Basics
Currently, PICD is on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, you’ll find general information about PICD events relevant when we are actively dancing. This page will be updated when we resume dancing.
LOCATION
Our dances are hosted intown Portland, Maine at
State Street Church
159 State Street in Portland, Maine
When you arrive, follow the signs and enter through the courtyard.
Timing
Thursday dances start with a brief orientation for beginners at 7PM, and continue with dancing 7:30-10PM. We also host occasional dances on other nights of the week that start and end at different times. See the event details for more info.
Cost
Thursday night dances typically cost $10. We can accept cash, checks (made out to PICD), and debit/credit cards. We also occasionally host events other nights of the week with different admission fees, including free events. See the event details for more info.
PARKING
Parking is available on-street in the State Street/West End neighborhood. Simply driving around will yield a spot. In Portland, metered parking on Thursdays after 6PM is free!
There are a few driveways in the immediate vicinity, but none of them are available to dancers.
Additionally, there are several local municipal lots available with free public parking after 5PM on week nights. You can find them here:
FRESH APPROACH MARKET
155 Brackett Street
Portland, ME 04102
THE REICHE SCHOOL
166 Brackett Street
Portland, ME 04102
THE REICHE POOL & COMMUNITY CENTER (Back of School)
Clark Street
Portland, ME 04102
ACCESSIBILITY
There are two on-street handicap parking spaces directly in front of the church on State Street.
After you go through the courtyard and front door, which is on the right, there is a short stairway prior to entering the dance hall, for a total of about 10 steps. To access the elevator for entry, you’ll use the door on the left as you enter the courtyard. The person at the Greeter Table can help.
Bathrooms
There are two bathrooms that the church makes available for dancers. One has multiple toilet stalls and is designated by the church for "ladies." The other is for one user at a time and is open to all genders.
KEEP IN MIND
SCENT: If you normally enjoy wearing perfume or cologne, do you mind coming without it on Thursday? Some of our dancers are physically sensitive to potent scents. We hope you understand.
INTOXICATION: For multiple reasons, we don't allow the consumption of alcohol or other intoxicating substances at our events. If you come to the dance drunk or high, one of our organizers may ask you to leave and come back sober next time. Anyway, contra dance involves spinning around in circles a lot, so it's just a bad idea to drink and dance.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Because these are public events, dancers and organizers from time to time take photos and videos at our contra dances and post them online (see example from Robyn Nicole Film & Photo or Youtube). You'll probably get a sweet profile pic out of it! However, if it is important to you to be left out of photographs and videos, please let an organizer know so we can pass the word to folks who are likely to be documenting the fun.
JERKS: Come to Portland Intown Contra Dance ready to be awesome and respectful to everyone. If someone complains to an organizer that someone else is being a jerk, one of our organizers will talk to that person about it. We reserve the right to ban jerks from our dance for being jerks. See more info about consent and behavior at PICD events.
VOLUNTEERS: We love volunteers. In exchange for volunteering, we offer free admission. If you want to help out at a dance, please email us at volunteer@portlandintowncontradance.com.