FPOTA
 		Florida Parishes Old-time Association

South Central USA
Old-time Music and Dance Guide

Dance Weekend Guide
Travel to a surrounding Contra Dance Weekend.

Availability of OTMaD in the Deep South
 circa 2007
If you live in the Deep South you are going to have to travel to get to an Old-time Dance that is typical of the venues with Contra Dance, Traditional Square Dance, and Appalachian Style Circle Dance that are popular these days throughout the USA (and beyond).  If you are looking to play Old-time Music you will find some of that here and there, but you may have to scratch around a bit to find it.  There are a number of groups that focus on Civil War era culture that are fairly easy to find.

At this time the states of Louisiana and Mississippi are completely void of traditional, family style Old-time Dances.  In this case "traditional" is defined as being a dance where:
  • You don't have to bring a partner.
  • You don't have to wear a costume.
  • Children are welcome.
  • There is no rigorous (and sometimes expensive) training process involved.
  • You pay as you go (or dues are optional).
A list of alternate activities for the SE LA region is available on this site if you are visiting or new to the area and are looking for local folk music and dance related activities.

If you live in the LA or MS region and would like to experience a contra dance as they are popularly practiced around the USA and abroad then it is suggested you visit a dance weekend listed below.

If you want to learn more about what Contra Dance is then please start with the Old-time Dance Introduction at OTMaD.net.

FPOTA - SE Louisiana
Dance Weekend Guide
arranged by date (more or less)

This is a list of popular Old-time Dance Weekends around the Deep South region. To assist with travel time estimation an approximate mileage value to the listed location is given between main post office locations (or the hall when available), with Hammond, LA (70401) being the origin, which is the heart of the Florida Parishes region.  I used MapQuest to make these calculations.

NOTE:  the "hall" maps are to the USUAL location... be sure to check the host's dance pages for the latest info.  (I used the ACME Mapper to make these links.  This site has a really slick feature that allows you to make multiple markers to exact locations and label them yourself, then create an easy link to use.  Check it out!  Try entering zip codes or addresses to find locations.)
  • January/February
    • Bayou Bedlam - Houston, TX  77009 - 314mi  hall
      • Presented by: Houston Area Traditional Dance Society - HATDS
      • HATDS Special Events List
      • Nice bunch of folks.  Check it out.
  • March
    • MEMFEST - Memphis, TN  38103 - 340mi  MCD hall
      • Presented by: Memphis Contra Dancers - MCD
      • This is a small yet cozy location, limited to 120 dancers.  This is a very friendly bunch (as most contra dancers are), definitely worth a look.
  • April (or March or May)
    • When In Doubt Swing - WIDS - Dallas, TX  75201 - 487mi  hall
      • Presented by: North Texas Traditional Dance Society - NTTDS
      • This is a great dance hall, and quite a party!  Be sure to consider this one.
  • May/June
      • Presented by: North Alabama Country Dance Society - NACDS
      • This is a great event (especially for a first time experience).  The Friday night dance is usually/sometimes in their regular dance hall, which has a deluxe sprung wood floor.  The remaining activities are located in the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) University Center.  (Read a review of this dance.)
  • October/November
    • Fire Ant Frolic - FAF - Austin, TX  78705 - 474mi  hall entrance
      • Presented by: Austin Friends of Traditional Music (AFTM) and Austin Contra Dancing (ACD).
      • This event is gaining quite a reputation.  "The Fed" is a grand dance hall, and Austin a very active contra dance community with a weekly dance and two weekend dances.  This is one you don't want to miss.  (Read a review of the Austin Contra Dance scene.)


FPOTA
Florida Parishes Old-time Association
Hammond, LA  70401 - USA

contact info