BEREA — Dancers of all skill levels will gather at Berea College Dec. 5-7 for the fourth annual Appalachian Flatfooting Frolic, a weekend celebration of mountain dance, music, food, and Appalachian culture.
The three-day event, hosted by Kentucky dance instructor Carla Gover and flatfoot dance instructor Rebecca Stout, who divides her time between Alabama and Southern California, offers immersive instruction in traditional Appalachian flatfooting alongside live music, storytelling, square dancing, and opportunities to explore Berea’s craft shops and cultural attractions.
“This is much more than dance,” Gover said in promotional materials for the event. “It’s a full-on celebration of Appalachian culture, complete with world-class instruction, live mountain music, delicious food, storytelling, and the kind of warm community that’ll make you feel like you’ve come home.”
Two-Track Instruction
For the first time, the Frolic will offer separate tracks for beginning and continuing dancers, allowing personalized instruction tailored to participants’ experience levels. Gover, an eighth-generation Kentuckian who has taught Appalachian flatfooting and clogging for 30 years, will team with Stout, who grew up immersed in the music and dance traditions of the Deep South.
“Rebecca and I are teaming up specifically so we can offer two levels of instruction — total beginners and continuing dancers — which means everyone gets exactly what they need,” Gover wrote in an online description of the event. “You’ll spend time learning from both of us, and I promise you’ll love seeing how our different backgrounds (her southern traditions, my Kentucky mountain heritage) come together to create something really special.”
Saturday’s schedule includes morning sessions on foundational steps, followed by work on sequences and transitions. Participants will then split into two tracks for personalized instruction on improvisation and “dancing the tune.”
Weekend Schedule
The Frolic begins Friday evening at 4:30 p.m. with a locally sourced supper. An optional storytelling workshop is available Friday afternoon for an additional fee, followed by an evening concert of Appalachian music and stories with Berea native Mitch Barrett at Rebel Rebel Studio & Lounge.
Saturday features full-day dance instruction with catered meals and free time to explore downtown Berea, Kentucky’s folk arts and crafts capital. The evening includes dinner at a local restaurant, followed by traditional East Kentucky-style square dancing led by caller Randy Wilson, with live music and community dancing.
Sunday morning concludes with coffee, muffins, and a farewell dance jam at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center, a sponsor of the event. An optional stroll to a holiday craft vendor market across the street follows.
A Weekend Full of Berea Events
Frolic participants will find Berea bustling with holiday activities throughout the weekend. The Spotlight Playhouse presents two productions: The Bluegrass Players’ “Little Women: Christmas at the March House” and Spotlight Acting School’s “‘Twas the Week After Christmas,” both running Dec. 5-7.
Saturday evening, the 39th Annual Berea Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m., following a route through downtown Berea with the theme “The Joy of Christmas.” Christmas on Main Street festivities begin at 3 p.m. with food and craft vendors, live music, and street performances along Chestnut Street.
The combination of cultural events makes the first weekend of December an ideal time to experience Berea’s arts scene, with opportunities to explore local craft shops, enjoy holiday theater, and witness both traditional Appalachian dance and the community’s Christmas celebration.
Registration and Pricing
The Frolic uses a three-tier honor-system pricing model designed to make the event accessible while fairly compensating instructors. Registration covers all events plus lunch on Saturday and suppers on Friday and Saturday, but does not include travel or lodging.
Pricing tiers are: Solidarity ($347), Standard ($447), and Artist Acknowledgement/Pay-It-Forward ($500). A Partner Add-On ($125) provides access to all meals and evening events, excluding dance classes. The optional Friday storytelling workshop costs $25.
Spots are limited to maintain an intimate learning environment.