About Us

The First Saturday Dancers of Griffin dance group is a warm, fun-loving group of congenial folk who share a passion for dance styles of the past. We enjoy mainly English Country Dances (ECD) with American Contra dances and an occasional square thrown in for variety.

As our name implies, we meet on the first Saturday of every month (September thru June) from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Birdie Community Clubhouse on Birdie Road in Griffin (see directions link below). The clubhouse is a wonderful old wooden camp building from the 1950s, with a fireplace, a wood floor, and a great atmosphere. A $5 donation covers clubhouse rental and light refreshments.

Gwen Roland and Ginger Pyron share the calling most evenings. We welcome guest callers who have a dance prepared that they know well as long as they let us know in advance so we can schedule them.

Beginners can dance the entire evening, particularly if they get there to do the easiest dances during the first hour and build toward the more intermediate ECD during the second hour. We mainly use music CDs, but occasionally hire a live band and caller.

Tips for an enjoyable evening. . .

• Wear loose comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes that will stay on your feet and give good support. Smooth leather soles are best for dancing, but if your knees or ankles suffer from jarring, athletic shoes will be kinder to them.
• You don't have to bring a partner since we change partners after every dance. Ladies often take turns dancing the gentlemen's parts.
• Participants should be physically fit enough to walk a brisk half mile.
• We have a core group of about 20 dancers to help beginners get off to a good start. The first hour has the easiest dances so beginners can progress through the evening.
• Entire families are welcome, but dancers must be at least four feet tall and have an attention span long enough to follow the instructions. Parents are responsible for their children at all times.
• No alcohol is allowed. Smoking is restricted to outdoors.

First Saturday Dancers got our start in 1999 at the University of Georgia Griffin Campus as a series of continuing education classes about American folk dance heritage. The class was taught at the request of some campus employees. A second series of classes resulted in enough experienced dancers to form the core of a community dance group that welcomes beginners into this traditional form of recreation.

For more information, please contact Gwen Roland at (706) 648-2456 or at gwenroland@windstream.net