What’s New:

Contra dance – February 1, 2019 32 BarTenders and Claire Baffaut calling.

The NEW Spring 2019 Schedule starts February 1.

NEW! Online registration is now LIVE for our 2019 Spring Breakdown Dance Weekend!  Mark your calendar for March 29-31 for our 18th annual event, this year at Capital Ritz in the Capital City (Jefferson City, Missouri). Register by March 7 to receive the early-bird weekend pass discount. If you prefer to send your registration by mail, printed registration forms will be arriving in the mail soon. Or print one here. You can also register at the door. Read a summary of the weekend events here, where you will also find links to details about the schedule, band, venue, housing, workshops, and more. Come dance with us!!

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2018 Spring Breakdown Dance Weekend photos and videos. 

2017 Spring Breakdown Dance Weekend photos and videos are available on our Spring Breakdown Community page on Facebook!  You can also see the coverage KOMU did of the event there or click here.

Contra Dance – Feb. 1, 2019 32 BarTenders with Claire Baffaut Calling

Contra Dance – Friday, Feb. 1.  Come join us Friday, Feb. 1st for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively 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 Bar Tenders 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.)

Update: Contra Dance – Friday, Jan 18, 2018 Dave and Amber with Paula McFarling Calling

Contra Dance – Friday, Jan 18th.  Come join us Friday, Jan 18th for a contra dance at our new location, 3906 Peachtree Drive (old location was 3910 Peachtree Drive). Our lively music will be provided by Dave and Amber,with Amber Gaddy on accordion, Dave Cavins on guitar, and Angie Lennie on fiddle.

Our caller will be Paula McFarling. Paula McFarling began calling contra dances in Missouri and Kansas after taking a calling class with Jim Thaxter in 1997. She considers calling and dancing to live music a wonderful way to spend an evening. She especially likes calling dances with moves that flow into each other and delights in helping new dancers find the joy in contra dancing.

Beginners are encouraged to come to an introductory lesson at 7:00 p.m.  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.)

CANCELLED due to weather. English Country Dance – Jan. 11, 2019

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 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 – Fri. Jan. 4th with River Ghost Review

Contra Dance – Friday, Jan 4th.  Come join us Friday, Jan 4th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by the River Ghost Revue. River Ghost Review specializes in rural American folk music. Our unique sound comes from a blending of elements from bluegrass, country & western, and singer-songwriter Americana. We strive to create music that would work as well in Washington Square as it would on a front porch in the Ozarks. We like songs that ramble. Songs that shuffle. And songs that fight back. We’re not a throwback group, but rather a tip of the hat to the music that’s come before us. As always, we’ve got four new tires and a tank of gas, so grab your banjo and come along…with Robert Watson (on guitar, mandolin, and vocals), Joel Watson (on mandolin, bass, guitar, and vocals), and Andy Smith (on fiddle, dobro, and banjo).  Note: Photos below by Kevin Dingman.

Our caller will be Jim Thaxter.  Jim 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, Dec 21, 2018 with Blackberry Pickers

Contra Dance – Friday, Dec 21st.  Come join us Friday, Dec 21st for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by the Blackberry Pickers, a band from Hermann and the St Louis area. The Blackberry Pickers first got together to play at a 2015 Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers contra dance.  Ronnie Schuppan, our principal fiddler, and Kathryn Render (fiddle and banjo), play Old Time and Irish fiddle tunes in several string bands including the Farmhouse Buds.  Crystal (guitar) and Steve Craig (banjo and hammer dulcimer) have played together for 22 years in a number of string bands including Miss Crystal’s Pretty Good String Band.  Mark Borzillo (mandolin), joined us for contra dances at the Harvest Table in Hermann and is now an official Picker. Mark plays several instruments, in a number of styles with well-known Missouri musicians and bands, including Swing DeVille.

Our caller will be Jim Thaxter.  Jim 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, Dec 7, 2018 with 32 BarTenders

Contra Dance – Friday, Dec 7th.  Come join us Friday, Dec 7th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively 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 Bar Tenders 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 Abigail Hobart. Abigail hails from Bellingham, WA though considers parts of New England to be home as well. She has been a dancer, fiddle player, and an organizer of sorts since childhood, and brings a deep love of the tradition, personal warmth, and joie de vivre to her calling and interactions both on and off the dance floor.  Her main goal is to be easy to understand, playful, encouraging, and inclusive to all!

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, Nov 30, 2018 with the James River Scraphounds

Contra Dance – Friday, Nov 30th.  Come join us Friday, Nov 30th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by The James River Scraphounds. The music is centered around the articulate, but driving fiddling of Peter Howard from Fayetteville, Arkansas on fiddle; Jim Ruth from Columbia, MO on banjo; Barbara Weathers on guitar . The Scraphounds are often seen playing dances in the region. Pete’s repertoire focuses on tunes from the Ozarks and includes some rare ones which have been out of circulation for many decades.  In addition, Pete is adept at adapting music from other parts of the country to his style.

Barbara Weathers, though living in St. Louis, is a Springfield, Missouri native and a fine Ozarks oriented fiddler herself. She uses her fiddling knowledge to great advantage in her role as guitarist in the band.

Banjoist Jim Ruth of Columbia, Missouri, also a fiddler, has adapted his clawhammer banjo style to a wide variety of fiddling over the last 45 years. Though living a ways apart, the three musicians’ experience and similar musical tastes allows them to maintain a tight sound with the banjo closely following the fiddle melody with the guitar provides a strong rhythmic anchor.

Our caller will be Jim Hemphill. Jim developed his calling and choreography skills in St Louis. His creative and exciting dances are being featured by top callers all over the country. You are going to love his innovative programming and friendly delivery.

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.)