This page is devoted to listing contra dances in the south central region of the United States along with bands, musicians, callers, and organizations that are based in the region. URLs and e-mail addresses are listed when available. New entries, additional information, and changes in information are always welcome. Links to other pages in the www.contradancelinks.com web site are listed at the bottom of the page.

New links are simply new to me, not necessarily new to the World Wide Web. Change in URL means that a link has changed its WWW address or URL.

Regional

• Bryan Walls provides an overall schedule for Tennessee, Alabama, and several other states. Another page that he is responsible for provides additional information.
• FolkFire, a Folk and Ethnic, Dance and Music Resource for St. Louis and the Central States includes listings for dances in the area and nearby states.
• The Childgrove Country Dancers provide a map and list of contra and square dancing in a wide area around St. Louis.

Alabama

• The Birmingham Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance does New England contra dances, Western square dances, Appalachian circle dances in Birmingham on the 2nd Saturday of each month. In addition, they also host The Old-Time Music and Dance Weekend at Camp Saddlerock in Mentone in mid-August.
• North Alabama Country Dance Society holds dances in Huntsville on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th (Blue Moon) Saturdays of each month. They also host a Blue Moon Weekend, in mid-to-late May.
• There's a series of dances on the 4th Saturday of the month in Tuscaloosa.

Arkansas

• The Fayetteville Traditional Dance Society generally holds dances on the 3rd Saturday of the month. There is the occasional special dance such as the Valentine's Day dance. Daniel H. Luecking supports the site.
• The Arkansas Country Dance Society (ACDS) sponsors contra dances, old time squares, and English country dances in North Little Rock on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Fridays. In addition they sponsor or participate in several special events such as the Mountain View Dance Festival in early-mid September. Stephanie Maloney handles the Web duties.

Louisiana

• The Florida Parishes Old-Time Association is centrally operated out of Hammond, Louisiana and supports barn dance efforts by coordinating communication and providing educational information. For the most recent activity announcements please visit the e-group message archives.

Mississippi

• No listings at present.

Missouri

• Martha Edwards and Greg Rohde provide information about the Cape Girardeau dances which are held (generally) on the 1st Saturday of the month.
• The Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers hold contra dances on the 1st and 3rd and 5th Fridays of the month in Columbia, for the most part from mid-September to mid-June. They host the Spring Breakdown in the spring in March. Marcie McGuire supports the page.
• The NEMOFOTMAD (Northeast Missouri Friends of Traditional Music and Dance - what a mouthful!) Contra Dances take place on the Second Friday from October to December and from March to May in, Hannibal, beginning at 7pm.
• The CrossCurrents Contra Dance Committee hosts dances in Kansas City on the 4th Saturday of each month.
• There is a new dance series in Maplewood focused on dancers for those in their twenties and teens. New entry (November 7, 2007)
• A new dance series has started in Maryville on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Updated dance date (February 24, 2008) New entry (January 31, 2008)
• The Traditional Dance & Music Society dances continue on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month in Springfield. In addition to their monthly dances, they will be hosting the October Sole Fest in late October/early November.
• The Childgrove Country Dancers host contra and square dancing in St. Louis on the 2nd Saturday and 1st, 3rd & 4th Sundays of the month plus waltzing on the 2nd Sunday of the month and calling parties on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of the month. Martha Edwards and Greg Rohde provide web support. Added mention of calling parties (January 31, 2008)
• They also hold the Kimmswick Dance Weekend each year, in the spring (usually Memorial Day Weekend). It is held at Cuivre River State Park near Troy.

Tennessee

• The Athens Area Council for the Arts sponsors dances in Athens each month on the 1st Saturday of the month.
• The Chattanooga Traditional Dance Society presents contra dancing on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month plus an occasional dance on other dates.
• The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society holds dances on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.
• The Knoxville Country Dancers sponsor weekly dances on Mondays and host a Knoxville Dance Weekend in mid-February.
• The Memphis Contra Dancers host dances on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month. Ernest Kelly hosts the page. Change in dates (February 1, 2008)
• The Nashville Country Dancers have a contra dance every Friday night except for those preempted by a Saturday dance, a holiday or a special event. There is English Country Dancing available every Monday night. In addition, the group sponsors a Playford Ball in March, and the Fall Dance Weekend in October.
• The Sewanee Contra Dancers on the Mountain occur on various dates, generally on a Friday later in the month.
• The Flat Creek Contra Dance is held on 2nd Tuesdays (2nd and 4th Tuesdays during the fall) near Shelbyville with Chrissy Davis-Camp calling and a large number of pickers playing.

Texas

• Although getting slightly cobwebby, Contra dancing in Texas is a impressive collection of information about dances in Texas maintained by Rick Piel.
• A small part of the menu of activities of The Austin Friends of Traditional Music is contra dancing on the 3rd Saturday of each month and they sponsor the Fire Ant Frolic in October. Adrienne Inglis maintains the page.
• The Austin Friends of Traditional Music also have information about the 1st Friday contra dance series in Austin with local bands and callers. Slight change in URL (February 1, 2008)
• The Austin Barn Dancers host dances on Wednesday nights along with the Dance in the Park in March.
• For complete coverage of the scene in Austin, try Welcome to Contra Dancing in Austin!
• On 1st Saturdays, there is a dance in Bryan/College Station. Stan provides the information. Change in dates (February 1, 2008)
• The North Texas Traditional Dance Society promotes contra dancing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and hosts dances, mostly contra, with a healthy smattering of English Country, Square, and folk mixers thrown in. They dance every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturday of the month. They also hold a festival called When In Doubt, Swing in early April and a weekend at the end of the year called Fiddler's Dream.
• The Houston Traditional Dance Society hosts contra dances on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. William F. Simmons maintains the site. In addition, they sponsor the Bayou Bedlam in mid-February.
• The folks in San Antonio have a new domain and they continue to dance on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Linda Moran handles the web duties.
• Old-Fashioned Barn Dances are held in Wimberly at the Community Center on a periodic basis.

Bands and Musicians

• While the page is fairly cobwebby, Sharon Rempert gives descriptions and contact information for bands, musicians, and callers in Texas.
• The Houston Area Traditional Dance Society has information about a number of area bands.
• Steve Horn has a page on Dallas Area Contrabands.  
• All Strung Out is unique combination of musicians (Jimmy Drury on piano and Bruce Kanagaki on fiddle) has resulted in a wonderful sound for San Antonio.
• Ed Baggot is a fiddler in Huntsville, Alabama.
• Bambi in the Headlights is a new band out of Dallas, Texas.
• Cathy Barton and Dave Para play a range of music from the lively dance tunes they have collected in their home region to old ballads to new songs. They are based in Missouri.
• Black Hairy Possum is community band that plays "Old Tyme, Appalachian, Celtic and Traditional Music with just a touch (ting!) of the unorthodox." and enjoys playing for Contra Dances. They hail from Northeast Missouri, USA.
• Blunn Creek traditional New England contra dance tunes and modern creations throughout Texas. Sharon Rempert gives the info.
• While the initial focus of Boru, a San Antonio, Texas band, was music in the Irish tradition, the set list now draws from a much more varied body of musical traditions.
• Cactus Canyon is San Antonio's local long-standing contra band, formed in 1985. They've played mostly for contra dances, but have also played for the annual Victorian Gala (and other Fiesta events), the San Antonio Folklife Festival, and for various other public events as well as for the occasional wedding.
• The Cantrells feature Al and Emily Cantrell and play bluegrass, western, western swing, Irish fiddle tunes, original contradance tunes, jazz standards, and even an occasional Broadway "hit." They are based in Tennessee. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (February 3, 2008)
• From St. Louis, Missouri, the band, Chicks with Guns features Barbara Weathers, Billy Mathews, and Tom Hall.
• While Clan White Thorn plays mostly at Civil War (United States) dances, it does play at the occasional contra dance.
• Matt Combs plays fiddle and mandolin with the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, groups such as Sub-ID and has taught at the Blair School of Music and Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Camp. He is based in Nashville, Tennessee. MySpace page. New entry (November 15, 2007)
• The Cooper Street Classics play on a regular basis in Memphis, Tennessee. (e-mail only)
• The Cumberland Tenderfoots play for dances and other events in Nashville, Tennessee. New entry (August 2, 2007)
• The Feral Brothers is David Lovett's road band. The band plays traditional and original instrumental music in the style of old-time Appalachian The band is based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• The Fiery Gizzard Old Time String Band is based in South Pittsburg, Tennessee occasionally plays at dances along with other events. New entry (April 21, 2008)
• Flying Jenny, from Birmingham, Alabama includes Jim & Joyce Cauthen and Duncan Blair and plays old-time string band music. The site is maintained by Jim and Joyce Cauthen.
• The Flying Mules plays bluegrass with a little swing, a smidgen of jazz, some rock overtones and, every once and again, especially in the harmonies, a touch of barbershop quartet and the gospel blues in St. Louis, Missouri. Site has problems (February 3, 2008)
• The Free Range Chickens is a Dallas based old time band featuring Ray Quigley on fiddle, Jim Cadorette on mandolin and fiddle, Tevis Kriechbaum on clawhammer banjo, and David Kesterson on guitar. New entry (August 9, 2007)
• Paul and Win Grace can be found performing in a variety of settings all over the United States and Canada, including contra dances, and are based in Missouri.
• Leela and Ellie Grace play mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and banjo and have taught percussive dance styles that include Appalachian clogging, Irish Step Dancing, and Rhythm Tap. They occasionally play at a contra dance and are based in Missouri. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 14, 2007)
• Steve Horn has a page on Happensdance or you look at Sharon Rempert's information about the band.
• Hazel and the Delta Ramblers play on a regular basis across Louisiana.
• Thom Howard plays guitar with a variety of musicians at dances in Missouri. New entry (December 12, 2007)
• The Ill-Mo Boys, consisting of Geoff Seitz on fiddle, Curtis Buckannon on mandolin, and Jim Nelson on guitar play, as you might guess, in Missouri, Illinois, and nearby venues.
• The Kaubells (pronounced "Cowbells") are a 2-person husband and wife (Matt Kaufmann plays the piano, and Holly Bell plays the fiddle) band playing a mix of original and traditional tunes. Additional site. Added additional site (February 3, 2008)
• Missouri fiddle player Dave Landreth has a page about old-time tunes, his CD and his other endeavors.
• Kim and Jim Lansford play old-time music, including music for dances and are based in the Ozarks of Missouri. The Old-Time Herald has a lengthy article about and their careers and music. Change of URL (August 9, 2007)
• The Lone Star Ceili Band is one of Texas' custodians of traditional Irish music and dance.
• David Lovett plays banjo & guitar in various bands and is based in Tennessee.
• Sharon Rempert has a page on The M & M Band featuring fiddler Mimi Rogers from Dallas and pianist Marilyn Cooper from Houston.
• Missouri Compromise is a 6 piece band focusing on Civil War Era appropriate music, ready, willing and able to perform in period dress, (or at least an increasingly reasonable facsimile thereof). It is available for Civil War Reenactment Balls, and other events reflecting that period, as well as Contra Dances. From North East Missouri /West Central Illinois. Contact Dale or Sarah McUmber-House at 573-985-4141Ê See our 'alter-ego', Ralugerri. New entry (September 17, 2007)
• Mockingingbird is a high energy band that will make the dancers go crazy from Austin to all over Texas and beyond.
• Owen Morrison is a full-time guitarist, living in Nashville, Tennessee, who is a member of House Red, the Morrison Brothers Band, the Figments, and Night Watch. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 15, 2007)
• Chattanooga's Mudville Mafia include John Duvall, Tim Neal, Phil Hodge, Mark Trundle and guest Mike Eldridge. New entry (October 15, 2007)
• The Mumbillies play at dances in and around Tennessee.
• As might be expected, the Nashville Ceili Band plays in and around Nashville, Tennessee. (e-mail only) New entry (August 2, 2007)
• Nashville Weather started as a contra dance band years ago and still plays at contra dances from time to time. They are based in Tennessee.
• New Bad Habits with Dave Landreth, Chirps Smith, Tim Foss, Andrew Gribble and Dot Kent, play old-time, the music that combines the traditions of immigrants bringing their music to America for more than two centuries; music intended to accompany ethnic as well as uniquely American dances. The members hail from Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. Change of URL (August 9, 2007)
• The New Lost Weasel Concern are a hard-driving old-time band available for appearances in Knoxville and the beautiful surrounding countryside. With up to three fiddlers, plus bass, banjo, and hammer dulcimer, the band makes quite a ruckus.
• Nine Mile Burn plays Celtic Music in a new tradition and is based in Kansas City, Missouri.
• No Foolin' plays authentic 19th Century dance music in and around Huntsville, Texas. New entry (August 9, 2007)
• The Old 78's are Curly Miller and Carole Anne Rose who play an unusual style of Old Time fiddle and clawhammer banjo, Hillbilly Fiddle Rags, Classic Banjo duets, Irish, Scottish, Celtic, World and historic music. The group is based in Arkansas.
• Perfect 5th features Willie Simmons on guitar, bass, and piano; Keith Holmes on piano, accordion, and clarinet; Gail Huggett on hammered dulcimer and piano; Cheryl Cleary on whistle, flute, recorder, and percussion and Teresa Henrichs on fiddle and viola and is based in Houston, Texas.
• Permanent Wave is a contra dance band located in the Houston, Texas area.
• Elsie Peterson is a musician in Alabama (e-mail only).
• The Pine Needle Runners are an "Old-Time String Band" and feature Jon Polacheck (guitar), Susan Spruance (bass), Jacqui Wooley (fiddle), Angie Wooten (banjo), Terry Wooten (guitar), and Tim Wooten (fiddle, harmonica). Sharon Rempert's supplies the needed data.
• Ralugerri is a 6 piece band focusing on Irish Traditional and Celtic music. It is available for Contra Dances and other events from North East Missouri/West Central Illinois. Contact Dale or Sarah McUmber-House at 573-985-4141Ê See our 'alter-ego', Missouri Compromise. New entry (September 17, 2007)
• Bart Ramsey & Neti Vann play a great collection of contra-versial jigs, reels and waltzes. Bart's contra-puntal piano rhythm will add bounce to your dance steps, and Neti's violin keeps the energy going in the New Orleans, Louisiana area.
• Red Mountain plays traditional string band music in Alabama. The site is maintained by Jim and Joyce Cauthen. Change of band name (August 9, 2007)
• The Reel McCoy, featuring Joel Kaserman, Ritchie Schuman, Bethann Miller, Harry Johnson, Cheryl Parker and Julia Wallis, frequently plays at the dances in Memphis, Tennessee.
• The Reel Time String Band is Fort Worth, Texas' contra dance band.
• Reel Women are basically dance musicians, and have considered refusing to play when people won't get up and dance, and are comprised of Martha Edwards and Kristin Graham and are based in Missouri.
• Jim Roberts plays percussion in the band, Footloose, and with other groups and on other projects. He is based in Tennessee. MySpace page. Added MySpace page (November 13, 2007)
• Squirrelheads in Gravy plays delicious old-time music in Texas with Jack Izen, Ray Quigley, Neia Lively Izen, Greg Breiland and Joe Izen stirring the pot.
• Martha Edwards provides information about Stringdancer, a band based in Missouri.
• Threadneedle St plays Celtic music in the Fort Worth, Texas area at pubs, festivals and dances.
• Tuberville is Elaine and Mark Davis, Leon Ashley Peek, Brian Horn and Steve Horn and is based in Texas.
• The Vigortones include Jim Nelson, Chirps Smith, and David Landreth. The web site Old Time Music has information about the band. They are based in Missouri (?).
• Vulcan's Britches, from Birmingham, Alabama, plays what they call old-time music, meaning the traditional music style of the southern Appalachians, first recorded in the late 1920's and early '30's. They feature Kurt Kinbacher (guitar and banjo), Allen Peterson (fiddle), Terry McGinn (fiddle), Bobby Weathers (upright bass), and Carter Laney (banjo and guitar).
• The Young Family String Band plays contras throughout Texas, as well as festivals and other gigs around the state and beyond.
• San Antonio's Zen Pig is not responsible for injuries resulting from excessive dancing, or other physical phenomena related to released musical energy.

Callers

• While it is a bit cobwebby, Sharon Rempert gives descriptions and contact information for bands, musicians, and callers in Texas.
• Marc Airhart has called at various dances in Texas since 1998. Check with San Antonio dancers for more info. (e-mail only) Correct e-mail again (grin) (November 2, 2007) Correct e-mail and information (October 26, 2007)
• Reuven AnafShalom calls in the environs of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. (e-mail only)
• Joe Barziza calls at the dance in Dallas, Texas and other locales. (e-mail only (take out the (at)))
• Lissa Bengston started calling in Tulsa in the early 1990's and is now based in San Antonio, Texas.
• Nick Boulet calls in Knoxville, Tennessee, and other locations. Change from e-mail to URL (July 13, 2007)
• Donna Calhoun lives and calls in the Knoxville, Tennessee area.
• Chrissy Davis-Camp calls from Nashville, Tennessee (e-mail only).
• Harry Delugach calls from Huntsville, Alabama.
• Lee Dodge calls on a regular basis in San Antonio, Texas.
• Eddie Doss calls in and around Nashville. (e-mail only) New entry (August 2, 2007)
• Jane Ewing is from the Huntsville, Alabama, area and calls there and in other locales across the South and sometimes in other parts of the United States. (e-mail only)
• Kat Difoxfire teaches and calls Irish set and ceili dancing, and American Contra dancing. She has been leading the Central Missouri Celtic Arts Association set/ceili dance club. (e-mail only) New entry (April 30, 2008)
• Grant Goodyear calls in Walhalla, South Carolina and in Texas on a regular basis.
• Jerome Grisanti moved to Marhyville, Missouri in 2006 and has been calling in the Kansas City and Lawrence area dances and before that in the Louisville region, including Lexington and Cincinnati, and has ventured as far as Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina to call dances since 2002.
• Jim Hawkins calls in Springfield and around the Missouri area. (e-mail only) New entry (April 3, 2008)
• The Mike Head calls in the Houston, Texas area. (e-mail for the caller)
• Vicki Herndon calls on a regular basis at the dances in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• Jef Hodge calls in Alabama. (e-mail only)
• Keith Holmes is a Houston-based caller whose calling style is enjoyed by contra dancers throughout Texas. Check the San Antonio dancers for more information.
• Steve Horn is a caller in the Dallas, Texas area. (e-mail only)
• Deborah Hyland, from Missouri, calls in Illinois/Missouri region and includes family dances and dances for civil war reenactments across the Midwest and South in her repertoire.
• Chris Kelly calls at the Santa Fe, New Mexico dance at various times and also at other venues in the area. Visit the San Antonio dancers for more information as he appears to be based in Texas with this possible e-mail.
• Susan Kevra is contra, square and English dance caller, musician and singer currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. (e-mail only)
• Tim Klein is a caller from Knoxville, Tennessee. (e-mail only). Change of e-mail (November 1, 2007)
• Toby Koosman calls from Knoxville, Tennessee. (e-mail only)
• Joanna Laney of Birmingham, Alabama calls on a regular basis in that area. (e-mail only)
• Rich MacMath calls at various venues in Texas. Sharon Rempert provides the data.
• Paula McFarling calls on a regular basis in Columbia, Missouri along with calling in St. Louis and Kansas City. (e-mail only)
• Mac McKeever calls at the St. Louis, Missouri dance and at other venues. (e-mail only)
• Linda Mrosko has been calling contra dances all over Texas (and Oklahoma) for over 15 years.
• Sharon Rempert provides information about Dana Nicolay, a caller from Texas.
• Martha Quigley is caller from the Dallas, Texas area. (e-mail only (take out the (at)))
• Dale Rempert calls in Texas including Austin and Houston. (e-mail for the caller)
• Anthony Risenhower calls in the San Antonio, Texas area.
• Chuck Roth calls in Austin, Texas, San Antonio and other locations. (e-mail only)
• Ann Sarmiento resides in Austin, Texas and draws on ten years of dancing experience to fuel her passion of sharing the dance with others. (e-mail only)
• Barb Smith calls in the Houston, Texas area. (e-mail for the caller)
• Ted Steele calls on a regular basis in St. Louis, Missouri and other locales. (e-mail only)
• Sandy Strand started contra dancing in 1983 with the Lawrence, Kansas Barn Dance Association and started calling contras since 1994 in the environs of Kansas and Missouri. She now is based in Washington State. (e-mail only (take out the AT))
• Jim Thaxter calls in Kansas City and Columbia, Missouri and other area dances. (e-mail only) Change in e-mail (November 7, 2007)
• Jim Thompson has called for dances in Texas for over a decade.
• Keith Tuxhorn calls in the Austin, Texas area. (e-mail only)
• Eric Vidacovich lives in Richmond, Texas and calls in the Houston area. (e-mail only)
• Diann Weatherly calls from Birmingham, Alabama. (e-mail only)
• Chuck Weber calls at dances in Huntsville, Alabama and at other dances in the South. (e-mail only)

Organizations

• FolkFire, a Folk and Ethnic, Dance and Music Resource for St. Louis and the Central States includes listings for dances in the area and nearby states.
• Jubilee Community Arts is a regional, community cultural center, dedicated to preserving and nurturing the evolving traditional arts and cultural communities of the Southern Appalachian region near Knoxville. Change of URL (August 9, 2007)
• CrossCurrents is a non-profit corporation in Kansas City, Missouri which is dedicated to people creating their own culture, even if it means preferring crude vigor to polished banality. They produce concerts, plays, and community events.
• The Austin Friends of Traditional Music is dedicated to encouraging the performance, appreciation, preservation, and sharing of all genres of traditional / folk / ethnic / international music and dance. From Old-Time, Celtic, Bluegrass, and traditional Jazz to Latin American, Zydeco, Cajun, and Gospel, AFTM has provides the Austin community with a sampling of musical and dance expressions from folk cultures the world over.
• The NEMOFOTMAD NorthEast MO Friends Of Traditional Music And Dance sponsor dances and jam sessions.

http://www.contradancelinks.com/south.html
Produced by Charlie Seelig
Last updated on April 30, 2008