By Sara Wiercinski
It’s the last Saturday of 2025, and the hottest Waldo night spot has to be the basement hall of Keystone Methodist, at the monthly meetup of CrossCurrents Barn Dance.
Barn dancing, also called contra dancing, is set to live fiddle music with a caller. It’s performed in rows, unlike square dancing–making Keystone’s long hall and stage the perfect venue.
“I’ve heard some dancers say ‘If square dance and swing dance had a baby, it would be contra dance,’” said Laura Bogue, coordinator with the CrossCurrents Barn Dance. Bogue has been dancing since 1999.
“Each dance has the same basic movements, in a different order. So there’s an endless variety.”
Each monthly dance begins with a half-hour lesson for beginners and those who have not danced in a while. Once the dance begins, the caller provides instructions throughout.
Anyone can ask another participant to dance, and experienced dancers help beginners learn.
Linda Tilton started contra dancing in 1986.
“I got hooked,” she said. “And you’re not expected to be good the first time. People typically catch on after three or so dances.”
“It’s one of the truest American folk dances,” Tilton added.
Two twenty-something newcomers sat out one song after dancing to Chicken on a Leash. “It’s not that bad,” said one. “That first dance was rough though!”
CrossCurrents is an offshoot of a 1970s folk-oriented group founded in Kansas City called Foolkiller. Terry Rouse is one of the original founders of the contra group, as well as a musician. He says contra is a great introduction to dancing.
“It’s accessible to beginners, unlike swing,” said Rouse. “You dance in formation, so there are always people to help you.”
Contra comes from a centuries-old country dancing in England and France, brought to America by settlers. It is thought that “contra dance” is a mispronunciation of “country dance.” Rouse says contra of early New England would have been far more stately and not as aerobic.
The CrossCurrents group typically goes out afterwards together. “Dance gypsies” travel to other dance communities in Columbia, Lawrence, St. Louis, Springfield and Manhattan along with larger regional dance weekends.
Bogue says each dance club works differently. “I’ve heard contra set to old-timey American, Irish and French-Canadian music. They call dances to hip hop. Some bands play rock tunes that fit into that count.”
For the last dance of the year, the East Vermont Barkers from Lawrence played and caller James Slaughter replaced traditional “ladies and gents” to “larks and robins.”
“This is an old tradition of dance that is constantly modernized,” said Bogue. “There’s a push toward gender neutral calling. This group is accepting. If you show up and want to dance, you’re our kind of people.”
The next meeting of the CrossCurrents Barn Dance is Saturday, January 24 featuring caller Sarah Kaiser. Beginners are welcome. Keystone Methodist Church is located at 406 W 74th St. Learn more at www.kcbarndance.org.
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