CrossCurrents
Barn Dances

New England-Style Contra Dancing in Kansas City

Merriam Barn Dance on the 2nd Saturday of every month:
Merriam Community Center, 5701 Merriam Drive, just northwest of I-35 and Johnson Drive. (directions)

AND

Midtown Barn Dance on the 4th Saturday of every month:
Jack-o'-Lantern Ballroom, Westport Road & Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri (directions)

This lively type of dancing is done to live fiddle-style music. Great exercise and good fun, it enjoys a wide popularity around the world, including right here in Kansas City!

It only takes a few minutes and one simple lesson to learn the basics--then you can dance the night away! Admission: $6 (includes lesson!).

Beginner class: 7:00 PM; Dance: 7:30 - 10:30 PM

Admission - $6
All dances are taught and called. Please wear clean, soft-soled shoes to protect the floor.

For information, call Laura at 816.353.5815 or Larry & Betsey at 816.444.9686; or e-mail laura@bridgingthegap.org

Locations:
Jack-o'-Lantern Ballroom - Kansas City, Missouri
(Round building just northeast of Main & Westport Roads, next to First Calvary Baptist Church. Look for “Westport Ballet” signs.)

DIRECTIONS, MAP & PHOTO OF BUILDING

Merriam Community Center - Merriam, Kansas
5701 Merriam Drive, Merriam (just northwest of I-35 and Johnson Drive)

DIRECTIONS, MAP & PHOTO OF BUILDING

Other Area Barn Dances:
(All dances start at 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted.)

Lawrence, Kansas:

• 3rd Saturdays of the month at Woodlawn School, 508 Elm
  
• 2nd Sunday of the month - Lawrence Barn Dance Association’s Family Dance, 4:00 PM dance, 5:30pm potluck, ECM Building, 1204 Oread. Call 785.842.7149 for information.
• 5th Saturdays of the month - Lawrence Barn Dance Association’s Bloo Moon Advanced Dances.

Visit their website for information or contact 785.749.1356 or e-mail info@lawrencebarndance.org.

Columbia, Missouri:
On the first, third, and fifth Fridays of the month, First Christian Church, Tenth and Walnut. Visit their website for information.

Wichita, Newton and Manhattan, Kansas:
Visit the Mid-Kansas Contra Dance website at for information about dances in communities.

St. Louis area dances:
Visit their website for information about St. Louis and Carbondale, Illinois dances.

Iowa - Living History Farms in Urbandale:
Flynn Barn Dance Season Opens - On Saturday, May 3, 2003, Martha Tyner of Stanford, Illinios, will be the featured caller as Flying Pig Fiddle & Banjo opens this season's series of monthly old-time barn dances in the historic Flynn Barn at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa. Dancing will be from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Live old-time string band music will be provided by The Talking Fiddleheads. Dances will be predominantly old-time squares and may include circle dances, contras, waltzes, schottisches and polkas. All dances will be taught. No experience or costume is necessary and singles as well as couples are welcome. Parking is at the Living History Farm's Visitor Center with the path to the Flynn Barn marked by lanterns. Admission is $5. All are welcome. Living History Farms is a tobacco-free facility and likewise alcohol is banned at these dances. For further information please call 515-325-6349 or send email to losuredr@ncn.net.

For more regional dance information, visit www.kcfolk.org.

Dance Resources:
Visit these sites to find out more about Contra Dance:

• www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis - a great explanation of contra dance!
  
• www.thecommonspace.org/2002/06/games.php - This article by a St. Louis area contra dancer gives a good overview.
  
• www.contracorners.net - has links to contra dance websites around the country
  
• www.cdss.org - The Country Dance and Song Society has books, music and other information pertaining to traditional dance and music.

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