What’s New:

NEW: Our next Zoom dance will be Friday, June 5th at 7:30 PM. (We are skipping the Fifth Friday dance this Friday, May 29.) Watch for details soon! Please note that the link for joining the Zoom will only be shared to our email list. This change is due to problems with recent Zoom “Bombing” of our online dance events. If you do not receive our email and would like to be added to the list, please email us at mmtdcolumbia@gmail.com.

NEW: COVID-19 update on April 27, 2020. All dances hosted by Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers are cancelled through the end of June, 2020. The MMTD board made this decision based on the recommendation of our umbrella organization, CDSS (the Country Dance and Song Society.) We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you posted here, on our Facebook pages, and by email as we make decisions on future dances. In the meantime we will plan to gather together online via Zoom or other technology on the first and third Fridays.

We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and continue to be so. We look forward to dancing with you again!

VIRTUAL Dance Gathering on Zoom – Friday, May 15

As we are still unable to dance together in person, please join us online this Friday, May 15 at 7:30 PM. We’ll hear some music from Molly White and Cliff White and our callers Jim Thaxter and Claire Baffaut will lead us in some dancing.

To join you will need to download the free Zoom app to your computer or phone ahead of time. Then at 7:30 on May 15 click on this link: May 15 Zoom event. You will be able to listen and watch, and, if you activate your video, we will all be able to see your beautiful faces. Hope to see you online.

Also stay tuned for future online events. Our tentative plan is to hold these events on the first and third Fridays of the month, following our regular contra dance schedule. 

VIRTUAL Dance Gathering on Zoom – Friday, May 1

Our last online event was a fun get together, so we’re planning another for this Friday, May 1st at 7:30 PM. We’ll hear some music from Tom Verdot and Dave Para and our caller Jim Thaxter will lead us in some dancing, either solo or with your housemates. Jim will give us tips on how to dance with a “ghost” partner and neighbors, so put on your dancing shoes and clear a little space for dancing! We’ll also have time to chat. We miss you and hope you will check in and let us know how you are doing!  

To join you will need to download the free Zoom app to your computer or phone ahead of time. Then at 7:30 on May 1st click on this link: May 1 Zoom event. You will be able to listen and watch, and, if you activate your video, we will all be able to see your beautiful faces. Hope to see you online.

Also stay tuned for future online events. Our tentative plan is to hold these events on the first and third Fridays of the month, following our regular contra dance schedule. 

VIRTUAL Dance Gathering on Zoom – Friday, April 17

Our Contra Dance that was scheduled for Friday, April 17th was to feature music by popular band Snor T Horse with calling by Claire Baffaut. As you probably already know, all of our dances are currently cancelled, at least through May 8. While we are missing our dance friends, the board thought we would try an experiment. You are invited to join our Zoom call this Friday at the regular dance time. You will need to download the Zoom app on your phone or computer ahead of time. Then at 7:30 Friday, click on this link to join the event: Virtual Dance.

The band will play for us in two segments from their two separate venues. We’ll hear from Dave Para on guitar and Erika Gerety on bass from one location and from Mike Fraser on fiddle and Tenley Hansen on keyboards in another. Claire Baffaut will teach us a simple dance from Poland. We hope you will join us! Watch for future similar events.

Cancelled: Contra Dance – Mar. 20, 2020 – 32 BarTenders, Caller Claire Bauffaut

Due to COVID-19 this dance has been cancelled. We will continue to monitor the situation and share decisions on future dances here, on Facebook, and by email.

The Spring Breakdown dance weekend scheduled for March 27-29, 2020 has also been cancelled.

The Hallsville Square Dance is being held as scheduled Saturday, March 14 in Hallsville. More info here.

CANCELED: English Country Dance – Mar. 13, 2020 – Caller Jim Thaxter (NOTE: location is in Jefferson City)

Please note that due to a conflict at the regular venue in Columbia, the March 13th dance will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Jefferson City, 1021 Northeast Drive.) English Country Dance – Friday, Mar 13th, 2020. Come enjoy the courtly music of the Renaissance 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 UU Fellowship of Jefferson City, 1021 Northeast Drive, Jefferson City, MO. 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.

No Dance – Mar. 6, 2020 (Support True/False)

There will be no First Friday contra dance in March due to the True/False Film Festival. Upcoming important dates for your calendar:

Friday, March 13, 7-10 PM: English Country Dance with Jim Thaxter calling, at a special location, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1021 Northeast Drive, Jefferson City.

Saturday, March 14, 4-10 PM: Square Dance, potluck, and music jam in Hallsville, at the Intermediate School.

Friday, March 20, 7-10 PM: Contra dance at the Ballroom Academy of Columbia, with 32 BarTenders and Claire Bauffaut.

March 27-29, Spring Breakdown Contra Dance Weekend at Capital Ritz, 2716 Plaza Drive, Jefferson City.

Contra Dance – Feb. 21, 2020 – Coreopsis – Caller Paula McFarling

Contra Dance – Friday, Feb. 21st. Join us for a contra dance at  3906 Peachtree Drive.  Our lively music will be provided by the band Coreopsis, hailing from Lawrence, Kansas, Coreopsis is Whitney Baker (accordion), Lauralyn Bodle (fiddle), and Noah Musser (guitar). Coreopsis plays a wide variety of traditional music, including American old-time, Celtic jigs, French-Canadian reels, as well original compositions.

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.)