Important Spring Breakdown News: Please read if you are planning to attend! TL/DR: One negative rapid home COVID test required per our agreement with the band. A food truck will be on site Saturday from 9-around 5:30. Don’t park in the lots marked reserved parking. Details at the link.
Thank you to the 150 dancers who joined us for a weekend of reconnecting, meeting new friends, and dancing to one of the best contra dance bands and callers around: Elixir with Nils Fredland! Dancers came from all Missouri and from other states including Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Georgia. We especially appreciate those that traveled so far to be with us and hope you had safe travels home or on to your next dance! We also want to thank Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, for their support of this event.
We’ll be posting photos and videos from the event on our Facebook group page at Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers. Feel free to add your own!
If you’re in Mid-Missouri, join us for our next regularly scheduled local dance on Saturday, April 1st at Columbia Independent School, 1801 N Stadium Blvd, Columbia, MO. Local favorite River Ridge String Band will be playing, with great calling by Claire Baffaut. Lesson at 7:00 pm, dancing begins at 7:30.
Mark your calendar for St Patrick’s Day weekend, 2024, for another round of Spring Breakdown! Details TBA.
If any of these items left behind belong to you contact us at mmtdcolumbia@gmail.com.
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Spring Breakdown is next weekend, March 17-19 at Capital Ritz Banquet and Dance Center, 2716 Plaza Drive in Jefferson City, MO. After a delay of two years we will finally get to dance to Elixir, with band member Nils Fredland calling! You can still register for a weekend pass online at Eventbrite or pay for the weekend or individual dances at the door. Please read ASAP if you are planning to join us:
NEGATIVE COVID TEST REQUIRED: If you missed this information in previous posts and emails, please note: All attendees at Spring Breakdown are required to present a negative COVID test for admittance upon arrival for the weekend. A photo of the test on your phone or the test strip may be used. Please take a rapid home test within the 24 hours prior to your arrival. You will only need to show your test result once. Then you will pick up a dance button at the registration desk and show this button for all other events you attend. We will have some tests available at the door, but testing at the door will slow down registration for everyone. Please test before you arrive to help us make this a great experience for everyone! This policy is part of our arrangement with our band, who make their living playing music and are not all able to wear masks.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation, MMTD Board and Elixir
More important things to know for the weekend. Some great news and a bit of not-so-great news Hall’s Kitchen Food Truckwill be on site on Saturday from 9:00 am to around 5:30 pm! They offer a diverse menu of scratch made food. Gluten free and vegetarian options will be available. Price Range $$
Alice Boyle and Robert Rosenberg have offered to play for the open waltzing on Sunday from noon to 1:00 pm! Many of you know them from STEAM! who played for our last Spring Breakdown. This will be a real treat!
Potluck Brunch on Sunday: We will provide a waffle bar, a yogurt parfait bar, breakfast casseroles, coffee and tea. Please bring a food item of your choice to add to the table. Fruit, pastries, smoked salmon, etc.
Friday and Saturday night after-dance social and jam: Bring your musical instruments, your own drinks, and sharable snacks.
The not-so-good news: The parking rules have changed from 2019. The state office buildings near the venue are no longer available and are marked No Parking. Please park in the Capital Ritz parking lot next to the building or just around the corner at the Capital Ritz Annex on Metro Street. You can also park on the street. There is plenty of parking available.
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Spring Breakdown dance weekend featuring Elixir and Nils Fredland is happening soon! We are so excited to bring this outstanding band and caller to Mid-Missouri for our first dance weekend since 2019! As you can see and hear from this video, we are in for a treat.
We are happy to have received quite a few registrations already, If you haven’t registered, now’s the time! Early Bird weekend passes are available for only $90 through this Friday, March 3. After that they are $100. Weekend passes for students are $40/$50.
Check our Spring Breakdown webpage for the schedule, a la carte pricing, and links for registering. All events will take place at Capital Ritz Banquet & Dance Center, 2716 Plaza Drive, Jefferson City, MO.
We are still looking for volunteers to help with registration and social events, and for providing housing for out-of-town dancers. Email Jan at volunteersmmtd@gmail.com to volunteer your time or Molly at mmtdhousing@gmail.com for housing offers and requests.
COVID precautions: We are requiring a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours prior to your arrival at your first event of the weekend. Plan ahead and get your free home test early so you have it on hand. To help everyone register as quickly as possible, we strongly urge you to complete the test before you arrive at the venue. Bring the test result or a photo of the result on your phone to registration for your first event. We will have some tests available at the door. You will only need to show one test result one time. After that, your dance button with your name on it is your ticket into other events you’ve signed up for. This policy is part of our arrangement with our wonderful band and the MMTD Board and Elixir appreciate your cooperation.
MMTD Contra Dance with Paul Fotsch and Friends and Claire Baffaut Friday, February 17th Doors at 7, dance from 7:30 to 10:00 pm
Location: The Ashland American Legion Post 152, at 123 E. Broadway, right on the main drag in downtown Ashland, MO.
Please join us for our regular third Friday MMTD Contra Dance at the American Legion in Ashland, MO.
Paul Fotsch and Friends will be providing the tunes, and Claire Baffaut will be calling.
Come early for a contra dance lesson or refresher and be ready to join in when dancing officially starts at 7:30.
Our Ashland venue has a great dance floor, and the live music and calling shouldn’t be missed. So we hope to see you there!
Please note changes to our COVID policies and admission charges:
We are now encouraging masks, rather than requiring them. We also encourage all attendees to be fully vaccinated.
New full admission price: $10 Listener and student price: $5 16 and under: Free
You can park on the street in front of the American Legion hall. If you can’t find a spot, there’s plenty of parking in back and you may use the back door. (See photo below)
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: Since winter is upon us, if the weather looks iffy, be sure to check the MMTD Facebook site, website, or watch your email for announcements about cancelations before traveling to the dance.
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