All dances hosted by Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers are cancelled at least through the end of April. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you posted here, on our Facebook pages, and by email as we make decisions on future dances. If you do not receive our email and would like to be added to the list, please email us at mmtdcolumbia@gmail.com.
We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and continue to be so. We look forward to dancing with you again!
Due to COVID-19 this dance has been cancelled. We will continue to monitor the situation and share decisions on future dances here, on Facebook, and by email.
The Spring Breakdown dance weekend scheduled for March 27-29, 2020 has also been cancelled.
The Hallsville Square Dance is being held as scheduled Saturday, March 14 in Hallsville. More info here.
Please note that due to a conflict at the regular venue in Columbia, the March 13th dance will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Jefferson City, 1021 Northeast Drive.) English Country Dance – Friday, Mar 13th, 2020. Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaissance period with our master caller, Jim Thaxter, who will be doing the calling and teaching using recorded music. The music has the same feel as the live band with some tunes stately or courtly, some lively, and some playful, with compositions ranging from the 1600s through the present. Think of Renaissance Fairs.
Beginners are encouraged to come to an introductory lesson at 7:00 p.m. Everything is explained. You do NOT need to know how to dance before you come. You also do NOT have to bring a partner.
The dance starts at 7:30 p.m. at the UU Fellowship of Jefferson City, 1021 Northeast Drive, Jefferson City, MO. Price of admission is $5 for the public, $3 for students/youth ages 16-25, and free for children 15 and under.
MMTD dances are fun, community-oriented events. All are welcome, no dance experience is necessary. Come alone (no partner is needed) or with a friend. Couples and groups are welcome, too. Every dance is taught and called throughout the evening. Dancers should wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and soft-soled or leather-soled shoes to preserve the floor—no spike heels or cowboy boots.
Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers sponsors regular contra and English Country Dances throughout the year. English dances are supported by the City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs.
For a complete schedule and more information, visit mmtdcolumbia.org or call 573-694-6419.
There will be no First Friday contra dance in March due to the True/False Film Festival. Upcoming important dates for your calendar:
Friday, March 13, 7-10 PM: English Country Dance with Jim Thaxter calling, at a special location, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1021 Northeast Drive, Jefferson City.
Saturday, March 14, 4-10 PM: Square Dance, potluck, and music jam in Hallsville, at the Intermediate School.
Friday, March 20, 7-10 PM: Contra dance at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia, with 32 BarTenders and Claire Bauffaut.
March 27-29, Spring Breakdown Contra Dance Weekend at Capital Ritz, 2716 Plaza Drive, Jefferson City.
Contra Dance – Friday, Feb. 21st. Join us for a contra dance at 3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by the band Coreopsis, hailing from Lawrence, Kansas, Coreopsis is Whitney Baker (accordion), Lauralyn Bodle (fiddle), and Noah Musser (guitar). Coreopsis plays a wide variety of traditional music, including American old-time, Celtic jigs, French-Canadian reels, as well original compositions.
Beginners are encouraged to come to an introductory lesson at 7:00 p.m. Everything is explained. You do NOT need to know how to dance before you come. You also do NOT have to bring a partner.
Dancing starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia, 3906 Peachtree Drive. Admission is $8 for the public, $5 for students and ages 16-25, with free admittance for children 15 and under.
No dance experience is needed and folks of all ages are welcome! No partner is necessary, as dancers switch partners for most dances. Every dance is taught and called throughout the evening to live music. Dancers should wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and soft-soled or leather-soled shoes to preserve the floor—no spike heels or cowboy boots. (Please carry-in appropriate dance shoes as needed.)
English Country Dance – Friday, Feb. 14th, 2020. Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaissance period with our master caller, Elizabeth Couture, who will be doing the calling and teaching using recorded music. The music has the same feel as the live band with some tunes stately or courtly, some lively, and some playful, with compositions ranging from the 1600s through the present. Think of Renaissance Fairs.
Beginners are encouraged to come to an introductory lesson at 7:00 p.m. Everything is explained. You do NOT need to know how to dance before you come. You also do NOT have to bring a partner.
The dance starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1600 W. Rollins Road (at the intersection of Maplewood Dr. and Rollins), which is between West Blvd. and Stadium Blvd. a bit east of Russell School. Click here for a map. Price of admission is $5 for the public, $3 for students/youth ages 16-25, and free for children 15 and under.
MMTD dances are fun, community-oriented events. All are welcome, no dance experience is necessary. Come alone (no partner is needed) or with a friend. Couples and groups are welcome, too. Every dance is taught and called throughout the evening. Dancers should wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and soft-soled or leather-soled shoes to preserve the floor—no spike heels or cowboy boots.
Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers sponsors regular contra and English Country Dances throughout the year. English dances are supported by the City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs.
For a complete schedule and more information, visit mmtdcolumbia.org or call 573-825-4698.
Contra Dance – Friday, Feb. 7th. Our lively music will be provided by River Ridge String Band. The band has been playing together for many years. While they play a variety of folk music, their sound is anchored in traditional dance tunes, with hammered dulcimer serving as the lead instrument. The band has a large repertoire of dance tunes from traditional standbys as well as a good assortment of modern tunes that create a great dance groove. In all of their music, River Ridge tries to lay down a driving rhythm, with an eclectic sound, that makes for great fun for dancers and musicians alike. River Ridge features Cliff White on hammered dulcimer, Molly White on mandolin and banjo, Ted Koenig on guitar and John Cunning on folk percussion.
Our caller, Jim Thaxter, developed an interest in traditional dancing about the same time he was discovering the banjo. One thing led to another and he was a regular on the dance floor at the old-time contra dances about 40 years ago. Calling started about 10 years later. Numerous calling workshops at dance camps and dance weekends helped hone his skills. Calling for beginners groups made him more aware of the needs of the dancers for clear instruction. Calling is a great way to bridge the gap between listeners’ tapping toes and the lively rhythms from live musicians.
Beginners are encouraged to come to an introductory lesson at 7:00 p.m. Everything is explained. You do NOT need to know how to dance before you come. You also do NOT have to bring a partner.
Dancing starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia, 3906 Peachtree Drive. Admission is $8 for the public, $5 for students and ages 16-25, with free admittance for children 15 and under.
No dance experience is needed and folks of all ages are welcome! No partner is necessary, as dancers switch partners for most dances. Every dance is taught and called throughout the evening to live music. Dancers should wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and soft-soled or leather-soled shoes to preserve the floor—no spike heels or cowboy boots. (Please carry-in appropriate dance shoes as needed.)
Contra Dance – Friday, Jan. 31st. Our lively dance music will be provided by 32 BarTenders, with Tom Verdot (fiddle and banjo), Rebecca Logan (flute and penny whistle), Thom Howard (guitar and mandolin), and Marcie McGuire (piano). 32 BarTenders mixes up a cocktail of tunes from American, Irish, English, and French traditions with a twist of original reels, jigs, and waltzes plus splashes of swing, ragtime, and klezmer.
Our caller will be Claire Baffaut. “I call because I want to make people happy. That is what dancing does to me so I think it might do the same to others. I want dancers to feel connected to each other and to the musicians. After dancing for >20 years, I first gave a thought to calling in 2012. I tried at a party (a calling jam), in November 2012. I felt exhilarated and I still get that feeling whenever I call. I like to have a variety of dances during an evening, often a mix of modern contra dances, circle dances, and triplets. Perhaps a square or a triple minor. I also call community dances (longways, circle dances, and simple squares).”
Beginners are encouraged to come to an introductory lesson at 7:00 p.m. Everything is explained. You do not need to know how to dance before you come. You also do not have to bring a partner.
Dancing starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia, 3906 Peachtree Drive. Admission is $8 for the public, $5 for students and ages 16-25, with free admittance for children 15 and under.
No dance experience is needed and folks of all ages are welcome! No partner is necessary, as dancers switch partners for most dances. Every dance is taught and called throughout the evening to live music. Dancers should wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and soft-soled or leather-soled shoes to preserve the floor—no spike heels or cowboy boots. (Please carry-in appropriate dance shoes as needed.)
