Organizer Diane Sly says she’s hoping a barn dance Saturday will become a monthly attraction that will bring families downtown and help generate business for local shops. It starts 7 p.m. at the ANB Hall.
She’s billing the dance as a “Second Saturday” event, similar to “First Fridays” in other towns where art galleries and stores stay open into the night. Several local stores have agreed to stay open until 7 p.m., she said.
“Down south, everybody has dancing now – folk dancing, contra dancing, barn dancing. It’s popular with everybody, especially young people. It’s friendly. It’s a community thing,” Sly said.
Dancers needn’t bring a partner and singles and families are encouraged to participate, as many of the dances are line dances in which dancers switch partners continuously, she said. The dance caller will walk participants through steps before each dance. If enough youngsters come, they may have their own dance group.
Local musician Gene Kennedy will call Saturday’s event. He’ll be backed by a local band featuring Tom Heywood and others, she said. A charge of $2.50 for adults will defray the hall rental and any carryover will go toward pay for musicians, she said.
Sly is hoping families will take out their moms Saturday in advance of Mother’s Day. Also, she is hoping to recruit some apprentice callers to help relieve Kennedy. “If we can have three steady people, we can spread out the duties.”
For more information, contact Sly at 907-723-5996.