Contra Dance in Hawai'i
NOTE: Click HERE for the post-Covid period protocols.
Covid vaccinations and masking are not required but are recommended.
Come join the Fun!
Traditional, Celtic/Irish Live Music
by our fabulous bands
O'ahu Dances
Honolulu Dances
● First and Third Fridays of each month.
● 6:00 to 8:15 pm at Paradise Park, 3737 Manoa Road. See picture and map below.
● 6:00 to 8:15 pm at Paradise Park, 3737 Manoa Road. See picture and map below.
● Parking is along the main roadway immediately in front of the building entrance. The dance will be in the studio on the ground level.
● Live music is provided by one of our two fabulous bands.
● No dance partner or experience is required.
● Dress is casual; your dance shoes should be comfortable, no-scuff, and different from the shoes you wear outside (please change your shoes before dancing).
● Great exercise! You may want to bring a water bottle (there is no drinking fountain onsite).
● NOTE TO NEWCOMERS: If you haven't contra danced before, try to get there a few minutes early for a dance orientation before the main dance starts. The first part of the evening is especially good for getting a feel for what it's all about. The caller will explain and teach all the moves for every dance, all evening. All dances are taught and new dancers are welcome to jump in at any time.
● For more information or to arrange special events, contact:
Sarah Webb
email [email protected]
● Live music is provided by one of our two fabulous bands.
● No dance partner or experience is required.
● Dress is casual; your dance shoes should be comfortable, no-scuff, and different from the shoes you wear outside (please change your shoes before dancing).
● Great exercise! You may want to bring a water bottle (there is no drinking fountain onsite).
● NOTE TO NEWCOMERS: If you haven't contra danced before, try to get there a few minutes early for a dance orientation before the main dance starts. The first part of the evening is especially good for getting a feel for what it's all about. The caller will explain and teach all the moves for every dance, all evening. All dances are taught and new dancers are welcome to jump in at any time.
● For more information or to arrange special events, contact:
Sarah Webb
email [email protected]
Windward Dances
● Second Friday of each month.
● 7:00 to 9:00 pm at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 93 N. Kainalu Drive, Kailua. See picture and map below.
● Plenty of parking available in the church parking lot.
● Live music provided by Kalapawai Roundabout, our Windward band. Calling provided by the same callers as our Honolulu dances.
● All dances are taught. New dancers are welcome. No experience required. Come alone or with a group. No partner is required.
● Dress is casual. Your dance shoes should be comfortable, no-scuff shoes different from the shoes you wear outside.
● Live music provided by Kalapawai Roundabout, our Windward band. Calling provided by the same callers as our Honolulu dances.
● All dances are taught. New dancers are welcome. No experience required. Come alone or with a group. No partner is required.
● Dress is casual. Your dance shoes should be comfortable, no-scuff shoes different from the shoes you wear outside.
Donate!
All dances are free! We depend on donations from dancers
and friends to support this fun and healthy activity.
If you would like to write a check, click here for a donation form.
If you prefer to donate via PayPal or debit/credit card,
click the "Donate" button below
All dances are free! We depend on donations from dancers
and friends to support this fun and healthy activity.
If you would like to write a check, click here for a donation form.
If you prefer to donate via PayPal or debit/credit card,
click the "Donate" button below
Other Dancing in Hawai'i
There are at least two folk dance groups in Hawai'i: International Folk Dancers of Hawaii and Hawaii Israeli Recreational Dance. In addition there are Square Dance clubs, as well as Scottish country dance and Scandinavian dance groups. There are also plenty of opportunities for Swing, Country Western, Latin, and ballroom dancing. The DanceHawaii web site has information on all sorts of dance, from contra through country to rave.
For English Country dancing on O'ahu, contact Ed Grant at [email protected] or 808-372-9018.
For English Country dancing on O'ahu, contact Ed Grant at [email protected] or 808-372-9018.
Booking Bands
For information about booking one of the bands, contact:
- Abby Brown - [email protected], or
- Robert Bley-Vroman - [email protected]
What is Contra Dancing?
● The Honolulu Star Bulletin article about contra dance, including pictures of a Hawai'i dance
● A Contra Dance Primer, a brief introduction for beginners
● Gary Shapiro's What is Contra Dance?, a longer introduction to contra
● A Contra Dance Primer, a brief introduction for beginners
● Gary Shapiro's What is Contra Dance?, a longer introduction to contra
Contra Dancing on the Web
● New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA), a beautifully designed site with a Yahoo-ish index of folk-oriented links.
● The Contra Corners site, of the Louisville Country Dancers, has a nation-wide index of dances and dance links.
● The Country Dance and Song Society is the major membership organization for contra dancers: mail-order store, newsletter, camps, and workshops.
● Best of the Web - Contradance - a helpful resource for researching contradance on the Internet.
● Contra Dance Links - an incredibly detailed site maintained by Charlie Seelig, with information about contra dancing in the United States, Canada, and the World. The site includes links to web pages for contra dance organizations, bands and musicians, callers, festivals, and other resources, and also has schedules for dancing--all by region. Check it out!
● The Contra Corners site, of the Louisville Country Dancers, has a nation-wide index of dances and dance links.
● The Country Dance and Song Society is the major membership organization for contra dancers: mail-order store, newsletter, camps, and workshops.
● Best of the Web - Contradance - a helpful resource for researching contradance on the Internet.
● Contra Dance Links - an incredibly detailed site maintained by Charlie Seelig, with information about contra dancing in the United States, Canada, and the World. The site includes links to web pages for contra dance organizations, bands and musicians, callers, festivals, and other resources, and also has schedules for dancing--all by region. Check it out!
The Contradancers of Hawaii's Collection of Dances and Tunes
● The Hawai'i collection of traditional contra dances and English country dances, with tunes you can play on your computer.
The collection includes:
● The country dances in Pride and Prejudice, from the 1995 A&E/BBC production of Jane Austen's novel.
● The Hawai'i collection of tunes in abc format
● Other sources of traditional music on the Web
● Other collections of contra dances on the Web
The collection includes:
● The country dances in Pride and Prejudice, from the 1995 A&E/BBC production of Jane Austen's novel.
● The Hawai'i collection of tunes in abc format
● Other sources of traditional music on the Web
● Other collections of contra dances on the Web
Contradancers of Hawai'i is a non-profit organization, affiliated with the Country Dance and Song Society.
Website maintenance: Dick Burson
Last revised: 2/21/2026
Last revised: 2/21/2026
