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, December 6 Contra Dance at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia. This will be a special event! We welcome a new out-of-town band for us, Patt & Possum, as well as welcoming back guest caller Jim Hemphill! 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, Dec. 6th. New band alert! We will welcome Patt and Possum playing for us for the first time!
After twenty plus years of playing traditional music together Patt Plunkett and Charlie Walden (aka Patt & Possum) have learned a thing or two about getting along musically. So while some couples bicker about the bills or where to go out to eat, these two do battle over chord progression and set lists. This duo from the Midwest pumps out so much melody and rhythm you’ll think there’s a five-piece ensemble hidden behind a curtain somewhere. As seasoned dance musicians (and Patt an accomplished caller in her own right) Patt & Possum play music sure to get you off your seat and out onto the dance floor!
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. This dance is one not to be missed!
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, November 15. Our lively music will be provided by Mound City Slickers, with Sean Belt on guitar, banjo ukulele, ukulele, mandolin, and fiddle; Lindell Blackford on mandolin and fiddle; Bill Stewart on fiddle; Richard Hibbs on banjo; Rich Egan on piano; and Keith Dudding on guitar and mandolin. They share their joy of dance music. Their mottos from their website being, “So many tunes, so little time.” And “It ain’t old time, it’s Missouri.”
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, Nov. 8th, 2019. Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaissance period with our 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 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 – Friday, Nov. 1st. 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 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.)
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.
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)
