Category Archives: Uncategorized

2024 first quarter dances

We’ve schedule dance dates for the first quarter of the new year. We’ll continue to be at Eastern Market, North Hall, from 7-11pm on the following dates:

1/13, 1/27, 2/9 (FRIDAY), 2/24, 3/16, 3/30

Must be ages 21+ to participate, so be sure to bring your ID!

Checkout the calendar for more details.

New dance dates through the end of the year!

New dance dates have been added to the schedule to take us through the end of the year. We’ll be at Eastern Market’s North Hall from 7 till 11 on the follow dates: 7/22, 8/12, 9/9, 9/23, 10/13 (Friday!), 10/28, 11/18, 12/2 (Ages 21+)

We’ll also be participating in Eastern Market’s Funky Fridays and Art All Night, 5-9pm on 7/28, 8/25, and 9/29 (All ages welcome)

Mitchell/Richards Family Fund Grant

DC Rawhides is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Mitchell – Richards Family Fund, created to honor the memories of Corey Richards and Doug Mitchell, a component fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation.  DC Rawhides is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting country western dancing in the LGBT community.  

The dances started in 2013 with 13 people gathering in the social hall of a Dupont Area church and then became part of programming at two of the District’s well known LGBTQ entertainment and dance venues:  Town and Secrets.  Apartments and condo now stand where those two clubs once were.  DC Rawhides danced through the pandemic via Zoom calls.  In 2021, DC Rawhides took up residency at Hook Hall. At each of these venues, the owners kindly provided DC Rawhides with use of their space and equipment at no charge. The hallmark of our dances is an atmosphere that is inclusive, affirming, and fun.  There is no other dance event in the District that draws crowds as diverse in age, race, gender-identity, and sexual orientation.

In the spring of 2022, DC Rawhides decided to take the dance solo, knowing this meant they would have to pay for space.  Our annual costs to hold the dance are not insubstantial.  To make sure there are no barriers to attending, we ask patrons for a minimum five dollar donation at the door.  The gift from the the Mitchell – Richards Family Fund, a component fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation will allow us to keep dancing and for that we are extremely grateful

For 50 years, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has ignited the power of philanthropy, catalyzed community impact, and responded to critical needs. The Community Foundation partners with generous individuals, families, and businesses, making it easy and effective for donors to identify impactful nonprofits and support the greater good in the communities we call home. As the region’s largest local funder, The Community Foundation has invested more than $1.5 billion in building equitable, just, and thriving communities across DC, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County. Learn more at TheCommunityFoundation.org

CANCELLED: Outdoor Dancing in College Park

Country dance outdoors, Saturday, May 7th

Owing to the weather forecast, this event has been cancelled.

Weather permitting, we will be dancing outdoors at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in 4512 College Avenue in College Park, Maryland. This dance will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 4 until 7.

We did this last May and had a blast. This year, we will be bringing our dance floor rather than dance on the pavement!

Restroom available. Make sure to check for weather update that day. No cover. Bring yourself, a friend, and maybe a snack to share.

New Dance Line-up!

Hello, everybody! We’ve got a new series of dance nights scheduled for you, on a new day at a new location: the North Hall at Eastern Market, at 7th Street and North Carolina Avenue, S.E., two blocks from the Eastern Market Metro station. The dances will run from 7 till 11 PM on eight Saturday nights from late May through the end of September. See the event calendar for the dates.

The dances that had been previously scheduled for Hook Hall in April and May will not take place.

In addition, an outdoor dance is being planned for Saturday, May 7, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in College Park, weather permitting. More information on that is to come.

Hooked on Country: Love is All Around

All the fun you have come to expect. Join us for a night of dancing and socializing. Visit with old friends and make new ones. Pam will be our DJ for the night, and no lessons will be taught.

PLEASE NOTE: time change for this event only, 9pm-12am.

NOTE: The city of DC requires proof of vaccination – picture is fine, as long as the name matches their ID. See more at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/vaxdc

Time: Friday, February 11, 9pm-12am
Location: Hook Hall, 3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
Cost: Free to enter Hook Hall, $5 to enter dance floor

HOOKED ON COUNTRY: Who wore it best, FRIDAY August 13, 7PM

Join us for an evening of country western two-step, line dancing, waltz, and west coast swing. Even if you have no experience dancing, our dance angels will help you navigate the dance floor. Come to dance, come to socialize, or just come to watch. Wear your best country “look”, we will have some options for you, and later we’ll decide who wore it best. Details are available on Facebook, and through our email newsletter.

Time: Friday August 13, 7-11pm (Lesson from 7-8pm)
Location: Hook Hall, 3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
Cost: Free to enter Hook Hall, $5 to enter dance floor