Prior to the post-WWII 40% Federal Excise Tax on venues that allowed dancing, dance was a popular means of social interaction.

Children were taught the basics in school, religious venues, and by their older siblings.

Every generation seemed to outdo the previous in intricacy and energy.

With the arrival of new means of mobility, more venues were open more nights for more people to socialize.

Altogether the influences generated a outflowing of innovation and creativity.

Dime-a-Dance Halls boosted moral during The Great Depression, and Swing boosted morale during the war years.

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Thankfully, the dances of this period were saved from oblivion by a new generation seeking connection and social interaction. Learning from their grandparents, movies and the few remaining practitioners, a new flowering began in groups, camps, and venues across the world. We celebrate this preservation and re-imagining in new youthful energy.

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The Jazz Age saw the creation of many new, energetic dances, and today it’s still a challenge to keep your feet from moving while listening to this great music.

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Fortunately, there’s no need to sit still! Dancing is encouraged during every set. 

The prime location is the Elks Ballroom, but feel free to use any open space!


Even dedicated toe-tappers say the dancers add an extra element to the joy of the music and are just plain fun to watch.

So whether you’re out on the floor or enjoying the scene from the sidelines, dancing is an important part of the weekend.

Flying solo? Need a partner? Wearing a string of beads (you’ll find them at the front desk) is the signal that you’re available to dance.

Few dances are as gentle on the body as the country 2-step or the western swing. While the 2-step gently goes long long short short in mirror pose, the Western Swing combines two graceful Walts steps with a gentle 2-steps to make the full 8 count of swing. Give it a try it's easy on the knees.  (your first set or second).

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During the oil well boom and wildcatting days along the southern states worker would get their pay on Friday after work and had exactly 24 hours to get to town and back to the rig. Watering holes along the frontier were packed with folks looking to blow off a little steam and maybe find a new regret. The King of the Circuit from '29 to '65 was Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Bob was a hard drinking band leader and knew exactly what his audience wanted to hear. Stories are that he was as hard on the musicians as he was on the bottle. Bob left a legacy in music, hospital admissions, arrests records and birthrates across the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and part of Louisiana.