local fiddlers’ new book instructs on how to run a barn dance

Have you ever wanted to host your own barn dance? Of course you have. Maybe you haven’t pursued this ambition because you lack the necessary knowledge and resources. Maybe you’re not familiar with the music required to initiate a lively dance. Or maybe you just don’t have a barn.

That’s OK. Contrary to popular assumptions, barn dances do not actually have to take place in a barn. And a new book by long-time fiddlers and dance masters Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman supplies all the information you need to transform an empty room into a bustling community dance party.

“When most people hear the term barn dance, they envision bales of hay and folks dressed up like cowboys and cowgirls,” reads the preface to “Traditional Barn Dances with Calls & Fiddling.” “These trappings, however, are unnecessary. What really distinguishes a barn dance from, say, a square dance or contra dance are the dances done by the participants.”

The book, published this year by Human Kinetics, is divided into 11 chapters. The first four address the history and tradition of barn dancing and explain the music and instruments associated with it. The next six chapters discuss different forms of barn dancing, such as circle dances, longways dances, square dances and contra dances. The final chapter instructs readers on how to run their own community dances and encourages teachers and students to keep the traditional alive.

The book also includes a DVD and two CDs to supplement the written material. The pages are filled with pictures, as well as calls and directions for more than 50 dances and sheet music for various tunes. It is intended for educational and recreational groups of all ages and abilities, with one chapter devoted to dances for people with physical disabilities. Readers can learn the complete calls, dance steps and music for the “Virginia Reel,” “Portland Fancy,” “Seven-Step Polka” and dozens of others.
The history of traditional barn dancing in New England stretches back to the early 1600s, when immigrants from the British Isles began settling the American colonies and spreading their customs and traditions. Most of the dances discussed in “Traditional Barn Dances” have remained largely unchanged for the last 350 years, echoing traditions from the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia.

“Social folk dancing has withstood the test of time because it appeals to people’s need for and sense of family, friendship, and community while also offering the joyful sound of music played on fiddles and other folk instruments,” the authors write.

So, what do you need to host your own barn dance? First off, of course, you need a suitable venue. Depending on the expected size of the crowd, the authors advise potential hosts to choose an intimate setting, preferably a town hall, school cafeteria, grange hall, church or barn. Wood floors are ideal, although other smooth surfaces can be adequate. The authors advise against rugs or carpets, which can trip people and cause dancing injuries. Outdoor dances pose similar hazards.

The book also offers detailed suggestions for advertising, setting admission prices, serving refreshments and hiring a caller and musicians. There’s even a glossary of barn dance-related terms. A “pochette,” for example, is a “slender fiddle small enough to fit in a dancing master’s pocket,” while a “kitchen junket” is a “festive social affair often held in the largest room of the home.”

If you want to “try it before you buy it,” visit www.nhdances.org for a schedule of dances across the Seacoast.

Dudley Laufman has been calling and playing barn dances in New Hampshire and around New England for more than 60 years. He and Jacqueline began playing together as Two Fiddles in 1986. The pair have performed across the country and built a small ballroom in their Canterbury home, where they often host dances.

Dudley and Jaqueline have performed together in barns, private homes, town halls, schools, fairs, festivals, weddings, camps and other settings, averaging about 300 engagements per year. In 1999, they were selected to represent traditional dancing at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.

In the book, the authors impart their barn dance wisdom based on decades of experience. “You can have a great time at a barn dance by following these suggestions, which have worked well for us over the years,” the book concludes. “It may sound involved, but it’s worth it. Families, friends, and neighbors of all ages will come and have fun dancing together!”

For more information on the Laufmans and their new book, visit www.laufman.org.