USEFUL INFORMATION FOR EVENT ORGANISERS THINKING  OF

HOLDING A BARN DANCE OR LINE DANCE OR COUNTRY AND WESTERN PARTY

Holding a  BARN DANCE  is one of the best ways of solving your entertainment problem if you have to cater for people of varying ages and abilities.   The ONLY form of Entertainment that can get IMMEDIATE AND INSTANT audience involvement and FUN without any previous dancing experience, skill or rhythm is a BARN DANCE.

A big advantage of a Barn Dance is that you get the ULTIMATE SOCIAL MIXING EXPERIENCE---simple and easy Dances are generally used to encourage beginners and those who have not been to a Barn Dance before. 

A Barn Dance is absolutely ideal for people who have little or no Dancing skills because most of the movements are natural to all of us---like linking your arm with someone else or holding hands to form a  circle, you see these things happening every day--- for example in a School playground.

Generally the Dances and movements used at a Barn Dance are hundreds of years old and have been passed down through generations, CONTINUING TO BE POPULAR because they are easy to use, simple and fun.

Dancing is in couples and in sets ranging from 2 couples to 10 couples or more---in Circles, Squares or Longways---numbers dont really matter as long as there are enough people to fill up your Dancing space. 

Each Barn Dance last around 10 to 15 minutes including a walk through by the Barn Dance Caller to learn the steps and changes---the Barn Dance Event can be run for 3 or 4 hours with breaks between Dances of around 10 minutes.

The breaks between Dances allow you to get your breath back and socialise with friends whilst listening to background music which keep the toes tapping away whilst looking forward to the next Dance.

To ensure your guests at the Barn Dance know what to do your Barn Dance Caller for the evening is your MC, Teacher and Instructor, using his knowledge and experience to decide which Dances best suit the audience as regards speed and complexity,  CALLING out changes in movements as they occur during each Barn Dance.   

When the Dancers progress under the Instructions of the Barn Dance Caller during the evening to more complicated Dances never worry about remembering the movements and changes---it is the job of the Barn Dance Caller to remind everyone what to do--when to do it and who do it with!  This is why he will often politely refuse offers of large amounts of alcohol! If he cant remember what to do---you have no chance!

The Music at a Social Barn Dance event will be a mixture of mainly traditional tunes drawn from England, Scotland, Ireland and America and also sometimes popular Second World War tunes from the 1940s all of which give an excellent atmosphere for not only Dancing but also Singing.

The Music at a Barn Dance to accompany the Dancing is played either through a Sound System using recorded Music or if your budget allows a Live Band is used.

A Barn Dance can be held in most locations as mentioned above, Clothing can be casual and for an authentic evening Straw or Cowboy Hats and colourful Check Shirts always brighten up the Barn Dance as well as providing an excellent reason for presenting PRIZES to the best dressed Lady/Gent OR Boy/Girl at the Barn Dance, in addition to a PRIZE for the Best Dancers.

Barn Dance footwear should be comfortable to allow for twisting and turning and dancing on less than perfect surfaces. 

Holding a  LINE DANCE  is ALSO one of the best ways of solving your entertainment problem if you have to cater for people of varying ages and abilities, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PARTNERS READILY AVAILABLE because you normally DANCE ON YOUR OWN without a Partner. 

Dancing is in Lines,   The Line Dance Caller gives instructions on how to do the various movements, Grapevine, Heel Strut and many other recognised steps.

They act in the same way as the Barn Dance Caller being your MC, Teacher and Instructor, using  knowledge and experience to decide which Dances best suit the audience as regards speed and complexity,  CALLING out changes in movements as they occur during each Line  Dance.   

When the Dancers progress under the Instructions of the Line Dance Caller during the evening to more complicated Dances never worry about remembering the movements and changes---it is the job of the Line Dance Caller to remind everyone what to do and when to do it.  This is why he will often politely refuse offers of large amounts of alcohol! If he cant remember what to do---you have no chance!

The Music used is normally Country and Western for an authentic WESTERN effect, but other well known Popular Music is sometimes used also.

The Music at a Line Dance to accompany the Dancing is normally played through a Sound System using recorded Music.

Clothing varies, you can wear anything although for an authentic evening get out the Check Shirts, Cowboy Hats and Jeans.

 Line Dance footwear should be comfortable to allow for twisting and turning and dancing on less than perfect surfaces, Boots are popular, Trainers are not recommended. 

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