Dances
Where to Dance ECD near St. Louis
Want to learn more or find other opportunities to dance in the old style? Try these.
Dance Discovery
Dance Discovery is a performance troupe, but it occasionally holds public dances. Here is a YouTube video of the Inaugural Ball sponsored by Dance Discovery on January 20, 2009, and here's a handy Dance Discovery brochure.
The St Louis English Country Dancers
The St Louis English County Dancers hold bi-monthly dances - second Fridays at the Brentwood Congregational Church and fourth Mondays at Focal Point. Here's a flyer.
Jovial Beggars
The Jovial Beggars hold occasional dances in Salem or Rolla, MO. In the picture to the right, Kimberly Hall prompts the dances for the "English Country Dancing in Hats" Ball. Most of the dancers are high school age, some younger, some older. There are 60- 90 people who attend these dances, which often feature music from the Hibernia Station band from Jefferson City, MO.
Directions to the Commons
From Salem: Going north on HWY 72 turn left on County Road 2300 (just past the fair grounds, before reaching the hospital), then left again into the fair grounds area.
From Rolla: Going south on HWY 72, pass the hospital and turn right onto the County Road 2300 and then left.
English Country Dance for Homeschoolers
This page lists contact information for two English Country Dances for Homeschoolers, one run by the MacDonald family, and one by Dr. John Ramsay.
Highland Mist Scottish Country Dancers
Scottish dancing is a close relative of the Anglo-American set dance experience. The local group is the Highland Mist Scottish Country Dancers.
Columbia MO
The folks in Columbia, Missouri are starting a new Engish dance, with backing from John Shewmaker and Jim Thaxter. The picture at the left is from their dance in February of 2009, showing the Uncanny Musicians band.
Champaign-Urbana IL
Jonathan Sivier has shepherded the thriving Central Illinois English Country Dance for years. Here's their schedule.
They hold special dances twice a year, a Christmas Ball in December and a Playford Ball in June.
A special English/American weekend, Marchfest, is being held March 19-21, 2010, featuring music from Pigtown Alley, with calling by Nikki Herbst and Kathy Anderson. Here's a flyer (pdf) and here's the registration form (pdf).
Fairfield IA
Fairfield English Dance is a long-established dance which meets in a wonderful hall in quaint downtown Fairfield most Friday nights. They bring Bare Necessities there twice a year.
Lawrence, KS
This is a new dance, which meets in a wonderful old house in Lawrence, Kansas, fourth Sundays. Write Jill Allen for more information.
Nashville, TN - March 19-22, 2010
The Nashville Country Dancers has weekly English dances and an annual Playford Ball, next year on March 19-21, 2009 with Playford's PaJaMa (Pam Carson Stoll, Jane Knoeck and Martha Edwards), calling by Brad Foster.
Dallas, TX - March 19-22, 2010
The North Texas Traditional Dance Society presents its Set For Spring English Country Dance Weekend in Dallas, Texas, on March 19 - 22, 2010.
Joseph Pimentel will be calling, with music provided by Foxfire (Daron Douglas on Violin and Karen Axelrod on Piano) at the Dallas Arts Council Ballroom, a 6,000 square-foot ballroom with a sprung wood floor and a great view of downtown Dallas.
Minneapolis, MN
The Minnesota Country Dance Coop organizes a Playford Ball, usually scheduled for the first Saturday in March.
Yet Other Dances
- The national CDSS Event List
- The Stanford List of regular English Country Dances around the country.