Richmond has a long history of the best attended contra dance weekends in the Mid-Atlantic region: world-class bands and callers, great dancing, Southern hospitality and lots of things to do and see in our city. Early Bird Registration opens at noon December 13, 2024! Space is limited, so don’t wait!
Registration
Registration can be submitted and paid online, please do so early to guarantee your spot as we filled up in 2024! March 14th, 2025 is the deadline for early-bird registrations, housing requests, and mail-in registrations. This year, mail in registration forms will be subject to a $5 processing fee. Please post mail-in registrations by March 14th. Mail-in registration, along with your check payable to TADAMS may be mailed to:
Springforth Ball Registrar
TADAMS
PO Box 15897
Richmond, VA 23227
Full registration includes the Friday night dance, all Saturday workshops, Saturday night dance, and Sunday brunch, concert and dance. A la Carte registration will also be available for Friday evening, Sunday, and select Saturday workshops only. In order to attend the Saturday contra dances (afternoon or evening), you must register for the full weekend.
We give priority to Full Registrations. If the dance fills, partial registrations will be refunded.
Confirmation of registration with directions will be sent via email if an email address is provided. If you are mailing in your registration and do not have email or prefer a hard copy confirmation, please include a self-addressed, self-stamped envelope with your registration.
Waiting list
A waiting list will be maintained if the dance fills. Please notify us if you need to cancel so your reservation can be given to someone else. If you are on a waiting list your check will be held.
Cancellations
If your cancellation is received on or before March 31, 2025, your registration will be refunded minus a $2 fee. From April 1 on, refunds will be given only if you are ill, or if the weekend is sold out.
Dance Experience
Walk-throughs and teaching will be minimal for the main event contra dances. Although the weekend is more appropriate for dancers with some experience, all are welcome.
Our Hall
The Lewis Ginter Recreation Center is located at 3421 Hawthorne Ave in Richmond. It is in the Ginter Park Historic District at the corner of Hawthorne and Walton. It was built as a public school at the turn of the 20th century and has wooden floors that are great for dancing. All dances, workshops and meals are held in the center. Ample, free, all-day parking is available on all nearby streets sometimes only on one side, but do not block the driveways of our residential neighbors even slightly or you will be ticketed or towed.
The City of Richmond
Richmond keeps popping up on lists of the top travel destinations:
- Frommer’s Top (Worldwide) Destinations for 2014
- One of National Geographic’s Top (Worldwide) Destinations for Food in 2016
- American Express Travel’s #1 (U.S.) Summer Destination
- One of U.S. News & World Report’s 8 (Worldwide) Under-the-Radar Foodie Cities
- Colman Andrew’s Next Great American Food City
- Outside Magazine’s Best River Town in America.
But all that praise is no surprise to Richmonders who have long known of our city’s under rated charm. Explore our museums and historic sites, discover the beautiful James River and local parks, walk and shop unique shops in Carytown, sample craft beers from one of Richmond’s many breweries or get them or Virginia wine at nearly any local restaurant in town, especially in the Fan, Grace St, Carytown and Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom. Ask us if there’s anything more you want to know. You’ll almost wish there wasn’t so much great contra!
Housing and Hotels
Please submit housing requests by March 14th (the early-bird and mail-in deadline). Housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If available, it will be confirmed approximately two weeks before the event. If you wish to stay in a hotel, we recommend:
- Alpine Motel (2.9 miles away, approximately $69/night) Independent, clean, good service at reasonable price, 804-261-7981, 7009 Brook Rd.
- Econo Lodge (4.3 miles away, approximately $80/night) National chain, clean, good service at reasonable price. 8350 Brook Rd. I-95 Exit 83
- Sleep Inn (4 miles away, approximately $119/night) Newest National chain hotel at this price point. 950 E. Parham Rd. I-95 Exit 83.
- Quirk Hotel (2.8 miles away, downtown. $233+/night) Brand new, charming, upscale, modern, locally-owned, if you’re going to splurge, this hotel has attracted worldwide attention.
Richmond also has many major national chains at a variety of price points both downtown and near the Interstates. People are generally satisfied with most of these options, but your distance may vary. We encourage you to check online reviews. Richmond weekend traffic congestion is not a problem even if you choose to stay 4-5 miles away. Yes, there are a number of run-down motels on Chamberlayne and Azalea Avenues as well as the Chamberlayne and Lombardy area that we strongly recommend against even though they may be slightly closer to the dance hall and cheaper than other places. If you are looking for a low price point, look for deals from a national chain or consider one of the recommendations above.
Food
The Sunday Brunch is included with full registration or the Sunday partial registration! This includes freshly cooked waffles with fresh fruit, assorted breakfast delicacies, coffee, tea and juices. Complimentary snacks will be available throughout the weekend. Saturday lunch is optional for $12 per person, either vegetarian or omnivore, and must be reserved in advance.
Please join us Saturday evening for a Covered dish supper (and bring something yummy to share)! All full registration dancers are invited to join us in the downstairs hall for a social supper on Saturday before the evening ball. Please let us know on your registration form if you plan to attend, and if you can bring a dish to share. If you have special dietary needs, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
If you want to eat out at a restaurant, of which there are many great options, ask an organizer at the dance for a recommendation. Carytown has 34 local, independent restaurants within its 8 blocks. There is a Walmart Neighborhood Market 1.9 miles away at 5221 Brook Rd and also a Kroger grocery store 2.1 miles away at 901 N. Lombardy.
Fragrances
Please refrain from wearing strong fragrances to dances.
Shoes
Please help protect our floors: wear soft-soled shoes.
