Community Square Dance

$10 a person
Children 12 and under - Free
Snacks and drinks for sale

October 29th, 6-8 p.m.
November 26th, 6-8 p.m.

Community square dances are attended by young and old, couples and single people, and anyone interested in getting out, moving, listening to live music, and enjoying fellowship with others in the community.  Beginners are welcome, and all dances are taught.

We invite people of all backgrounds and ages into our dance community to enjoy an oral tradition passed down for hundreds of years. The Hickory Music Factory's “Old Time String Band” and a dance caller will lead you throughout the evening. We will primarily draw upon the traditional social dances of America. 

Journey into the past and learn square dances, step dances, reels, and other dance forms practiced in Southern Appalachia. These distinctive folk dances are the culmination of the many heritages that settled in this region. Folk dancing today is built on the European, African American, and Native American traditions of our past, but they are very much alive in the present.

You can help bring them to life by attending this inter-generational dance. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All ages are welcome, and no experience is necessary. 

If you play an instrument and want to experience performing old-time music, please contact Liam Bailey from the Hickory Music Factory at liam@liamthomasbailey.com.

Christmas Ball - December 21st, 5-8 p.m.

A Square Dance Ball to enjoy the holiday season and celebrate the completion of our 2024 square dance series!  The first hour will be more social, and we are providing Christmas treats, cookies, and hot cider. The Great Hall will be decorated with greenery, historic ornaments, and Christmas trees. There will be many beautiful photo opportunities. There will be a kid-friendly Christmas craft in the classroom. Then, from 6 to 8, there will be square dancing. Traditional or modern formal dress is recommended but not required.

Tickets

Common Questions:

  1. What if I have never danced before? 
    Each dance is taught by the caller who will help teach us. This style of dancing has a lot of repeated moves so that it is easy to get the hang of. Beginner and experienced dancers will dance together. 

  2. How should I dress?
    Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended. Shoes without a lot of tread.

  3. What if I don’t have a partner?
    That’s alright. Dancers are encouraged to dance with many different partners.

  4. Will there be food available?
    Yes, Hot Diggity Dog food truck will have food for sale as well as snacks and drinks.

Meet the Band

Factory String Band - A partnership with Hickory Music Factory

Liam Bailey

Liam Bailey graduated from Berklee College of Music with a BA in Film Scoring and got his start writing for PBS, HBO, and ESPN. After that, he toured with country artists Rodney Atkins and Brett Eldredge and has performed for audiences at The Grand Ol Opry, Radio City Music Hall, and Times Square on New Year's Eve. Liam is the lead fiddle player and band leader for the "Old Time Factory Band."

Nate Moody

He holds a BA in Music Education from Appalachian State University. Along with a career serving public schools as a K-5 music teacher, he teaches privately and is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Nate performs with various regional musicians and enjoys playing guitar for the community dances.

Darren Nicholson

13-time International Bluegrass Music Association award winner Darren Nicholson is a very sought-after mandolin player. He has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage and was bestowed North Carolina's most esteemed public service award, the Long Leaf Pine, from the governor. Darren was a founding member of Balsam Range and now spends his time writing music with his own band and others.

Dakota Waddell

Our bass player, Dakota, resides in Lincolnton, NC and has been playing music for over a decade. He has performed with many local and regional groups including our mandolin player, Darren Nicolson. As an auxilary player, Dakota has performed on some of folk music's most well-known festival stages including Merlefest and Floyd Fest. In addition to playing the bass, he also enjoys the clawhammer banjo.

Meet the Callers

Phil Jamison

Over the last thirty years, Phil has done extensive research in the area of Appalachian dance, and his book Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance (University of Illinois Press, 2015) tells the story behind the square dances, step dances, reels, and other forms of dance practiced in southern Appalachia. A 2017 inductee to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame and a 2022 inductee to America's Clogging Hall of Fame, Phil teaches traditional music and dance at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina, where for twenty-five years he served as coordinator of the Old-Time Music and Dance Week at the Swannanoa Gathering.

Rodney Sutton

Rodney Clay Sutton is a dance performer and teacher of Appalachian step dance – both flatfoot and clogging.  He calls square dances and contra dances, and is a storyteller and ballad singer. Rodney offers workshops, lectures, and demonstrations catered for a range of age groups, including  youth, seniors, and  corporate gatherings.  He is also a concert and festival producer, emcee, and stage manager. 

On March 4th, 2019, Rodney Sutton was one of 9 folks selected to receive a first ever Folk & Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellowship from South Arts. He was able to use the monies to go to Ireland for a month in September of 2019 to study Sean Nos` dance – the Irish step-dance equivalent to flat-footing. 

Refund Policy
Hart Square does not offer refunds for ticketed events unless the event has been canceled.