Dancing for the arts: Square dance, BBQ aim to 'Keep the Arts Alive'
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August 2, 2025
Chicken, fiddles and footwork will come together next Saturday, Aug. 2, as the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts hosts a square dance and barbecue to “Keep the Arts Alive.”
The event at the Lakeville Fire Department Training Grounds will feature barbecue from Paul’s BBQ and live music by Kelly’s Old Timers. While the evening promises fun and community connection, it also serves a serious purpose — raising funds and awareness as federal support for the arts becomes increasingly uncertain.
The square dance and barbecue is part of a broader Genesee Valley Council on the Arts effort to strengthen ties with the community amid funding challenges.
Organizer Karen Canning said the idea emerged after the council received notice that a National Endowment for the Arts grant supporting a two-year documentary project about migrant farm workers had been abruptly terminated in May.
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner — a $15 chicken barbecue. Dancing will run from 7 to 10 p.m., with Kelly’s Old Timers leading both square and couple dances. Tickets for the dance cost $10 for adults, $5 for teens 13 to 18 years old, and are free for children 12 and under. Guests can buy food and dance tickets at the door or online at gvartscouncil.org.