About Us

• Encouraging dance musicians and callers
• Promoting intergenerational dancing
• Fostering growth in the traditional dance community
• Providing opportunities and resources for dance organizing
• Providing financially and logistically accessible events
• Providing educational and mentoring opportunities
• Building community through social events

History of BIDA

BIDA was formed in the fall of 2008 in an effort to fill a niche not served by other dance groups in the area. While Boston had and still has a rich and vibrant traditional dance scene, there was not as much intergenerational interaction as there could be in many of the Boston dance communities. BIDA's founders hoped to create an organization which would strengthen community ties and provide opportunities for dancers, musicians, callers, and dance organizers to share knowledge and energy between generations.

To kickstart the community focus of its events, BIDA began by organizing potlucks which combined music and dance with conversations about dance communities, what different people hoped to find in a dance community, and what BIDA could do to serve their needs. These conversations shaped the goals that BIDA strives to promote with every event.

BIDA's first public contra dance was held in February of 2009, at the Park Ave. Congregational Church in Arlington. The attendance and energy at this event showed that the Boston community was indeed ready to welcome and support an additional dance group. While the PACC is a very nice venue, one of BIDA's goals is to hold dances in a hall that is easily accessible by public transportation. After an extensive search, BIDA has settled in the Masonic Hall in Cambridge, which we are thrilled to call home. In addition to having a large stage, a great floor, and a disco ball, this hall is less than a block from the

Porter Square T station! BIDA now runs a monthly dance at the Masonic Hall on third Sundays, as well as parties, jam sessions, workshops, and special event dances at various locations. To keep up-to-date on BIDA events, please join our mailing list ( ) or Facebook group.

As BIDA's reputation and community continue to grow, we have worked with nationally-recognized callers and musicians as mentors to our local up-and-coming performers. BIDA continues to hold parties with themes ranging from contra tune jams to swing dance lessons, and has hosted and begun to plan further workshops for musicians, dancers, and callers. We encourage you to join us at our events and to get involved in our organization! For more information, please email .

BIDA Bylaws

Board Members and Roles 2013-2014:

Michael Bergman
Amy Englesberg: Secretary
Daniel Friedman: Treasurer
Jeff Kaufman: Outreach Coordinator, Webmaster, Sound Coordinator
Audrey Knuth: Intraboard Coordinator
Ben Sachs-Hamilton: Hall-Managing Coordinator
Julie Vallimont: Musician Booking, Caller Booking

michael@bidadance.org
amy@bidadance.org
daniel@bidadance.org
jeff@bidadance.org
audrey@bidadance.org
ben@bidadance.org
julie@bidadance.org

• Open Bands: Audrey, Jeff
• Spark in the Dark: Julie, Andrew Stout (non-board)
• English+Contra: Daniel, Amy, Heather Carmichael (non-board)
• Sound and Sound Mentoring: Mike, Julie, Audrey, Jeff