2021 National Singles Dance-A-Rama

Labor Day Weekend 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa

Now that people are beginning to get their vaccinations for COVID we should all be ready to get out and dance. Come help us celebrate our 50 years of dancing with our 50th and final Dance-A-Rama festival (with a one-year gap). We will celebrate our 50 years at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa on Labor Day weekend, September 3rd thru 5th, 2021. There will also be a Trail In Dance on Thursday evening, September 2nd, so you will want to plan on coming for that too. Amenities at the hotel include refrigerators, microwaves, and free Wi Fi in the rooms. They have a full-service restaurant and a free shuttle that runs within a two-mile radius of the hotel. They have plenty of free parking and a free shuttle from/to the nearby Des Moines airport which is just minutes from the hotel, basically just down the street. Dancers may even want to find time to enjoy the hotels unique Tropical Courtyard with indoor pool and whirlpool. You can use Uber, Lyft, or Taxis to get to the downtown or other places in the local area. Some of you may remember this hotel from when we held our Dance-A-Rama there in 2012. The hotel has done extensive remodeling since then and all dancing will be on one level this year. Iowa’s State Square Dance Convention was to be held there in the spring of 2020 and this year but, unfortunately, both have been cancelled. The hotel is looking forward to us being there.

We are looking forward to almost the same outstanding line-up of callers and cuers that were to entertain us in 2020: Callers: Jack Pladdys (OH), Tim Tyl (TX), Tom Davis (OH) and Travis Cook (KY), and Cuers: Bonnie Lawrence (IN) (with Bonnie also teaching and leading line dances). Due to unfortunate circumstances Phyllis Burdette (OH) will not be cueing for us, so we welcome Caroyln Ahart (MO). Our prayers go out to Phyllis and her husband as he recovers.

I am serving as Chairperson in charge of our festival, and am looking forward to welcoming you back to Des Moines. Come early or stay late and see what you didn’t get to see in 2012 or when the National was here in 2016. I am already busy looking for places for us to go on tours. Below are some of the interesting and beautiful sites that Iowa has to offer. The Capitol, Sculpture Park and our Art Center are free. There is a free shuttle that operates in the downtown loop (from the Capitol to the Sculpture Park).

Don’t forget that ALL square and round dancers are welcome at our Dance-A-Rama festivals.

Susan Lee Treasurer/Registrar
Single Square Dancers USA

Boone Scenic Valley Railroad	Bridges of Madison County
Salisbury House	Amana Colonies
Pappajohn Sculpture Park	Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens
Greater Des Moines Botanical Center	Iowa State Capitol