A barn dance is any kind of dance involving traditional or folk music with traditional dancing, occasionally held in a barn, but, these days, much more likely to be in any suitable building.
The term “barn dance” is usually associated with family-oriented or community-oriented events, usually for people who do not normally dance. The caller will, therefore, generally use easy dances so that everyone can join in.
"Barn Dance" can also 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.
Barn dances, as social dances, were popular in Ireland until the 1950s, and were typically danced to tunes with 4/4 rhythms.
Read more about Barn Dance: Radio Adaptations
Famous quotes containing the words barn and/or dance:
“A barn shall harbour heaven,
A stall become a shrine.”
—Richard Wilbur (b. 1921)
“If I’m on skates, I feel at home no matter what I’m doing. If they wanted me to sing and dance I think I could do it just because I was on skates. When I’m not on skates, though, I feel very strange.”
—Dorothy Hamill (b. 1956)