Attendees square dance Saturday at Lansing Central United Methodist Church. The dance event was held by Ten Pound Fiddle, an organization of volunteers that presents concert and dance series. Julia Nagy/The State News
Some feet were bare, while others wore tennis shoes as they tapped the floor in sync with the beat of the fiddle and guitar Saturday night at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Lansing.
Smiles adorned the faces of many as they flew around the room with their partners. Others concentrated on keeping up with the movements of the dance.
The event, a celebration of the art of contra dancing, was coordinated by the Ten Pound Fiddle, a concert and dance series.
After the dance, the tired but rosy participants chatted with each other while a sense of a strong, unwavering culture hung in the air.
Abby Schwartz, the dance coordinator for the Ten Pound Fiddle, said the event is held monthly and has 90 to 100 participants.
Schwartz said contra dancing, a partnered folk dance, helps foster a community spirit.
“You’re going up and down these lines, touching everybody,” Schwartz said. “You have to help each other along to make it work. It really does feel like a sense of community.”
The dances feature beginners’ workshops at the start of each dance and offer live folk music and a caller, who leads the dance steps.
The Ten Pound Fiddle does not only offer dances. The Fiddle, as it is affectionately known in Lansing’s folk music community, has been a mainstay and promoter of traditional music in the Lansing area since 1975.
It began as a student organization on the MSU campus with traditional singers and added dancing in 1978.
Laura Stein, an active member of the Fiddle who helped establish the dancing community, said the Ten Pound Fiddle, which is named after an Irish tune, said the organization offers a variety of music that is not offered everywhere.
“You can’t go in a bar usually and hear this kind of music,” Stein said.
Sally Potter, the booking manager for the Fiddle and an MSU alumna, said it hosts around 10 dances and 28 concerts a year. Ticket prices for events range based on the performance.
Potter, who became involved with the Fiddle in the ‘80s, said music genres performed could range from old time, bluegrass, Celtic tradition or ragtime music. Each type of music draws out different audience members.
“Michigan is one of the strongest folk communities in the (country),” Potter said.
The Fiddle, which does not have its own venue, moves locations each week based on which artist is performing.
“The Fiddle prides itself on making the situation and the environment ideal to listening to what these people are singing about,” Potter said. “We really have top notch performers want to play the Ten Pound Fiddle because we offer them an incredible listening room and they can put on the concert that they want to.”
Potter said what helps the Fiddle continue forward is a pool of 60 volunteers who put on the show by helping at the show itself.
MC Rothhorn, a Lansing resident and MSU alumnus, began coming to Fiddle events three years ago for a date night with his wife.
Quickly, they realized the value of the community and began bringing their children to events as well.
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Rothhorn said listening to folk music and being involved with the Fiddle has encouraged him to embrace his own talents.
“We all have a song to sing,” Rothhorn said. “I don’t remember getting a feeling (before) that I had a song to sing, and now, I find that I really like singing.”
Schwartz, who has been a member of the Fiddle community for more than 10 years, said it holds an important place in her life and a certain importance within the community.
“What more can you give to a community than a living tradition, and a great place to hang out?” Schwartz said.
To see when concerts or the next dance is taking place, visit tenpoundfiddle.org.
