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Contra Dance, Friday Dec. 7th  – 32 BarTenders with Abigail Hobart calling.

Check out the Fall 2018 Contra and English Country Dance Schedule! Click on tab above.

Mark your calendars! Spring Breakdown Dance 2019 at the Capital City Ritz (Jefferson City), March 29 – 31, 2019. More details coming……

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2018 Spring Breakdown Dance Weekend photos and videos. Thank you Jan Harcourt!!!

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.  If you have photos or videos from the event we encourage you to share them there as well, so everyone can enjoy the memories!

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.)

 

Contra Dance – Nov 16, 2018 with Snor T Horse

Contra Dance – Friday, Nov 16th.  Come join us Friday, Nov 16th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by Snor T 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 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.)

Concert and Contra Dance – Nov 2, 2018 with the Volo Bogtrotters

Concert and Contra Dance – Friday, Nov. 2nd.  Mark your calendars now for this special treat! The Volo Blogtrotters will be bringing their unique and high energy style old-time string band music for both a concert AND contra dance on Friday, Nov. 2nd. The concert will be 7:30pm – 8:30pm and the dance 8:30pm – 10:30pm. Please note this will be at a special location – Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School on 1208 Locust Street, Columbia, MO. Come early to find parking. Tickets will be $15, students – $10.

Members of the band include Lynn Smith (fiddle, mandolin, and vocals), Fred Campeau (fiddle, banjo, guitar, slide guitar, ukulele, and vocals), Steve Rosen (Banjo, fiddle, guitar, and vocals), Tony Scarimbolo (bass and vocals), Jim Nelson (guitar and vocals) and Paul Tyler (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and vocals).

 The Volo Bogtrotters are an old-time American string band, based in the Chicago area, that played songs and tunes from the string bands of the 1920s and fiddle music from the Midwest, as well as from other new and traditional sources. The band was together from about 1984 to around 2002 and during that period made four recordings on the Marimac Label. They played at many music festivals and traditional dance venues and were known for their driving twin fiddle sound and old songs gleaned from 78 rpm recordings. Six members of the band have recently united again (2011) to play occasional dances and festivals

Jim Thaxter, our caller, 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.

 

Contra Dance – Oct 19, 2018 with Three Around Three

Contra Dance – Friday, Oct 19th.  Come join us Friday, Oct 19th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive.  Our lively music will be provided by the band Three Around Three, a Columbia old-time band featuring Bill Foley on banjo, Cliff White on guitar, and Pippa Letsky on fiddle.  They like to play for fiddle jams and contra dances, maybe some American old-time tunes, maybe some original tunes, and maybe even a touch of Irish tunes.

Our caller will be Paula McFarling. She 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 – Oct 5th, 2018 with Amber and Dave

Contra Dance – Friday, Oct 5th.  Come join us Friday, Oct 5th for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive. Our lively music will be provided by Amber and Dave, with Amber Gaddy on accordion, Dave Cavins on guitar, and Angie Lennie on fiddle.

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.)