What’s New:

Important reminders: Contra Dance THIS Friday, March 15 with Jim Thaxter

March 29-31 is our 18th annual Spring Breakdown Dance Weekend, this year at Capital Ritz in the Capital City (Jefferson City, Missouri). The March 7th early-bird discount deadline has passed, but you can still register! If you want to pay by credit or debit card please register online. You will be able to pay at the door for the weekend or for individual dances and workshops. However we will only be able to accept cash and checks at the door. Click here to register now!

If you prefer to send your registration by mail, the form is available here. 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!!

NEW! Watch video of dancing to STEAM! our band for our 2019 Spring Breakdown Dance Weekend!

Sign up to receive emails about upcoming events.

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 – Mar. 15, 2019 River Ridge with Jim Thaxter Calling

Contra Dance – Friday, March 15th.  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 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.  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 – March 29-31 – Spring Breakdown in Jefferson City

English Country Dance – with Elizabeth Couture March 8

English Country Dance – Friday, March 8, 2019 Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaissance period with 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 herefor 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.

NO Dance March 1, 2019

UPDATE: This dance has been cancelled due to the weather. Contra Dance – Feb. 15, 2019 SnorT Horse with Jim Thaxter Calling

Contra Dance – Friday, Feb. 15th.  Come join us Friday, Feb. 15th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by SnorT Horse, with Cathy Barton on hammered dulcimer and banjo, Dave Para on guitar, Tenley Hansen on keyboards, and Michael Fraser on fiddle.  These are two duets who share very similar musical interests, one of them being the joy of old-time dance music.  As a quartet they bring more instruments into the mix for variety and dynamics, swapping melodies and harmonies, while leaning on powerful rhythm.  Snor T Horse plays dynamic and energetic old traditional and new folk tunes.

Cathy Barton and Dave Para at the Big Muddy 2007

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.)

English Country Dance – Feb. 8th

English Country Dance – Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. Tonight is romantic with Valentines Day around the corner. Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaisance 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 herefor 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 – 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.)