A continuing tradition

Ozark Fiddling and Dance

Square dancing has undergone a number of changes since the development of the automobile nearly wiped out the tradition in America. In the 1940s Western-style square dancing was widely popular in the U.S. In the early 1970s, New England contra-style dancing caught on among the folkies across the country. Down in Ava, Mo., they still do it the old time way. Edna Mae Davis and her family and friends have traveled nationally to demonstrate and teach their style. It is some of the fastest figure dancing you have ever stepped to, and master Missouri fiddler Bob Holt is just the one to play for them, which he has done for decades. Bob and guitarist Alvie Dooms were part of traditional arts apprenticeship program at our festival last year. This is Ozark fiddling and dance in its purest living form.