
1	First Saturday Casual Dance, at the Cape Cod Conservatory, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.	8:00-10:00 lesson: 7:00
31	New Year's Eve dance, at the St. Barnabas 91 West Main Street, Village Green Falmouth.	8:00-11:00 no lesson

For additions or corrections, write to dancenet@havetodance.com.