February 12, 2009 Issue
Whirling, Birling and Twirling at an Old-Fashioned Country Dance
Next Dance in Todd Is February 27
They danced to midnight last January at Todd Mercantile. “Everybody’s welcome,” said Enzmann, “and you can wear whatever you want.” Photo by Frederica Georgia
At the beginning of the second act of Oklahoma!, the whole community heads to the barn to dance. In that 1943 musical, the women wear long, colorful period dresses, while the men sport their best working clothes—coveralls or pants. In the second act of Horn in the West, the action features a wedding, and besides the taking of the marriage vows, the key action is also a community dance.
These two theatrical reenactments reflect the historical background of a local once-a-month Friday event that is now in its third year, but participants don’t need to dress in historical costume to attend. They can wear whatever they want, turn up for some good old-fashioned whirling, birling and twirling that anyone can enjoy, and turn up the body heat during the cold winter months.
The event is a barn dance that takes place once a month January through May in the gallery space at Todd Mercantile, said organizer Emilie Enzmann. Dancing, likely more than any other activity, can dispel the winter blahs. The next dance is Friday, February 27.
“We do round, square and line dances, Virginia reels and waltzes. We do it all at the dance,” she said.
The event features a live band, usually Cecil Gurganus from Todd and the Laurel Creek String Band. It starts at 7:30 and continues until whenever.
“We went on to midnight in January,” Enzmann said.
A bit of a surprise every time is the evening’s caller. A linked variety of moves make up square, round and other old country dances, and the callers at barn dancers prepare participants for what’s coming next, helping to make sure that everyone gets to the right place at the right time.
“We have different callers every time,” said Enzmann, “and we never know who they are going to be. The caller will usually explain what the dance is before it starts. It is very casual and a lot of fun.”
Experienced dancers always help the newcomers, so no experience is necessary, Enzmann said, and the dance is open to all ages too.
Usually 40 or 50 people turn up. It’s definitely a case of “put on your dancing shoes,” Enzmann said. “It’s an old building and an old floor and you might get [splinters] of wood in your feet without them.”
Dress is casual.
“There’s no dress code,” she said. “Wear whatever you want. Your clogging shoes, if you have them, but most folks don’t come in costume. It’s casual wear. The women all come in skirts or slacks. Guys sometimes wear coveralls and jeans. It’s nothing fancy.”
And she encourages people to turn up. At $5, the monthly Todd dance is an inexpensive evening of pure fun and socializing.
“It’s just a good old-fashioned country dance,” she said. “It appeals to everybody.”
Want To Go?
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Todd Mercantile
Cost: $5
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