Hoedown Showdown - Organise a Successful Barn Dance

Crossword

Barn Dances and Ceilidhs are social dances. Designed to let everyone enjoy themselves. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary to join in and have fun. They appeal to all ages and are one of the few activities that an entire community can do and enjoy together.

A successful barn dance relies on good planning, so to make sure that your barn dance really goes with a swing we’ve put together a simple checklist.

Venue - A traditional barn is ideal, but not always convenient, especially for city-dwellers, so any large, open space with a sturdy floor will work - such as a community hall or gymnasium works well. Think about how many people might come and make sure the venue is large enough to accommodate them all AND their enthusiastic dancing! Consider factors such as accessibility, parking, and bathroom facilities.

Date and time – A Friday or Saturday night is ideal as most people won’t have to go to work the following morning, which means they’ll relax and enjoy themselves more. Check to see that your event doesn’t clash with any others.

Don’t skimp on the band and hire a professional caller – THE important element of a successful barn dance is the music and dancing. A good caller will help you to create a dance program that caters to all ages and abilities. On the night they’ll teach the dances and guide guests through the dance steps, making sure that everyone has fun, regardless of their dancing ability. The band should be experienced performing traditional music. Bands are often able to suggest callers and vice versa.

Refreshments - Finger foods and buffet-style offerings work well as they allow guests to eat when they please and accommodate varied dietary needs. Alternatively, a hog roast is always a hit. Even if you have decide to have a bar, don't forget to provide plenty of water and non-alcoholic drinks; dancing is thirty work.

Decorate Your Venue – It’s not compulsory but it is fun. A few hay bales, gingham tablecloths and fairy lights create an inviting atmosphere.

Send out the invites – If it’s a charity event spread the word on social media and posters in popular venues such as pubs, churches, and local shops. Tell people where the funds are going. If it’s a birthday party or a wedding invite, tell people to dress for a barn dance, or to bring a change of clothes and / or footwear for the dancing.

Just before the event – Confirm and finalise venue arrangements, and check in with your caller, band, and caterers if you’re using them. Enlist some volunteers on hand to help with setup, clean-up, and supervision.

Then put on your dancing shoes, take your partner, and dance!

By Gemma Peters

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1 Zealous, fierce (6)

2 Flat-bottomed boat (4)

3 Wreath (7)

4 Ambiguous (5)

5 Scholarly world (8)

6 Unit of measurement (6)

12 Most unshaven (8)

14 Bragged (7)

16 Church (6)

18 Unbleached cotton cloth (6)

19 Type of farm (5)

21 Hum, murmur (4)