The Kenai River Folk Dancers sponsor community dance events (mostly contra dances) in the Central Kenai Peninsula area of Alaska. These dances are open to all--both experienced dancers and newbies willing to give it a shot. Most of the folks who come to any given dance are fairly inexperienced, so don't feel shy about coming out if it's your first time. Families with children are welcome, and make up a large number of our regular participants. Most kids, by age 4 or 5, can jump in and participate with the help of an adult partner. Currently, most of our dances are held at K-Beach Elementary School in Soldotna. Admission is $5 for adults, free for kids under 16. Click on the "Calendar" link on the left side of the page to see our schedule of upcoming dances. We have one Saturday night dance per month through the school year (not in the summer).

Contra dance is a form of community dance that originated in New England during colonial times. It's a way for folks in the community to come together to share some fun and exercise and to keep warm during the cold, dark winter days. There's always live music, usually by our very own incredibly talented local group, ContraBand. You'll do each dance with a partner, but don't worry if you don't come with one--you'll find plenty of people to dance with there, and most dancers switch partners after each dance. It's a communal dance, so you and your partner will interact with all the other dancers in the hall. If you want to see what an actual dance might look like, click on "Links" on the left side of the page for a look at some contra dance video footage. All dances are taught, so you don't need to come with any prior knowledge, and during the course of each dance, a caller will give you reminders about the moves. So, no more excuses. Come out and dance!