M.V. teens gather for TLC Barn Dance

By ISAAC LINFORD

The Progress

The Moapa Valley Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) hosted a barn dance for the community on Saturday, Jan. 27 as an opportunity for the group to build community in the area. The dance was part of a series of monthly barn dance events which take place on the 4th Saturday of every month at the Clark County Fairgrounds small animal barn.

The featured a live DJ (provided by MVHS Robotics) and TLC dance instructors Myrrhanda Lamping and Bekah Jensen. Local vendor truck, Soda Papa’s pulled into the barn so that those in attendance could enjoy soda and cookies.

About 240 people attended the dance. All donations from this month’s event went to the MVHS Hope Squad, a suicide prevention and mental health awareness club.

The barn dances are open to all ages and families. Youth instructors from TLC teach attendees numerous swing country swing and line dances.

Many local teens had attended the dances before and invited their younger siblings to attend as well.

Youth from middle school and high school with some elementary schoolers dotted the dance floor, making new friends and participating in line and swing dancing.

One such dance was performed in a large circle to the song House Party by Thomas Rett. The dancers would spin, step, and clap their hands to the beat of the music before the entire circle rotated and each dancer was with a new partner. Before the song was over, each dancer would have been paired with at least 15 different individuals.

Youth are encouraged to invite their friends to join the festivities and learn some new dances. “We would love to invite our neighboring communities of Mesquite, Alamo, and Lincoln County to come to our barn dances and enjoy a good time,” said TLC adult advisor Dianna Walker.

The dances are made possible by funding from Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, UNR Extension 4-H, Clark County Parks and Recreation, Moapa Valley Educational Foundation, Moapa Valley Community Education Advisory Board, and the MVHS Robotics Teams.