Tucked into the rolling farmland just southeast of Columbia, the unincorporated community of McBaine, Missouri, punches well above its weight when it comes to square dance tradition. While this Boone County crossroads numbers only about 300 residents, it sits at the center of a surprisingly lively regional scene for callers, cloggers, and do-si-do enthusiasts. If you're looking to learn square dance—or simply want a welcoming, low-pressure way to get moving—McBaine and its immediate neighbors offer a handful of distinct training options worth exploring.
Below, we've mapped out where to take your first steps (or polish your allemande left), what to expect at each venue, and how to choose the right fit for your schedule and goals.
Quick Comparison: McBaine-Area Square Dance Venues
| Venue | Location | Best For | Class Format | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McBaine Dance Academy | Route WW, McBaine | All ages, structured progression | Weekly evening sessions | Live callers, performance opportunities |
| Rhythm & Roots Studio | Columbia city limits | Adults seeking social connection | Small-group, drop-in friendly | Post-class potlucks and barn dances |
| Swing City Dance School | Downtown Columbia | Cross-trainers (swing + square) | Multi-style packages | High-energy instruction, younger demographic |
| Square Dance Emporium | Columbia/Providence area | Gear shoppers turned dancers | Weekend workshops | Retail floor + dedicated dance hall |
1. McBaine Dance Academy
The hub: Operating out of a renovated barn on Route WW since 2008, the McBaine Dance Academy is the closest thing this stretch of Boone County has to a dedicated square dance institution. The wood-floored studio hosts beginner through advanced sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with additional youth programming on Saturday mornings.
Who teaches: Director Pat Ellis, a caller with more than 20 years of experience, leads the adult program. Teen and pre-teen classes focus on modern western square dance (MWSD), blending recorded music with live caller accompaniment as students advance.
Why go: The academy is one of the few local venues that regularly fields exhibition teams at the Missouri State Fair and regional folk festivals. If you want a structured path from first steps to public performance, this is your spot. First-time visitors can sit in on a complimentary Tuesday beginner session; no partner or special footwear required.
2. Rhythm & Roots Studio
The hub: Located in a compact, timber-framed space on Columbia's north side—about a 15-minute drive from McBaine proper—Rhythm & Roots Studio emphasizes community as much as choreography. Class sizes are deliberately capped at 16 dancers, and the atmosphere leans more living-room gathering than formal academy.
Who teaches: Husband-and-wife instructors Dale and Marlene Kowalski rotate calling duties. Both are certified through Callerlab, the international square dance callers association, and both are known for their patience with true beginners.
Why go: The studio's monthly barn dances and seasonal potlucks draw dancers from across mid-Missouri, making this an easy entry point if your primary goal is social connection. They also offer a four-week "Square Dance 101" series quarterly; check their Facebook page for the next start date.
3. Swing City Dance School
The hub: Housed in a second-floor studio above downtown Columbia's North Village Arts District, Swing City is primarily known for Lindy Hop and Charleston. But co-owner James Park expanded into square dance programming in 2019 after noticing crossover interest among swing dancers seeking group-pattern alternatives.
Who teaches: Park and rotating guest callers from St. Louis and Kansas City lead the square dance track. Classes skew toward adults in their 20s and 30s, and the playlist deliberately blends traditional fiddle tunes with contemporary pop arrangements.
Why go: Swing City is ideal if you want to sample multiple styles without committing to separate studios. Their "Folk Fusion" membership covers unlimited swing, square dance, and introductory clogging classes. The energy is high, the dress code is casual, and the post-class scene often migrates to a nearby brewery.
4. The Square Dance Emporium
The hub: Part retail store, part workshop space, the Emporium occupies a converted warehouse near the Columbia-Providence border. The front half sells everything from petticoats and prairie skirts to caller microphones and instructional DVDs; the back half opens into a 2,000-square-foot dance floor used for weekend intensives.
Who teaches: The Emporium doesn't run a fixed weekly curriculum. Instead, it partners with traveling callers and regional dance clubs to host one- and two-day workshops, typically on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
Why go: This is the place to
