Based in Fairfield, Iowa, we are an informal association of people dedicated to the enjoyment, preservation, and presentation of living traditions of community dance. Participation requires only a will to join in the fun and a nominal fee per event. Beginners are very welcome to our weekly dances; our semi-annual English Country Dance weekends are intended for experienced dancers.

Bare Necessities

Peter Barnes, Earl Gaddis, Mary Lea & Jacqueline Schwab

English Country Dance

October 31, November 1 & 2, 2008 in Fairfield, Iowa

Caller Joseph Pimentel

Sponsored by the Fairfield Folks Arts & Dance Co-Op

For Musician and Caller Bios, please click here.

Home housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Save $16 with Early Bird Discount: Only $109
if you register before Aug. 1st. Early registration fees also help us get better airfares (whose high costs account for the price increase!) If you know you are coming, please register today! Thank you!
$125 after Aug. 1st
Note: The weekend always sells out: Please register early to avoid disappointment! This weekend is designed for very experienced dancers and attendance is limited to ensure dance floor comfort.

NO ONLINE REGISTRATION: Register by sending email to FairfolkBN "at" SomaStream.net and then send check via snail-mail to:
Fairfield Folk Arts & Dance Co-op (FFADC)
c/o PO Box 1321, Fairfield, Iowa 52556
Please include name, address, phone and email and let us know if you would like home housing.

General Fairfield Info: (Restaurants, shops, lodging) http://www.travelfairfieldiowa.com/

Location: The Morning Star Studio, 51 ½ S. Court St. Fairfield, Iowa.
For lodging info: click here.

"A contra dance is like an amusement park ride we make for ourselves."
(Adapted from an article by Greg Rohde) Click to see the original article.
Click for a variety of other articles about contra dancing.
Or click for Wikipedia's extensive intro to contra dancing.
Youtube video clip of St. Louis, MO Contra Dance
Contra dancing means wonderful live music that compels me to move, a community that extends great hospitality to new dancers and a style of dance that is very easy to learn. Much of contra's popularity is in its simplicity: if you can walk, you can contra dance. It doesn't matter if you have two left feet. (Contra dancing uses a walking step so it doesn't matter which left foot you start on.)

There are many answers: Romantic, Sumptuous, Flowing Music … Meditation in Motion … Easy Steps & Satisfying Figures … The Joy of Dancing Together … Dignified Flirtation … A genuine Community Connection … Stimulation & Relaxation at the same time … and lots more.

OK, that give me a feel for English Country Dancing – but can you be more specific?

Well, if you've watched Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility or Emma at the movies, you have seen it. But English Country Dancing is not the obscure relic you might think it to be! While this traditional form of dance has been around for three hundred years, it's still thriving today.