Welcome to the Austin Barn Dancers homepage. Contradancing in Austin originated when AFTM (Austin Friends of Traditional Music) started a jam session at Hancock Recreation Center (click here for map) nearly 15 years ago. Somebody (the name was lost in time) said "Hey, this is a good dance floor so let's dance!" and thus the dancing started. The dancing went through several variations and around 1990 became predominately contradance.
In 1995 Hancock asked us to pay rent. The dance, up to this point, was free. A donation box was suggested and agreed upon by the center. Around this time people were wanting a name to go with this series and the dancers voted on The Austin Barn Dancers .
To this day the Wednesday night dance at HRC is still a community dance with an average of 50-60 dancers and and occasional 75 and an open band of 3-10 members where anyone is welcome to come and play. For the dancers, a donation is requested, but not mandatory and the callers can call whatever their heart's desire, whether it be contras, squares, circles, or whatever.
In 1997, one of our dancers suggested a dance on the Zilker Hillside Theater stage. This started out as a spring event. The next year the stage director requested that we make this dance a twice a year event and in 1998 the dance was held in March and October and will be/has been held in 1999 during these same months with local bands and callers. We have had lots of people who are just visiting Zilker Park for the day join us.
The Austin Barn Dancers meet every Wednesday night at Hancock Recreation Center from 7:30 until 9:45. Suggested donation is $3 for the recreation center.
Contact Dale Rempert at 512/453-4225, drempert@ix.netcom.com
Dances by Texas choreographers
