Pioneers Dancing in a Field

WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY     (Washington County, Utah)

DANCING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Dancing played an important part in pioneer Utah and that was also true in southern Utah.


HISTORY

Dancing played a large part in the first Christmas celebration in St. George, December 24-25, 1861.

The large living room and dining room area in the John Mathis home served as the first dance floor in St. George.


DANCE VENUES

American Legion Hall in Hurricane
Biz-Ray Dance Hall in St. George
Bluebird Dance Pavilion in New Harmony
Dixie College Dance Pavilion
Santa Rosa Open Air Pavilion in Santa Clara
Starlite Gardens Dance Pavilion in Anderson Junction


DANCE BANDS

Brass Band of Santa Clara
Earl J. Bleak Orchestra
Enerprise String Band
Early Dance Orchestra in Dixie
Perry Asay Band
Ralph Loper Band
The Combo
Vet Swingsters
William Staheli Dance Orchestra


PHOTOS

Pioneers Dancing in a Barn

Photos on the web:
SUU-0036   Photo of folk dancers from New Harmony at Parowan's celebration of Utah's centennial in 1947


REFERENCES

Doug Liston with H.C. & Kay Hunt and Carol Liston,
" Musicians of Southern Utah"

Andrew Karl Larson, " I Was Called to Dixie"
pp. 457-476

Douglas D. Alder and Karl F. Brooks,
" A History of Washington County From Isolation to Destination"
pp. 144-145 and 250-252

"The First Christmas in St. George - 1861"
By Mary Pheonix
In http://www.dixietoday.com/history.html

Dancing in the Settlements - Utah's Dixie

Old Time Utah Dances