The Old Farmer’s Ball

An Intergenerational Space For Radical Joy And Social Dance

Vivian Bryan and Ryleigh Johnson | February 11, 2025

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The Old Farmers Ball, located in Swannanoa, North Carolina, is volunteer-run and holds contra dancing events every Thursday night from 7:30 - 11 p.m. in Warren Wilson College (WWC) Bryson Gym. The Ball’s mission is to bring joy to the community by cultivating social spaces where people come together to experience dance and music

“I think it's a really lovely intergenerational space, where there's a lot of people my age and people who have been doing it for a really long time and are older,” Emma Taylor McCallum said. “It's just a really cool mix of the younger people who are getting into it, and also this older population who's been doing it for a really long time.”  

“I love that every single dance you get to dance with multiple people, but then you come back to your partner,” said Courtney Miller. “It’s very social.”

“People are very kind and willing to teach, and pretty much everyone's advice has been, ‘Just smile, you'll make it through!’” said Kelsey Love Kilgore.

“I really like swinging…and the do-si-dos!” said Mictehuatl Overla. “But also, in the middle of the night, there’s a waltz section where people take a break, and there's 15 minutes where you waltz. I love doing that.”

“Eventually you don't have to think about it [contra dancing] when you're doing it…” Tao Keogh Belmonte said. “You can do everything that the caller is saying without really paying any attention, which is super enjoyable for me, at least. I’ve worked stressful jobs, and dancing is probably the opposite of everything else I do in my life currently.”

“I liked the music and the energy, and it was something to do…” said Joe Karpen. “I always figured when I was first starting that if I figured out the dance by the end of the dance I was doing well.”