English country dance is a social dance tradition that began more than three centuries ago. Dancers form long lines, called sets, and move through flowing figures set to traditional music—walking, turning, and weaving in patterns. The steps are simple, so the dance is more about the people around you than about technique, and each dance is taught before it’s danced. If you’ve read a Jane Austen novel and wondered what the ballroom scenes actually looked like, this is it!

This class explores dances from many parts of the world, with the material shaped by the interests of the group. Joyful communal connection matters as much as the steps, because these dances are designed so that the whole village can do them.

Led by dancer and percussionist Barbara Merson, this class explores what’s often called “belly dance,” but is really a form of folk dance from the Middle East. Students learn to move with their arms, hips, and yes, their bellies, while discovering the rhythms underneath the music, and no experience is needed.

Contra is a living New England tradition, rooted in English country dance and the French-Canadian quadrille, in which dancers line up opposite a partner and move through patterns called by a caller, alongside live music. This winter and spring, Contra dances will be monthly every second Saturday, with a mini lesson at 7:00 for newcomers, a dance from 7:30 to 10:00, and a family dance for kids on the way, all with local callers and musicians and sit-ins welcome.