Bopping around the web, as usual, and found that National Dance Week 2003 is April 25-May 4. Then I found this very attractive website for Bay Area National Dance Week Events. As a participatory (as opposed to performance) dance fan, I checked through the listings to see if any participatory dance groups were, so to speak, participating.

On Sunday, the San Francisco Folk Dance Council is presenting a

One hour International Folk Dance concert followed by a 3 hour program of social and recreational dances from around the world. Line dances, couples, progresive and sets. All ages are welcome.

This sounds like a fun event by the Northern California Lindy Society:

The Northern California Lindy Society and local swing dance instructors invite you to experience the fun and variety of swing dancing at this 3-hour event that includes classes, demos, performances, lectures and video presentations.

For cloggers, the Barbary Coast Cloggers, a performance group, is offering this event:

The first hour will be an open rehearsal for a commissioned work to be presented in June. A question and answer period will follow the rehearsal for those interested in learning more about the company and its work. An introductory class in clogging will be offered from 3-4 PM.

Here’s a milonga (tango dance):

Argentine tango party. There is a beginner’s Argentine tango class from 7-8 pm before the dance party, and it would benefit first-timers greatly to attend the class first.

Except for the milonga, all the events involve performance as well as dancing. And I didn’t see any contra or square dancing. But it sure was interesting, seeing all the different kinds of dancing available. Contact Improv, anyone?