Annual Round and Square Dance

Eastern style community square dance, with Kelly's Old Timers and the Geneseo String Band. Come early at 6:30 p.m. and learn the basic steps; no special clothing or prior knowledge is required. The dance is truly a fun evening for all ages, and a great opportunity to enjoy a longtime local tradition.

Kelly’s Old Timers was started by brothers, Woody and Roger Kelly in Perry in 1950 and has been getting people up on the floor for more than 70 years. The group continues with Doug Kelly calling the dances and playing bass, Eric Kelly (keyboards, vocals), Guy Macaluso (keyboards, vocal, trumpet, guitar), Tom Kwiecien (drums), and Elise Kelly on vocals and guitar–and now, as a dance caller! Elise is a 2023 recipient of an Apprenticeship grant to learn dance calling from Doug Kelly, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.

The Geneseo String Band was formed in 1976 at SUNY Geneseo by Jim Kimball, playing traditional American fiddle, dance and vocal music. Much of their music comes from the Genesee Valley region, documented by Jim Kimball. Many of Kimball’s recordings have been recently digitized and can be viewed and heard at https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/kimball.