Traditional Dance and Music in New Hampshire: 1750-today

October 14- November 25, 2015 | Free and open to the public

• Public Reception: Wednesday, October 14, 5:30-6:30pm. Live fiddling by Perin Ellsworth-Heller
• Read the Press Release

New Hampshire State Library Map Gallery | 20 Park St., Concord, NH 03301 | Library Hours: 8am-4:30pm M-F

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, in partnership with the Monadnock Folklore Society and the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, present an exhibit about the Granite State’s tradition of social dancing at the New Hampshire State Library from Oct. 14-Nov. 25.

The exhibit traces the long history of traditional dance and music in New Hampshire, especially in the Monadnock region from Colonial times to the present. These dances were primarily contra and square dances, done to traditional Celtic and English music performed on fiddle and piano. The Monadnock region of New Hampshire is one of the few places in the country where these dances have been done continuously since the mid-1700s.

The exhibit features artifacts, documents, instruments, photographs and audio recordings. 

This exhibit was researched and produced by the Monadnock Folklore Society and the Monadnock Center for History Culture and has received additional support from the Department of Cultural Resoures, the NH State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about Traditional Dances in NH including Contra, Square, Folk, and English Country, visit the NH Folklife website.

Last updated: October 9, 2015