Classes & Workshops

Tuesday Night Dancing with Independence Squares

Our 2025-2026 weekly classes and workshops are running through May 19, 2026.

We dance on Tuesday evenings. We currently offer the following classes and workshops:

  • Mainstream class. If you’ve never square danced before, this is the class for you!
  • Plus class
  • Advanced (A1 and A2) workshop
  • Challenge 1 workshop

Our classes and workshops are in two rooms with our callers, Betsy Gotta and Mark Franks. If you are new to a program, please come every Tuesday through December (at least).  We understand that you may miss a class or two, but frequent absences cause the instruction to slow down, which is not fair to the other students. 

At each class, the caller introduces a couple new calls and repeats calls from prior weeks. Dancers get a well rounded foundation for dancing in at square dance events in Philadelphia and clubs around the world. We welcome dancers who have completed a class to join us to refresh your skills and to assist the new dancers.

New dancers: you can also sign up here to join the mailing list for announcements about our fall 2027 classes.

Time and Location

All Tuesday night classes and workshops run from 7:00 to 9:30 PM. They are held at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion. We use the entrance at 2111 Sansom St., Philadelphia, PA. The garage next door gives us a discount. Be sure to validate your parking ticket available at the check-in desk.

Class fees and Prepayment option

Thanks to generosity of our members and fly-in participants, we have lower simplified fees this year.

  • Members and new Mainstream class members pay $5.00 per class
  • Non-members pay $7.00 per class

You can pay as you go at each class. Advance payment options will be announced at the dance. You can pay in person with a check or cash, or pay online at the dance using our PayPal QR Code .

Dues

Dues are $45 for the period from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026. Please support Independence Squares by paying your membership dues regardless of whether you are taking a class and/or workshop. Dancers attending a Mainstream class for the first time do not owe dues.

Your dues not only help to support our club, but also provide you with the following benefits:

  • Reduced admission to our Tuesday night classes/workshops
  • Free admission to our Saturday June 7 2025 Member Appreciation Pride Dance
  • Accident medical insurance through the United Square Dancers of America (USDA)
  • Right to vote at our Annual Meeting on June 3 2025

Members who need assistance paying dues are invited to speak confidentially with our treasurer.

You can pay your membership dues in person with either cash or a check, or online with a credit card or PayPal by using our website’s link.

Bad Weather Cancellation Policy

If Philadelphia schools have an early dismissal, are closed, or cancel afternoon or evening activities due to bad weather, then Tuesday night classes and workshops are cancelled. In addition, if Independence Squares cancels classes or other events when Philadelphia schools remain open or are not in session, an email will go out to the club’s distribution list, and the club’s webpage will be updated by 5:00pm.

Some resources for finding out if schools are closed: