NEW! The Fall 2019 Dance Schedule is now online! Click here to see the schedule of upcoming contra and English Country dances from September, 2019 through January, 2020.
NEW!Friday, October 18 Contra Dance at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia. Click here for more information.
If you are new to contra dance weekends and want to see what they’re like, or you would like to relive your memories of past events, check out the photos and videos on our Spring Breakdown Facebook page. And mark your calendars now for March 27-29, 2020 for Roger and the Nethertones and Spring Breakdown 2020, at Capital Ritz in the Capital City!
Contra Dance – Friday, Oct. 18th. Come join us for a contra dance at 3906 Peachtree Drive. Our live music will be provided by 3 Around 3, with Pippa Letsky on fiddle, Cliff White on guitar, and Bill Foley on banjo. 3 Around 3 enjoys playing for fiddle jams and contra dances. They feature old-time tunes, but also originals, and Irish tunes in their fun mix.
Our caller, 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. 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, Oct. 11th, 2019. This is a special dance, with guest caller Bob Green coming in from St Louis to call for the evening! Also please note the location for this date only! The regular venue was not available, so this dance will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Jefferson City, at 1021 Northeast Drive, Jefferson City. Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaissance period with expert caller Bob Green, 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.
Bob Green dancingUU Fellowship of Jefferson City
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 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1021 Northeast Dr in Jefferson City. 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 573-694-6419.
Contra Dance – Friday, October 4th. Join us for a contra dance at 3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by The32 BarTenders, a Mid-Missouri band featuring Tom Verdot on fiddle, Marcie McGuire on piano, Thom Howard on guitar and mandolin, and Rebecca Logan on flute and penny whistle. The BarTenders mix 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. The mix makes for a fun dance you won’t want to miss!
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.)
Ready for Fall? Ready to dance? Join us for a potluck and dance at Columbia’s Cosmo Park, 1605 Business Loop in the Dexheimer Shelter, on Friday, September 20. The potluck is scheduled for 6:00 pm and will be followed by a dance at 7:00 to traditional music. This is an open band, so all contra dance musicians are welcome to join us! Calling will be provided by MMTD dance callers. All are welcome at this free event (although donations will be kindly accepted)!
Mark your calendars now with the Fall 2019 schedule here. Most dances are held at the Ballroom Academy Center at 3906 Peachtree Dr, Suite E. (Same building as Bower’s Chiropractic and Cheer.)
Contra Dance – Friday, July 19th. Join us for a contra dance and watermelon 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, June 7, 2019 Join us 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 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. 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, May 31st. Join us 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 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.)
We dance most first, third, and fifth Fridays (see schedule for details).
We always dance to live music. All ages and experience levels welcome. No partner needed.
Contra Dance at The Ballroom Academy of Columbia, 3906 Peachtree Dr. (faces Monterey Dr.), Columbia, MO 65203
English Country Dance at Trinity Presbyterian Church 1600 Rollins Road.
7:30–10:00 pm (beginners’ lesson at 7:00)
Admission $8.00 ($5.00 for ages 16–25 or with student ID; free for children 15 and under)
