Dance, Sing, and Jump around is a highlight event for our family. The organizers create a warm, loving, and fun environment where all ages feel immediately welcomed. They pick dances that are inclusive, and they are accommodating for different levels of experience, mobility, shyness, etc. My daughter (four) loves going and so do we, the parents! Liza Earle-Centers
We have been taking our children (6 and 4) to the Plainfield Dances for some time now. It has been delightful to gather with a community of families to learn traditional called dances, waltzes, and songs. It is one of the few music and dance events that is held regularly and geared towards allowing children to participate and learn. In that way, our own children have been able to experience the joy of dancing and both hearing and “seeing” beautiful music (it is performed live!) at a very young age. And as parents, we have been able to enjoy it with them. We’ll often hear the children singing some of the songs or dancing at home. It has become a wonderful family outing for us during the long winter, and we look forward to it each month. David Soccodato
My two little girls and I have thoroughly enjoyed and deeply appreciated the Family Dance events that a small group of very tender-hearted, fun people have been organizing. What a wonderful way for families to come together and do something playful and joyful together! The parents aren't watching a child’s performance but instead are sharing their experience with them…if you could only see the faces of the small children as they dance, laugh and sing with their parents and other families. It is a unique experience for us that we hope will continue and that I hope will foster interest for us to do together for many years to come! Nancy Bruce
The Plainfield dance affords me, as a player, the opportunity to see how a community can come together to support children and families in good, clean wholesome fun. For me it is not just about playing music—though I can’t deny that is a motivator—but it is about bringing an old northern tradition to new people.
In Vermont we recognize the economic value that our folk culture brings to a community when people gather to enjoy it. People come to the dance, they shop in town, combine it with a trip to the hardware store, the gallery, etc. Then they go home having had a good time, learned something new, and they come back the next time.