Regular Events

Wednesday Evening Dances
8:00 – 10:15 pm at Merion Friends Activity Building in Merion, PA, each Wednesday from September to July (no dancing in August). No partners needed. Beginners welcome - Please wear flat shoes, and arrive by 7:30 for an orientation to basic dance figures.
GCD and CDSS members $6 • Non-members $7
Full-time students half price • First time attendees no charge
Check the calendar page to see the schedule of performers for upcoming dances.

First Saturday Dances
From September to May each year, GCD holds evening dances, often with afternoon workshops, on the first Saturday of each month, usually at Summit Presbyterian Church in Mt. Airy.

• January 7, 2012 - Twelfth Night!
with special afternoon event (3:00 to 5:00 - see more below).
Evening dance (7:30 to 10:30) with Liz Snowdon and Kay Baker calling to the music of All Strings Projekt.

• February 4, 2012 - Evening dance (7:30 to 10:30) with Joanna Reiner calling to the music of Hot Toddy..

• Evening Dances: GCD and CDSS members $8,
Non-members $9, Full-time students half price.
(Separate charge for the Twelfth Night afternoon event.)

Community Dances
On occasional Sunday afternoons, at the Merion Friends Activity Building in Merion, PA.  Dancing for all ages, including children.
Try out simple English Country Dances in a lively, easy-going session. The next dance will be held on January 8, with
John Krumm calling and music provided by Mat Clark and Kathy Talvitie. (2012 Community Dances)

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Event Highlights

Twelfth Night!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Today we think of Christmas as a major festival holiday, but until the early 1800s in Great Britain and North America, it was a mostly religious observance, with more secular festivities happening at the time of the New Year and Epiphany (or Twelfth-Night).  Twelfth-Night was celebrated as the close of the Christmas season, and in some cases as the start of the Carnival season, prior to Lent.  Families and communities would gather, feast, engage in traditional music, dance, and storytelling, in some cases exchange gifts, and find reasons to have a laugh with each other. Germantown Country Dancers would like to share that spirit with you and your family.

3:00 to 5:00 pm  AN OLD ENGLISH TWELFTH-NIGHT, featuring dancers and musicians who are members and friends of Germantown Country Dancers offering seasonal fare for your entertainment, and maybe even participation!  Country, morris, sword, clog, and molly dancers will showcase the wide range of English traditional dance.  Singers will perform and teach Christmas and New Year’s songs from the Anglo-North American tradition.  Refreshments will be served.  And at some point a Twelfth-Night King or Queen must be crowned…!

GCD/CDSS members $4; Non-members $5;
18 and under $2; (family max $15)
For more information call: (610)645-0725. (flyer)

Saturday, January 7, 2012
7:30 to 10:30 pm TWELFTH NIGHT EVENING DANCE
For those with English Country Dance experience, a full evening of dancing (7:30 to 10:30 pm).   Liz Snowdon & Kay Baker lead the dances, with music provided by All Strings Projekt (Wes Steenson, Josh Burdick, Adam Oleksa, Jane Roberts)

GCD's 2009 Twelfth Night on WHYY
GCD’s Twelfth Night Dance was filmed in January 2009 for a short "Experience" program on WHYY, public television in the Philadelphia area. The program began airing on May 30, 2011, and can be viewed on the WHYY website.

Printable Dance Schedule
Flyer with GCD January 2012 through March 2012 events is now available.

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Longsword is Back
On 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, GCD Longsword Team will be practicing at Merion Friends from 6:15 to 7:15 pm (prior to the dance). New team members are welcome. If you are interested in participating or want more info, contact Tanya Rotenberg.

Join us!
2011-2012 Membership Form Now Available
Membership in GCD gives you discounts on admission to dances, and guaranteed admission to the Playford Ball! (if membership is received by October 15, and ball registration is received by November 5).  Please see the membership form for more information.

Take the GCD Events Survey
Do you have ideas about GCD that you'd like to share? Please let your voice be heard by taking our online, anonymous
Events Survey

The survey features several multiple choice questions (with room for your comments) about each of GCD's event areas of Wednesdays, 1st Saturdays, Community Dances and the Playford Ball. We want to know what you want the dances to look like! Your responses will help inform the GCD board and shape the future of GCD's event offerings.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

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In Remembrance - Emlen Cresson

Tom Maher, Ruth Cresson,, Mae Ann Senior