Here’s a round-up of social-dancing opportunities IN Greenbelt and where Greenbelters go dancing nearby, focusing on social dancing – not jazzercize, zumba, or other workout-focused dancing. The information is up to date as of May 2017 but if you spot an error or omission, please tell us in a comment.
Scottish Country Dancing happens every Tuesday from 8 to 10 pm in the Greenbelt Community Center, thanks to St. Columba’s Scottish Country Dance Group. Just stop by; first-timers dance for free. You don’t need a partner or a kilt! Click here for more photos and details.
International Folk Dancing is held every Friday at the Greenbelt Community Center, with Line, Circle, and Couple Dancing from the Balkans, Europe, Scandinavia & other places. Usually just $7 most weeks. To learn more and see tons of great photos, here’s Eric Zhang’s blog post about the dance, from 2012. This dance event started in the ’50s at All Souls Church in DC and has been held in Greenbelt since 1997.
Contra Dancers no longer have to drive to Glen Echo or farther to get their fix – it’s right here in the Greenbelt Community Center, on Saturday nights (roughly every other month). Follow them on Facebook or check this schedule of Contra, Square and Waltz Dances in Maryland. Greenbelt’s Contra Dances cost just $10 includes a lesson and great live music. (For more about Greenbelt’s Contra Dances, check out this blog post about it, with video.) For info about DC-area contra dancing and lots more, check out the Folkfore Society of Greater Washington.
Greenbelt Scandinavian Dance Party: Scandia DC holds dance parties at the Greenbelt Community Center from 7 to 10 pm. Most evenings there is teaching from 7pm to 8pm and then open dancing from 8pm to 10pm. $10.
Israeli Dancing to pre-’80s music takes place one Saturday a month at the Community Center. For all ages, all experience levels. Here’s the schedule.

Goddard Dance Club:Â is perhaps the largest dance event IN Greenbelt. It happens every week and offers primarily ballroom dancing. Nonemployees need a NASA employee to sponsor them (to sign a form for them). Â Dance lessons also available. The space includes a huge wooden dance floor.
Tea Dance at Beltville’s Studio Gemini: 1 – 3 pm every Tuesday afternoon. Admission $10, with complimentary dancing tips for beginners thru intermediate. 10800 Rhode Island Ave, Ste E, Beltsville, MD 20705  Ample parking. Hosted by Steve Antoniak, antoniak1@verizon.net 301-927-6796.
Blob’s Park Social Dance Club. Dancers from the former Blob’s Park in Jessup, MD have moved to College Park! Live music, in a range of styles: country, swing/oldies, rockability, cajun/zydeco. 2 Saturday nights each month. Located at the American Legion Post #217, 9218 Baltimore Avenue (Route #1) College Park, MD. Doors open 7:30, music 8-11 pm., just $10. Follow them on Facebook.

Hollywood Ballroom in Silver Spring, about 10 miles away, holds dances four times a week, usually preceded by lessons. Types of dancing include: West Coast swing on Fridays, social ballroom on Wednesdays and Sundays, Afternoon Tea on Thursdays, and on Saturdays – sometimes Latin, sometimes ballroom.  It’s dressy by Greenbelt standards, and the level of dancing is moderate to advanced, in my opinion. The cost ranges from $15 to 20 and the age range is wide, though mostly 40 and up. Thursday afternoon tea dances (12:30 – 3:30 pm) cost just $6.

LA (Love Again) Singles in Bowie is a dance event for singles over 40. Location: Knights of Columbus, 6111 Columbian Way, Bowie MD 20715.
Blues Music and Dancing. Lots of Greenbelters follow the DC Blues Society for news of music and dancing – via their email list or on Facebook. Their College Park Blues Festival in November always draws a crowd and great bands.
Hand-Dancing: This is the dancing that DC is known for. There are DC Hand Dance Club dances monthly in Bowie.
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