Old-Time Square Dance Keeps Davidson County’s Musical Traditions Alive
culture, davidson county, music, square dance, the oak tree boys,
Mountain music enthusiasts in and around Davidson County know to keep their calendar free the third Saturday of every month.
That’s when they head to Denton for the Old-Time Square Dance, which has kept toes tapping and skirts twirling since 1996.
Founded by Neal and Debbie Leonard, with sponsorship and input from the North Carolina Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Denton Area Chamber of Commerce and many local businesses, the event still continues to pack ’em in at the Denton Civic Center, says Tim Maines, guitarist for The Oak Tree Boys, the dance’s house band.
“They come from all over the place, as far away as Fayetteville and Winston-Salem, and we have a few that come down from Wilkesboro,” Maines says.
The Oak Tree Boys took over the reins a few years ago when the Leonards moved onto other ventures, but the evening’s format remains the same: The music starts around 7 p.m., and wraps up around 10 p.m. In between, there’s plenty of action – both on the stage and the dance floor.
“It’s music, fellowship – just good, clean fun in a family atmosphere,” Maines says. “For a lot of the older folks, it brings back a lot of good memories. For them, square dancing was the only dancing there was around here. But it’s fun for the younger people too, so we really get people of all ages in.”
The dance’s mission statement says it all: To preserve and promote traditional music and dance in the Piedmont.
The Oak Tree Boys keep busy at other venues and private events as well. It’s a family affair, with Tim Maines’ dad, Dean, on fiddle. The senior Maines has been playing for nearly
60 years, starting during his teen years in nearby Alleghany County. Rounding out the band are Mike Plummer, bass; Scott Arnold, mandolin; Matthew Vance, banjo; and Johnny Arnold, sound.
“Sometimes we have two bands,” Tim Maines says. “When they started it up, they would have a more bluegrass-style band, which was us, and then an old-time band.”
According to Maines, the old-time bands sound tends to be more clawhammer and fiddle driven, while the bluegrass sound relies more on instrumental solos.
Whatever the sound, the music’s traditional to the region, which has been the goal all along. And with dozens of people still coming every month, the Old-Time Square Dance looks as though it’s got a lot of life left in it.
“We enjoy it and really have a good time,” Maines says. “Dad has played for square dances since he was growing up, so it’s just natural for him to keep doing it. He’s a little older now and can’t do it every week, so once a month is good for us.”
For more information on the Old-Time Square Dance, visit www.dentondance.net.
Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Todd Bennett
