Lexington Traditional Dance Association

Lexington, Kentucky

Contra Dancing • Live Music • Community

Everyone Welcome • No Partner or Experience Needed

Notes Archive Schedule Links Dance Trance Swing Shift
About Us
This association promotes contra dance in Lexington, Ky. We generally hold dances on the first Saturday and one Friday every month. Our annual dance weekend — Dance Trance — is held in early June. What is contra dance? Check out this video.


If You Go
Unless otherwise noted, LTDA dances are held at Artworks at the Carver School, 522 Patterson St., Lexington, Kentucky.

Dances are held from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with an optional beginner workshop at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday dances: $10 admission ($5 students and first-time dancers). Friday dances: $8 admission ($5 students and first-time dancers).
Summer Break
LTDA is on summer break.

Our regular dances will resume on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Have a wonderful summer! We look forward to dancing with you again in August.

Schedule

January • February • March • April • May • June • July • August • September • October • November • December
Sat, Jan. 3, 2026
Joe Wilkie (gents/ladies) / Dreamdance
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri-Sat, Jan. 23-24, 2026
Swing Shift
Friday in Lexington - Katie Zanders (gents/ladies) / Hot Coffee Breakdown
Saturday in Berea - Katie Zanders (gents/ladies) / Hot Coffee Breakdown / Canceled
Sat, Feb. 7, 2026
Liz Burkhart (larks/robins) / The Martha Campbell Dance Band
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, Feb. 20, 2026
Devanese (gents/ladies) / (Open Band)
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Tates Creek Ballroom
Sat, March 7, 2026
Naresh Kesawni (gents/ladies) / The Whirl (Jim McGee and more)
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, March 20, 2026
Jerome Grisanti (gents/ladies) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl (Open Band)
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Sat, April 4, 2026
Thomas Begley (gents/ladies) / Cyantics
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, April 17, 2026
Judy Goldsmith (larks/robins) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl (Open Band)
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Sat, May 2, 2026
Frank Buschelmann (larks/robins) / Rosenthorns
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, May 15, 2026
Jeremy Steinberg (larks/robins) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl (Open Band)
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, May 29, 2026
Barbara Ramlow (gents/ladies) / Nathan, Elise, and Matt
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Shaker Village
Fri-Sun, June 5-7, 2026
Dance Trance
Fri - Kenny Greer (larks/robins) / ContraForce
Sat - Seth Tepfer (gents/ladies) / ContraForce
Sun - Seth Tepfer (larks/robins) / ContraForce
Fri, Aug. 21, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Sat, Sept. 5, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Name of Band
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, Sept. 18, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Sat, Oct. 3, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Name of Band
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, Oct. 16, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Sat, Nov. 7, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Hot Coffee Breakdown
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, Nov. 27, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Sat, Dec. 5, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Name of Band
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Fri, Dec. 18, 2026
Caller Name (roles here) / Atcher, Beck and Kahl
Dance: 8-10:30 p.m.
Optional beginner workshop: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $8 ($5 for students and first-time dancers)
Artworks at the Carver School
Back to Top ↑

Notes

  • Please help us reduce disposable cup usage by bringing your own water bottle.
  • Atcher, Beck, and Kahl is the open band led by Nathan Wilson (or as noted on the schedule). All musicians are welcome on these nights.
  • Special events, including Swing Shift, Dance Trance, and special Friday dances, may have different locations, times, and/or admission prices.
  • To join our email announcement list, email Barbara Ramlow at barbara.ramlow_at_gmail.com (replace _at_ with @).
  • Read about Dancing Well: The Soldier Project, a project to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries through folk dancing.
  • Learn more about LTDA co-founder and musician David Atcher.
Back to Top ↑

Links

Other Dancing In or Near Lexington

Maps & Information

Back to Top ↑

Archive

Schedules & Performers

1980s
1983 • 1984 • 1986 • 1989

1990s
1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999

2000s
2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009

2010s
2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019

2020s
2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025

Other

Dance Trance & Swing Shift Archives

Back to Top ↑

YouTube Videos

Visit our LTDA YouTube Channel.

YouTube Archives

March 2007

Dance Trance 2007

Dance Trance 2008
#1 • #2 • #3 • #4

Dance Trance 2009
#1 • #2 • #3

Dance Trance 2010
#1 • #2 • #3 • #4 • #5
#6 • #7 • #8 • #9 • #10
#11 • #12 • #13 • #14 • #15

Dance Trance 2012
#1 • #2 • #3

Back to Top ↑