Shindig in the Barn

10/22/2024

Here is some pre-publicity!
Thanks Amy for making this wonderful flyer!

10/11/2024

SEASON FINALE!!!!

Come join us for the last Blue Slope Farm Barn Dance of 2024. We'll start dancing at 2PM, biut some of us will gather at 1PM for a BYO-Picnic and a Cider Pressing at 1PM. Of course all are welcome. (And that means you!)

No experience is necessary at our dances, as we teach you all the steps. Come join the fun.

Blue Slope Farm Museum
138 Blue Hill Rd
Franklin, CT

09/04/2024

There is a LIVE MUSIC Barn Dance at the Blue Slope Farm Museum Friday, September 6th at 7pm. The address is 138 Blue Hill Rd, Franklin, CT. This dance is for tweens and above, and all are welcome; no experience necessary and no partner necessary. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for full time students.

07/09/2024

Hey folks,
This Saturday is the live music barn dance at the Blue Slope Farm. It is at 7PM, 138 Blue Hill Rd, N. Franklin, CT.
We will dance some lines, some circles, some squares, and perhaps a reel and a waltz. Neither experience nor partner is necessary. Wear comfortable clothes and fall shoes, and bring a water bottle.
The dance will have a TIE DYED SHIRT theme, so if you have one wear it just for fun.

06/14/2024

We are dancing this Saturday at the Blue Slope Farm Museum.
I have included the link from last years WNPR story for those who are unfamiliar with the dance.

An agricultural museum in North Franklin, Connecticut, has been hosting barn dances for decades. Recently, the barn has been so packed some participants dance outside.

05/29/2024

A discussion of Oh Johnny led me to this link from the Stafford Stomp. The Stomp was the first time I tried building a barn dance community and it lasted seven years until we lost use of the hall. Watching this video brings back so many good memories.

This is a slight variation of a classic dance. Rich and Lynn Sbardella are calling the dance at the Stafford Stomp in Stafford, CT in April 2016.

05/19/2024

We were absolutely THRILLED last night to have a full barn at the Blue Slope Farm Barn Dance. I did not know what to expect after seven months off, but many dancers returned, and we had many new ones. One non dancing couple visiting from Florida had heard about the dance from friends, and decided to give it a try. One had never tried square dancing, and the other danced in school many years ago. They asked about square dancing dancing in Florida, and I assured them they could find it there.

It was a great start, and I am excited about the prospects for our new season. We have several Friday night dances, and two Sunday afternoon picnics with dances planned. One of the Sundays will have a "Gospel" theme to the singing calls. We will also be offering a one day intro course calling Barn dances on August 3rd, for any interested folks.

Our next dance is Friday, May 31st at 7PM.

As always, we wish to thank those who continue to support the Blue Slope Farm Museum, and more specifically, the Barn Dances!

05/18/2024

The season opener for the Blue Slope Farm Museum Barn Dance is tonight, May, 18, 2024 at 7PM. No experience necessary. Come alone or come with friends.

138 Blue Hill Rd, N. Franklin CT.

An agricultural museum in North Franklin, Connecticut, has been hosting barn dances for decades. Recently, the barn has been so packed some participants dance outside.

05/15/2024

Calling Schedule Spring and Summer 2024

Sat May 18 Barn Dance Blue Slope Farm, Franklin,, CT
Wed May 29 Homeschoolers at the Blue Slope Barn
Fri May 31 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT

Sat Jun 1 New Haven, CT Contra Dance
Sun Jun 2 Private Party, St. Joseph’s School
Wed Jun 5 Homeschoolers at the Blue Slope Barn
Sat Jun 8 Private Party, Home School Group
Wed Jun 12 Homeschoolers at the Blue Slope Barn
Sat Jun 15 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Wed Jun 19 Private Dance, Woodstoock, CT
Fri Jun 28 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT

Wed Jul 3 Family Dance on the Pier, Wellfleet, MA
Sat Jul 13 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Fri Jul 19 Private Party, Coventry CT
Sat Jul 20 Private Party
Sun Jul 21 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Sat Jul 24 Barn Dance Program, Baltic, CT Library, 6PM
Sat Jul 27 Private Party, New Haven, CT

Fri Aug 2 4-H Fair, Tolland, CT
Sat Aug 3 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Sun Aug 4 Private Party, Providence, RI
Fri Aug 9 Tentative Party
Sat Aug 10 Podunk Bluegrass Festival, Goshen, CT
Fri Aug 16 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Fri Aug 23 Private Party, Wedding
Sat Aug 24 Fundraiser, Litchfield, CT
Fri Aug 30 Private Party, Concord, MA

Fri Sep 6 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Sat Sep 7 Private Party, MA Church
Sat Sep 14 Private Party, Ridgefield, CT
Fri Sep 20 Private Party, CT Church
Sat Sey 21 Barn Dance, Farmington, CT
Sun Sep 22 Barn Dance, Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT
Sat Sep 28 Private Party, MA Church

05/11/2024

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. The winter has flown by and we are ready to start the Blue Slope Barn Dances next Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 7PM. We have a full season ahead with dances almost every other weekend, a "So you want to be a Caller" workshop, and several dance sessions for homeschool families. Message me for any details.

04/30/2024

We are at it again. The Blue Slope 2024 Summer Barn Dances begin on Saturday, May 18th at 7PM. No partner required. No experience necessary. Bring a sweater and a water bottle.

An agricultural museum in North Franklin, Connecticut, has been hosting barn dances for decades. Recently, the barn has been so packed some participants dance outside.

03/16/2024

There is a barn dance at Marie's Fitness Center in Plainfield at 7 PM tonight. If you are in the mood for fun, come join us and wear a little green if you choose. The dances are all quite easy and are taught on the spot. There will be line dances, reels (perhaps with Irish music) squares, and more.

02/21/2024

Hey Folks, it's that time again. This Saturday, February 24th, at 7PM, we are having our last Shindig this season. No experience is necessary, nor is a partner. All the dances are taught and they include circle mixers, reels, squares, lines, and a waltz to close.
Admission is $12 per person, $10 for 18 and under, $40 max per (co-residing) immediate family.
Please bring a water bottle for hydration and clean shoes with non marking soles.
We have Rich calling with Mickey Koth and John Kalinowski providing the tunes. We work together quite often, and I jokingly refer to this bunch as "Richie P and the Double K Ramblers".

02/16/2024

We are a week away from our season finale! Come be part of this wonderful event. We had over 100 dancers at the January dance, and we expect a similar crowd in February.

LIVE Music Barn Dance at the Powder Mill Barn on Saturday February 24, 2024, 7PM. No experience necessary, and no partner necessary!

01/23/2024

Hello folks, as you probably know, we recently started a new Barn Dance series at the Powder Mill Barn in Enfield CT. This Saturday is our second dance, and we are hoping to see some old friends, and to make some new ones. A "Barn Dance" is a simple dance evening with easy dances, anon experience is required. WE will dance some dances in straight lines facing a partner, some in circles where we keep, or maybe change partners, some squares, and possibly a waltz.

Again, no experience is necessary to attend, and no partner is necessary. Teens and above are welcomed in this community dance, and you should be OK dancing with folks you do not know (Yet!).

The fun starts at 7PM at the historic Powder Mill Barn, 32 South Maple Street, in Enfield CT. Please note that you must bring along a pair of clean, soft-soled, non-marking shoes so we can protect and preserve the wonderful dance floor.

The dance leader and caller for the evening is Rich Sbardella. Rich has been calling dance throughout New England for over 30 years, and the musicians are Craig Edwards (fiddle) and Tom Randall (guitar) who began playing music together in 1980. Both make a living playing and teaching music. Their musical collaborations include playing countless square and contra dances, and in bands playing Old Time, Bluegrass, Blues, Irish Cajun, Zydeco, H***y Tonk, and Rock'n'roll."

01/23/2024

Please note: Most dance halls require participants to bring clean, dry shoes, with a smooth surface to change into before dancing. The Powder Mill Barn, and the Shindig are no exception to this requirement. In the recent past, the Powder Mill Barn installed a new dance floor, and we need to protect it from the gravel, stones, snow, and water that gets tracked in. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

01/22/2024

Folks, mark your calendar. This Saturday, January 27th, I am calling a Barn Dance at the Powder Mill Barn with live music.

Craig Edwards (fiddle) and Tom Randall (guitar) began playing music together in 1980. Both make a living playing and teaching music. Their musical collaborations include playing countless square and contradances, and bands playing Old Time, Bluegrass, Blues, Irish Cajun, Zydeco, H***y Tonk, and Rock'n'roll.

If you are so inclined, please share this post and help me spread the word!

Should be fun!

12/22/2023

NOTE: This party is NOT at the Powder Mill Barn, but rather at the Franklin Fire House.

12/17/2023

This is not a flyer, but the info from last years NYE party. I suspect we will keep it the same.

New Year Eve Square Dance

Held at Franklin Fire Department
5 Tyler Dr, North Franklin Ct

December 31
7 Pm Hall opens
7:30 potluck dinner.
Please bring a main dish, side dish, or dessert to share, or come after 8:15 to skip the potluck dinner. Paper goods, water, coffee, and soda will be provided.

8:30 pm- 12 Am dancing

$10.00 per person, $8.00 for student, $35.00 per a family per night.

Great exercise and learn some new dance moves.
Round, square, and line dances are included. No partner nor experience needed. Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes.

This is an alcoholic free event.

12/07/2023

I am late with this, but I want to take the time to say thank you to all the folks who came to the Powder Mill Barn for our first Community Barn Dance on November 25th. The dance was an overwhelming success, and gives me hope that we will be able to continue this tradition. Our next dance is weeks away on January 27th, but I suggest you mark your calendar.

In the meantime, I want to wish everyone a joyful and peaceful holiday season. Hanukkah begins tonight, we are already into Advent, and Christmas and New Year's Eve are just around the corner. There are so many reasons to celebrate.

The attached photo was taken before many people arrived. This was our first dances of the evening, and it shows the beautiful barn and the wonderful dance floor.

12/03/2023

Just a word of appreciation to those who came to the Barn Dance at the Killingly Grange last night. It was the first of the series this year, and we had a good crowd. Our next one will be oon the first Saturday of January at 7PM. Thanks for helping us revive this local tradition.

09/14/2023

Hey folks we hope to restart the Shindig in the Barn dances soon. The flavor will change a bit as we will be more of a Barn Dance than a Contra Dance. These dances will be open to the public with no experience required, and no partner required.

Our intent is to book live musicians whenever feasible, and our admission fee will be reasonable.

More coming soon, but our first date is November 25th. This is a great way to expose visiting friends to the joy of traditional country dance!

10/17/2022

If you are retired or work nights, we have a small square dance group on Mondays in North Haven at the Rec Center 1PM-3PM., and on some Thursdays in Manchester, CT. 1:00 PM-2:45 PM. Message me, Rich Sbardella, if you have any questions.

We use many of the same basics as Contra Dance with some added, or renamed.

03/11/2022

10/25/2021

FY!