IMPORTANT UPDATE January 9, 2025: We’ve lost our venue to the Eaton fire, and we’ll be dark for the next few weeks till we reorganize and find a new one.
Our dance venue, Altadena Community Church, was destroyed in the Eaton fire. We expect to be back with a new venue in a few weeks, but for now we’re dark and all our events are cancelled. Check back for updates, or if you’d like to get direct email updates, you can sign up for our email list on the Contact page. Also see the News and Messages page for more details.
Friday Night Dancing
Dates: Every Friday
Time: 7:30 PM till 9:30 PM
Place: **To be determined**
Admission: $6 (members $5) Additional donations welcomed
We have a teaching session early in the evening where we teach one or more dances that are beginner or intermediate level. We usually teach the same dances all month, and whatever we teach will be on the playlist throughout the next month, so you get lots of practice. The remainder of the evening is programmed dances and requests from our large collection of recorded ethnic dance music from countries around the world. See our This Month page for upcoming playlists.
Beginners’ Hour class is on the first and third Fridays of every month from 6:30 till 7:30. See below for details.
On the second Friday of each month, Marshall Cates leads set dance review starting at 6:30 before our regular dancing. These are mostly Scottish country dances, with occasionally dances from US, England, or other countries included.
When a month has five Fridays, the fifth Friday is a party night. Instead of teaching we have live music from our own band, appropriately called the Fifth Friday Band. Apart from the band’s two sets, the rest of our program on fifth Fridays is all-request to recorded music.
Upcoming So Cal Events
Every 1st and 3rd Friday, 6:30 till 7:30 PM
Beginners’ Hour at Pasadena Folk Dance Co-op
Beginners’ Hour is every first and third Friday from 6:30 till 7:30 PM. We teach folk dance basics and beginner-level dances, review and dance previously taught dances, and focus on giving new dancers a chance to build their skills and develop confidence.
For anyone who tried to dance with us and got discouraged, or anyone with a newly kindled interest in learning to folk dance, this program should be just the right runway.
Saturday January 18, 2025, 1:00 till 5:00 PM
Pasadena Folk Dance Co-op Winter Festival
CANCELLED: Venue, Altadena Community Church, was lost to the Eaton fire
Saturday, February 15, 2025, 1:00 till 5:30 PM
Cerritos Lunar New Year Festival
Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703 – 562-916-8550
Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary. A lion dance will start at 12:55 p.m. to celebrate the Year of the Snake. If you are interested in being one of the lions, please let us know. Your traditional or special costume will add splendid color to the party.
Contact: Sue Chen – 562-338-2298 – Email
Sponsored by Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
Friday to Sunday, February 28 to 30, 2025
Laguna Folk Dance Festival
Clubhouse 2, 24112 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Woods, CA 92637 – 949-597-4286
TEACHERS: Tineke and Maurits van Geel
Friday to Saturday, May 2 to 4, 2025
California Statewide Folk Dance Festival 2025
Portuguese Hall, 707 Huasna Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 – 805-489-6729
Teachers: Željko Jergan (Croatian) and Billy Burke (Northern Macedonian).
Portuguese hall has lots of parking.
The facility is less than a mile directly off of the 101 freeway.
There are restaurants in the village and hotels nearby.
The hall is about 5 miles from the ocean on the California Central Coast.
Live music by “Chubritza.”
Website: Statewide 2025
Sponsored by Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
Sunday, May 18, 2025, 1:00 to 5:30 PM
Cerritos Sixteenth Anniversary Festival
Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703 – 562-916-8550
Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary. Each group is welcome to perform, lead, and/or request up to three dances. Please let us know in advance to schedule your time.
Conact: Sue Chen – 562-338-2298 – Email
Sponsored by Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
See the Federation Calendar page for more details plus additional events.
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Current Covid-19 Protocols for Co-op Dancing:
Do not attend if you are sick
Please bring your own water to drink.