English Country Dancing and International Folk Dancing come together usually on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month (September through May, with occasional summer dates in an air-conditioned location). What makes these afternoons special is the combination: you can spend the whole afternoon with us, or drop in for just the part that calls to you.

Schedule for June to August:

• International Folk Dance: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

• English Country Dance: 4:30 – 7:00 p.m

• The half hour in the middle will feature easy mixers, balfolk, and other dancese  that will be enjoyed by all. 

Schedule for September to May:

• International Folk Dance: 1:00 – 3:15 p.m.

• English Country Dance: 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.

The International Folk Dance session, led by Mady Newfield, takes you on a musical tour of the world — circle dances, line dances, and partner dances from Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.  Most are taught and walked through before you're asked to do it, and some you can just join the line and follow.

Then the afternoon continues with English Country Dance, called by Mady Newfield and Tammy Bretscher, where you'll weave through elegant formations to live or recorded music, with every figure explained before the music starts.

During the regular season (Spring-Fall), the dancing takes place in the church's spacious second-floor gymnasium. In the summer, we hold occasional dances at the Civic Center's air-conditioned gymnasium -- times for these dances may differ from our regular sessions, so be sure to check our calendar for details. 

Getting There

Grace Lutheran is on the southeast corner of Forest and Pennsylvania in downtown Glen Ellyn, just one block north of the Glen Ellyn Metra station (Union Pacific West Line). Street parking is plentiful along Forest Avenue and Pennsylvania, and a public lot ("Schock Square") sits just one block west of the church. Metra trains to/from the city are available on Sunday afternoons. Enter through the door at the top of the ramp entrance, and take the elevator to the second floor. 

The Civic Center is located on the south side of the tracks, also one block from the Glen Ellyn Metra station. A parking garage is located directly behind it. Enter through the back door on the south side of the building (located centrally along the back wall, somewhat behind the garbage bin enclosure), then take either the stairs or elevator (to the left) to the second floor and turn left to enter the gymnasium. 

Suggested Donation

$5–$10 for all or part of the afternoon (a bit more when we have live music — and we love live music!). 

Have a treat to share? We prefer bite-sized, easy-to-eat snacks. Don't forget your water bottle! 

If the north suburbs are your stomping grounds, Chicagoland North ECD is your dance community. Called by the talented Cheryl Yenter, this group meets on the third Thursday of the month, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., September through May at the John's Park Field House. When the warm weather arrives, the dancing moves outside to a charming residential setting — a truly delightful summer tradition.

John's Park Field House is centrally located in Glenview, with ample free parking, making it an easy destination no matter where you're coming from on the north side or in the northern suburbs.

Getting There

The John's Park Field House is located just south of downtown Glenview at Richard E John's Park, with a large parking lot located off Central Rd. Despite being close to downtown Glenview, the Metra station is roughly a 20-minute walk through residential neighborhoods from downtown. Once parked, enter the field house through the main doors to join the dancing.

Admission

$10 for adults / $8 for students -- admission fees during the summer help cover the costs of the field house rental for the fall-spring.  

Have a treat to share? We prefer bite-sized, easy-to-eat snacks. Don't forget your water bottle!