Welcome to Charleston Folk
Announcing the 2026 Palmetto Bug Stomp!
February 27 – March 1, 2026
Notorious and ContraForce!
Seth Tepfer and JJ Luxe! >>See PBS page for details
Please join us at our upcoming Contra Dances:
Announcing the 2026 Palmetto Bug Stomp!
February 27 – March 1, 2026
Notorious and ContraForce!
Seth Tepfer and JJ Luxe! >>See PBS page for details
Please join us at our upcoming Contra Dances:
Saturday, July 19, 7:30 pm (Doors open at 7:15) Cloud 10 with Tom Macklin calling at at Charleston Self Defense Academy, 2467 Savannah Hwy, Suite 130, Charleston, SC 29414 DIRECTIONS: Take Highway 17 South, it's on your left, .8 mile after Ashley Town Center Drive (the turnoff for Costco). Look for the Benjamin Moore sign when you turn in. Look for Aspire Judo on the windows of the dance hall.
Cloud 10 is Chris Liakos on fiddle, Clinton Ross on mandolin, and Bobby Scott on guitar. They play a mix of Old-Time, Irish/Scottish, and modern Contra Dance tunes. Tom Macklin is a favorite Charleston-based dance caller.
See our full calendar of upcoming dances here.
DANCE INFO AND PRICES:
Admission is $10 cash, check, or Venmo (@chscontra $10.50 on Venmo). Doors open at 7:15 and the dancing begins at 7:30 pm with a beginners' walk-through (highly recommended!). Children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by a paying adult dance for half price ($5). Children 5 and under are free. Teens 13 and over pay full price, still a deal at $10. Family Rate: $30 for one or two adults and their children under 18. Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children who are not able to participate in the dance must stay off the dance floor. Please wear non-marking, soft-soled shoes. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Wear your name button!
COMFORT and SAFETY: We are a community and want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable. If you have a suggestion, comment, concern or question, please bring it to one of our board members (wearing a board member button at the dance) or email us at [email protected].
HEALTH POLICY: Masks welcome and optional. Please stay home if you are sick!
A TIP FOR NEWCOMERS: Don't dance with another newbie! Ask an experienced dancer to show you around. Anyone can ask anyone to dance. It is customary to ask a different person for each dance. By the end of the evening, you will have danced with everyone in the room, and you will see why contra dance is so much fun. : )
SNACKS! Our dance community takes turns bringing finger-food snacks to each dance. Please consider bringing something to contribute to the snack table at the back of the hall.
Cloud 10 is Chris Liakos on fiddle, Clinton Ross on mandolin, and Bobby Scott on guitar. They play a mix of Old-Time, Irish/Scottish, and modern Contra Dance tunes. Tom Macklin is a favorite Charleston-based dance caller.
See our full calendar of upcoming dances here.
DANCE INFO AND PRICES:
Admission is $10 cash, check, or Venmo (@chscontra $10.50 on Venmo). Doors open at 7:15 and the dancing begins at 7:30 pm with a beginners' walk-through (highly recommended!). Children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by a paying adult dance for half price ($5). Children 5 and under are free. Teens 13 and over pay full price, still a deal at $10. Family Rate: $30 for one or two adults and their children under 18. Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children who are not able to participate in the dance must stay off the dance floor. Please wear non-marking, soft-soled shoes. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Wear your name button!
COMFORT and SAFETY: We are a community and want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable. If you have a suggestion, comment, concern or question, please bring it to one of our board members (wearing a board member button at the dance) or email us at [email protected].
HEALTH POLICY: Masks welcome and optional. Please stay home if you are sick!
A TIP FOR NEWCOMERS: Don't dance with another newbie! Ask an experienced dancer to show you around. Anyone can ask anyone to dance. It is customary to ask a different person for each dance. By the end of the evening, you will have danced with everyone in the room, and you will see why contra dance is so much fun. : )
SNACKS! Our dance community takes turns bringing finger-food snacks to each dance. Please consider bringing something to contribute to the snack table at the back of the hall.
To get on our email list, send an email to [email protected] (no message needed) and then click on the link in the email confirmation you receive.
Learn more about contra at ABOUT CONTRA DANCING or LOTS OF TIPS. Check out some great contra videos and photos here.
Join our Facebook group and Meetup group to receive updates and event invitations. Follow us on Instagram.
If you are interested in playing or calling at a Charleston Folk dance, here is more information for Bands and Callers.
Charleston Folk is a non-profit, CDSS (Country Dance and Song Society) affiliate organization with a mission to promote, sponsor, and encourage participation in American folk dancing and music traditions among people of all ages in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Please note: Due to our concern for the environment, Charleston Folk will not provide glowsticks at our dances. In lieu of glowsticks, we suggest the use of neon body paint (if desired) for techno contras, and festive clothing. Thank you, and our planet thanks you!
Learn more about contra at ABOUT CONTRA DANCING or LOTS OF TIPS. Check out some great contra videos and photos here.
Join our Facebook group and Meetup group to receive updates and event invitations. Follow us on Instagram.
If you are interested in playing or calling at a Charleston Folk dance, here is more information for Bands and Callers.
Charleston Folk is a non-profit, CDSS (Country Dance and Song Society) affiliate organization with a mission to promote, sponsor, and encourage participation in American folk dancing and music traditions among people of all ages in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Please note: Due to our concern for the environment, Charleston Folk will not provide glowsticks at our dances. In lieu of glowsticks, we suggest the use of neon body paint (if desired) for techno contras, and festive clothing. Thank you, and our planet thanks you!
Love dancing and want to dance some more? Look here for a list of other nearby dances.
