Barn dance
Encyclopedia
A barn dance is any kind of dance
held in a barn
, but usually involves traditional or folk music
with traditional dancing
. It is a type of dance, originating in America and popular in Britain in the late 19th century and early 20th, derived from Schottische
. Folk dancing events are often also referred to as "barn dances", despite being held in locations other than barns.
The term “barn dance” is usually associated with family-oriented, community-oriented events, but can refer to a rave
, a kegger, or any other event than might be held in a barn or other rural building.
A barn dance can be a Ceilidh, with traditional Irish
or Scottish dancing
, and people unfamiliar with either format often confuse the two terms. However, a barn dance can also feature square dancing, Morris dancing
, Contra dancing, English Country Dance
, dancing to Country and Western music, or any other kind of dancing, often with a live band and a Caller
.
in Chicago is credited with developing the “barn dance” radio format, which was in large part responsible for the advent of country music
in the United States. The National Barn Dance
began as a program of old-time fiddling on April 19, 1924, with George D. Hay
as the show's host and announcer. A year-and-a-half later, Hay moved to Nashville, Tennessee
and brought in an old-time fiddler to launch the WSM
Barn Dance; this show is now known as the Grand Ole Opry
and remains on the air to this day. Dozens of similar programs cropped up on AM radio stations all across the United States, from New England to Los Angeles, including the WWVA Jamboree
in Wheeling, West Virginia (1933), the Renfro Valley Barn Dance
in Kentucky (1939), the Louisiana Hayride
(1948), the Tennessee Jamboree (1953) and Ozark Jubilee
(1954). Television adaptations (often under the guise of early variety show
s) were popular in the 1950s and early 1960s but eventually faded out of style.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
held in a barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, but usually involves traditional or folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
with traditional dancing
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
. It is a type of dance, originating in America and popular in Britain in the late 19th century and early 20th, derived from Schottische
Schottische
The schottische is a partnered country dance, that apparently originated in Bohemia. It was popular in Victorian era ballrooms as a part of the Bohemian folk-dance craze and left its traces in folk music of countries such as Argentina , Finland , France, Italy, Norway , Portugal and Brazil , Spain ...
. Folk dancing events are often also referred to as "barn dances", despite being held in locations other than barns.
The term “barn dance” is usually associated with family-oriented, community-oriented events, but can refer to a rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
, a kegger, or any other event than might be held in a barn or other rural building.
A barn dance can be a Ceilidh, with traditional Irish
Irish dance
Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing...
or Scottish dancing
Scottish country dance
A Scottish country dance is a form of social dance involving groups of mixed couples of dancers tracing progressive patterns according to a predetermined choreography...
, and people unfamiliar with either format often confuse the two terms. However, a barn dance can also feature square dancing, Morris dancing
Morris dance
Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers...
, Contra dancing, English Country Dance
English Country Dance
English Country Dance is a form of folk dance. It is a social dance form, which has earliest documented instances in the late 16th century. Queen Elizabeth I of England is noted to have been entertained by "Country Dancing," although the relationship of the dances she saw to the surviving dances of...
, dancing to Country and Western music, or any other kind of dancing, often with a live band and a Caller
Caller (dancing)
A caller is a person who prompts dance figures in such dances as line dance, square dance, and contra dance. The caller might be one of the participating dancers, though in modern country dance this is rare....
.
Radio adaptations
WLSWLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
in Chicago is credited with developing the “barn dance” radio format, which was in large part responsible for the advent of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
in the United States. The National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance, broadcast by WLS-AM in Chicago, Illinois starting in 1924, was one of the first American country music radio programs and a direct precursor of the Grand Ole Opry...
began as a program of old-time fiddling on April 19, 1924, with George D. Hay
George D. Hay
George Dewey Hay was an American radio personality. He was the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio program on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name evolved....
as the show's host and announcer. A year-and-a-half later, Hay moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and brought in an old-time fiddler to launch the WSM
WSM (AM)
WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. Operating at 650 kHz, its clear channel signal can reach much of North America and various countries, especially late at night...
Barn Dance; this show is now known as the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
and remains on the air to this day. Dozens of similar programs cropped up on AM radio stations all across the United States, from New England to Los Angeles, including the WWVA Jamboree
WWVA Jamboree
WWVA Jamboree, renamed Jamboree U.S.A. in the 1960s, and the Wheeling Jamboree in 2009, is a pioneering American radio show that featured country music from 1933–2008, and again since January 2009...
in Wheeling, West Virginia (1933), the Renfro Valley Barn Dance
Renfro Valley Barn Dance
Renfro Valley Barn Dance was an American country music stage and radio show originally carried by WLW-AM in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday nights. It debuted on October 9, 1937 from the Cincinnati Music Hall and moved to the Memorial Auditorium in Dayton, Ohio. It was hosted by John Lair, Red Foley,...
in Kentucky (1939), the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
(1948), the Tennessee Jamboree (1953) and Ozark Jubilee
Ozark Jubilee
Ozark Jubilee is the first U.S. network television program to feature country music's top stars, and was the centerpiece of a strategy for Springfield, Missouri to challenge Nashville, Tennessee as America's country music capital...
(1954). Television adaptations (often under the guise of early variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s) were popular in the 1950s and early 1960s but eventually faded out of style.
External links
- List of barn dance shows (German Wikipedia)
- The Barn Dance from People's Ballroom Guide, James Scott Skinner 1905, described as a precursor of the Canadian Barn Dance.
- Barn Dance FAQ UK, Folk Dance, perspective
- Some popular English barn dances The instructions and suitable sound recordings for some well-known English dances.