From the moment the first note hits the air, the dance floor at St. Adolphe’s Pioneer Hall is packed. St. Adolphe’s Old Tyme Dances started just five years ago, and in no time they proved to be a big hit on the Old Tyme Dance circuit.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of local volunteers Rae and Jules Manaigre and Denise and Romeo Belisle, the St. Adolphe dance sees anywhere from 120 to 200 dancers every month.

As you walk up the stairs to Pioneer Hall at the St. Adolphe Community Centre, you’re greeted with the sound of live music. Bands from all over Manitoba are hired to play the dance, and each one has something unique to offer. The March dance brought in crowd favorite Mark Morisseau on the fiddle, and halfway through the evening special guests were invited to join the band onstage to call a square dance. 

My husband and I love to dance and enjoy a good polka or two, so we thought that the Old Tyme Dance would make a great date. After two songs, we were feeling the burn, amazed at how others didn’t seem to sit the entire time!

Not knowing much more than the average two-step, we were a bit uncertain if we would be able to pick up the steps of other dances. Luckily, no experience is required at the Old Tyme Dance—and if you’re willing, the dancers are more than happy to teach you. It’s not often in life that you’ll dance in a circle of strangers and come out with new friends and skills.

If you’re looking for something new to try for a girls night out or date night, consider stopping by the next Old Tyme Dance. Admission to dances is just $15 and includes a light lunch and cash bar.