July 3, 2024
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DeKalb County will have 39 local cloggers across five square dance teams take the stage this Friday and Saturday to compete in the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree. Under the direction of DeKalb county native Mary Ann Puckett, four teams will compete in Youth Square Dance on Friday and one team will compete in Adult Square Dance on Saturday. The local Youth Square Dance teams are the award-winning DeKalb Dancin’ Delights (who took second place at the Wilson County / Tennessee State Fair last August and who placed second last weekend at the Robert Spicer Tennessee State Buck-Dance Championship in Dickson, Tennessee), Center Hill Hoedown, Caney Fork Circle Eights, and Ragland Bottom Roundup. Smithville Select will be competing in Adult Square Dance this year.
Director Mary Ann Puckett said, “These teams have been practicing hard since March at the Evins Park Amphitheater and are ready to bring their routines down the street to the big stage. I’m truly inspired to see so many of our local kids interested in old-time dance. We are lucky to have this world-class bluegrass festival right here in our hometown. The Jamboree undoubtedly sparks a tremendous amount of local interest in Appalachian dance. It’s almost like the Jamboree stage was built for square dancing, and we can’t wait to get up there!”
The teams performed at the DeKalb County Fair last Saturday evening and danced for the residents at The Webb House and NHC on Monday of this week. The square dance teams will perform at the Evins Park Amphitheater on Thursday, July 4th. The Smithville Community Chorus will start the festivities at 6:00 P.M. with the dancing to follow.