As summer yields to fall, and the warmth of Southern evenings mingles with a hint of cool breeze, Mississippi comes alive with rhythms that tell stories as old as the river itself. From juke joints where blues meets body language to elegant theaters echoing with balletic grace, this state offers an eclectic dance scene that is both deeply rooted and wonderfully spry.
In the heart of Jackson (255 E Pascagoula St, Jackson, MS 39201), Thalia Mara Hall hosts performances by Ballet Mississippi. Their renditions are classical yet infused with a down-home spirit—the stage becomes a meeting place between Faulkner’s prose and pirouettes.
For those who prefer their dancing interactive, Hal & Mal's (200 Commerce St., Jackson, MS 39201) offers Monday night contra dances. Here in this local institution known for its live music pedigree—a quirky blend reminiscent of scenes from "O Brother Where Art Thou?"—you'll find yourself do-si-doing amidst politicians and poets alike.
Venture over to Hattiesburg for The Dance Project at The Thirsty Hippo (309 McLeod St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401). It is here you can witness or participate in contemporary dance workshops that end in public street performances—inclusive events challenging traditional notions of stage and storytelling la Welty’s A Curtain of Green.
Moving towards the Delta, Clarksdale presents Red's Lounge (395 Sunflower Ave., Clarksdale MS 38614), an authentic juke joint where blues dancers sway like cotton fields in a storm—predictable patterns laced with fiery deviations characteristic of Son House and Robert Johnson’s legacies.
The Link Centre Concert Hall (1800 W Main Street Tupelo MS 38801) in Tupelo mixes it up offering both high calibre touring ballets as well as space for local folk movements expressing resilience through rhythmic footwork passed down from Choctaw ancestors.
And if your soul yearns for something profoundly connected to the land beneath your feet while embracing global perspectives on movement artistry? Look no further than Oxford Fringe Festival’s site-specific dances across Lafayette County Courthouse square or within Faulkner-inspired installations at Southside Gallery (150 Courthouse Square Oxford MS 38655).
In Biloxi try Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Theatre (875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi MS 39530) which may seem like an unconventional venue but often surprises visitors by curating stunning shows blending international flavors into Mississippi mud-tradition—a Vardaman sweet potato pie served alongside Parisian macarons.
Remember: connecting these experiences are not just roads but tales woven by nimble feet; they join venues large and small into one grand narrative inviting all willing travelers regardless if they come armed only with eager clapping hands or full-fledged Louis XIV period moves ready to jitterbug beside gnarled oak trees shadow-dancing under harvest moons.
Websites:
- Ballet Mississippi: www.balletms.com
- Thalia Mara Hall: www.jacksonms.gov/thaliamarahall
- Hal & Mal's: www.halandmals.com
- The Thirsty Hippo/Hattiesburg Dance Project:
- Red's Lounge Facebook Page (@redsbluesclub)
- Link Centre Concert Hall/Tupelo Community Theatre:
www.link-centre.org
- Southside Gallery/Oxford Fringe Festival:
Twitter Handles:
255 E Pascagoula St
Jackson, MS 39201
United States
200 Commerce St.
Jackson, MS 39201
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309 Mcleod St.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
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395 Sunflower Ave.
Clarksdale, MS 38614
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1800 W Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38801
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150 Courthouse Square
Oxford, MS 38655
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875 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, MS 39530
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@Redsbluesclub Ms
MS
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