FAQ

The Flurry is for everyone! There are a variety of dances and dance instruction for all levels (beginner through experienced), as well as workshop sessions for singing, instruments, body movement, etc. We also have concerts, family events, performances, and scheduled jams throughout the weekend.

Yes! There are events for all ages all weekend (storytelling, singing, games, dance). You can find information on family-specific programming, including free-to-the-public sessions at the library, at www.flurryfestival.org/family. On the schedule, look for the code [F] in a session block, along with the family icon. A code of [T] is geared specifically for teens. In 2025 we also added a teen volunteer crew, and special social events just for teens.

No, but we require soft-soled, clean shoes (either “dance” shoes, or shoes not worn outdoors) on all dance floors to protect them from wear, and to keep down dust. Hard-soled shoes/boots, and high-heels may be more prone to slipping on floors. Some people bring a second pair of shoes with clean soles. If you dance in your street shoes, please wipe them clean before entering a dance hall. We also have a shoe vendor who will be happy to find you the perfect shoes!

Davis Hall (Meeting Room 1), Meeting Room 2, the Melita Ballroom, Room A/B/C, and Rosenberg Hall all have the sprung wooden floor custom built for Flurry. The Music Hall has a wooden floor, and Broadway 1/2/3 has SnapSports tiled dance flooring.

No, however our Friday Intensives do require separate tickets, which can be purchased in advance and at the door only if there are still spots available. For the rest of the festival, just purchase a ticket for a day, night, Saturday combo, or all-weekend.

We never sell out of tickets at the door. However, some dance halls or workshop rooms may become overcrowded, and for safety reasons we may have to limit numbers in those rooms.

Yes, a small number of vendors sell clothes, jewelry, dance shoes, or other items and are located in Room A/B/C. There is also a Festival Sales table in the Hilton lobby where you can purchase performers’ recordings and music books — as well as festival-related items such as t-shirts. Our craft vendors are listed at www.flurryfestival.org/food-vendors. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, contact vendor@flurryfestival.org.

No, we do not have child care at the Flurry. However, we have started a private email group to allow those bringing children to Flurry to connect before and during the festival, where they can arrange for shared childcare responsibilities with other families and group activities or meetups. Email admin@flurryfestival.org to request to be added to this group.

The Flurry has a variety of scheduled jams in the Pavilion throughout the weekend, and open jamming until midnight in that space after scheduled sessions have ended. There are a few designated jam areas in the Hilton Gallery, across from Rm. D (Rosenberg Hall) and outside Instrument Check. Jamming also happens near the hotel end of the “glass hallway” on the way to the Pavilion, and in the eating area next to 9 Miles East. Jamming is not allowed in Hotel Workshop hallways, in the Hotel upper lobby near check-in, or along the Hotel’s handicap ramp.

Sure, you can find one right here. There are also directions and maps to offsite venues on the Getting There page.

The festival does not have a monitored coat check room for coats, boots and bags. And we only allow musical instruments in instrument check. Attendees are responsible for their belongings (it’s good to tag or mark things in some way or bring a bright bag to put things in, so it’s easy to find in a pile). The main contra dance hall (Room D) has tables for water bottles which get quite crowded, so please label yours to make it easy to find.

There are community shelves and coat racks in the Hotel Gallery outside Room D, and an assortment of coat racks in other hallways and dance halls throughout the Hotel and City Center complex. Many people store their coats/boots/bags along the walls of the dance halls (on or under chairs along the sides of the rooms), or in the places mentioned above. Coats and gear piles tend to grow, so we ask people to be sure not to allow their things to block any walkway, or any marked “keep clear” space. If anything is misplaced, we have a “Lost and Found” in the City Center Lobby, at the Info Table. We also post that the City Center rooms are locked after the last dance in each space, and people must remove their belongings beforehand.

Nope. So long as we have lights and power (looking at you, 2006), the dancing will go on. If it’s messy out, bundle up and bring your boots, and be extra careful getting around town. Visit our Arrival Page for tips on parking, and make sure to obey any local signs or ordinances in place. If you’re on site and it’s not feeling safe to drive, reach out to local hotels, check out the message board in the City Center lobby, or go to our online roomsharing board to look for a place to stay. Please note that advance purchase tickets are not refundable due to weather-related changes of plans.

Originally called the “Dance Flurry Festival,” the Flurry Festival began in 1988, with the Hudson-Mohawk Country Dancers created as a nonprofit organization to administer it and other local dances in the Capital Region. Reflecting its emphasis on both dance and non-dance musical events, the festival’s name was later changed to the “Flurry Festival,” and the nonprofit sponsoring it became known as the DanceFlurry Organization.

The DanceFlurry Organization (DFO) is dedicated to the preservation, study, teaching, enjoyment and continuing evolution of American and international traditional and historical dance, music and song, and sponsors year-round local events in addition to the Flurry Festival and Adirondack Dance Weekend in September. The DFO also run outreach events and educational programs, and provides youth and community grants.

DanceFlurry members, in addition to supporting the year-round work of the organization, receive a discount on Flurry tickets and reduced admission to other events. You can learn more about the DFO’s mission and work at www.danceflurry.org, and find its calendar of local events here. You can also visit the DFO outreach table in the Hilton lower lobby next to Festival Sales, to join or renew a membership and pick up event flyers.

Respectful action and inclusivity for all are core principles of the Flurry experience. You can read more about what that looks like here. For etiquette tips around particular dance styles, and information about the DanceFlurry’s safety and consent policies, please see this page.

If not already on our email list, you can join it here. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and RSVP to and share the Facebook event.