Barn Dance Space Needed (Des Moines, Indianola: to rent, new home, living)

[Fiddle&Banjo]

My husband and I are looking for a new home in the Des Moines Metro area for our old-time barn dances. These dances are open to the community, all ages, no experience needed, and we ask a small admission fee to cover our costs. 8 pm to 11 pm, first Saturdays, May through October. Start set up at 5 pm and out by midnight.

Nationally known dance callers teach and lead the dancing and music is performed live by the Talking Fiddleheads old-time string band. Great fun and good exercise, too!

We need an affordable hall with a large wood floor (3500 square feet or so), ample parking, lights and electricity, chairs around the hall perimeter, two tables, rest rooms and a source of drinking water.

These dances used to be at Living History Farms but they just raised our rent by 500 percent so we can no longer afford to hold them there. We have been sponsoring these dances as a voluntary community service since 1991 and want to continue. Last year each dance attracted between 150 to 200 dancers!

We hope someone out there knows of the perfect place. Please help!

[DMRyan]

I know there are various ethnic community centers around town you could consider and I would imagine they have cheap rent. There's some kind of center up on 2nd Avenue, north of the freeway, a hall on E. Army Post Road and Indianola Avenue and the Italian center on Indianola Avenue.

Perhaps the Polk County Community Centers could help you out too?

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

I know there are various ethnic community centers around town you could consider and I would imagine they have cheap rent. There's some kind of center up on 2nd Avenue, north of the freeway, a hall on E. Army Post Road and Indianola Avenue and the Italian center on Indianola Avenue.

The one on Army Post is the Croatian Hall. I'm not sure if they have a wood floor though.

Do we still have rollerskating rinks? If so, you may be able to rent them after hours. That would probably fit your criteria.

[Fiddle&Banjo]

Thank you for the replies to our request for location ideas. We checked all suggestions and looked at many places but ultimately the right place came to us.

We will be holding Old-time barn dances at the newly opened Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust in downtown Des Moines. The building was last used as the Obama headquarters.

The first dance, the "Flying Pig Flooring Fling", will be on Saturday, April 4, 8 pm to 11 pm. This one will be a fundraiser to contribute to the installation of a wood floor in the dancing area of the Des Moines Social Club. Admission will be only $6 and donations will be encouraged.

Dave Losure will teach and lead the dances which will include Old-time squares, circle dances, reels, waltzes, polkas and schottisches. Live energizing music will be provided by the Talking Fiddleheads Old-time string band.

Everyone is welcome, all ages, families, couples and singles, no experience or costume needed. Good exercise and all around fun!

Sponsors are Flying Pig Fiddle & Banjo and the Des Moines Social Club.

More barn dances will be held at the Des Moines Social Club under the name "Flying Pig Barn Dance", on May 2, June 6, July 4, August 1, September 5 and October 3.