Nashville Country Dancers’ 43rd Playford Ball

March 27-29, 2026

Music by Trio Con Brio: Jonathan Jensen, Elke Baker & Paul Oorts

Trio con Brio is Elke Baker, Jonathan Jensen, and Paul Oorts. The group formed after early collaborations playing for their local English country dance in Baltimore, and more than twenty years later, they’re still at it, playing a diverse and unusual repertoire featuring vintage mandolin music, French musette music, Jonathan’s original compositions, classical arrangements, Paul’s transcriptions of music from around the world, and Elke’s finds from the archives. Instrumentation is primarily violin, mandolin, and piano, but extends to accordion, guitar, viola, recorders, whistles, and ocarinas.

Caller: Jenna Simpson

Jenna Simpson is a choreographer known for her innovative dances. Based in Williamsburg, Virginia, she regularly calls for both the local community English and Scottish Country Dances as well as for the student ECD club at the College of William & Mary, which she co-founded. Her ECD repertoire spans both the historical and modern canons – she has called for reenactors and for the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America, but particularly delights in trying out and sharing new dance compositions.


Venue

West End Middle School, 3529 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37205

For best results with GPS, use this address: 315 Elmington Ave, 37205. Once you are there, you will see the school.

All dancing will be in West End Middle school gym.

This dance is not suitable for complete beginners - a basic knowledge of English Country Dance moves is expected.




Registration is now open!

A La Carte pricing will be available.

In the interests of making our Playford Ball weekend available to all, we have opted for a sliding scale. If you cannot afford the standard amount, then pay less. If you can afford more and want to help us make it possible for those with limited income to attend, please pay more. 

Register using PayPal

1) Select the price you are willing to pay from the drop-down menu.

2) In the first box, enter your preferred email address.

3) In the second box, enter your first and last name, and the names of any other dancers you are paying for.

These names will be on our registration list at the door, and on your pre-printed button.

4) Click “Add to Cart”. On the PayPal page, choose how many dancers you are paying for.

5) To add additional registrations for dancers at a different price level, click “Continue Shopping”, and repeat the process.

6) You will receive email acknowledgement.

Playford Ball 2026
Best email to reach you
First & last names of all dancers




Register by US Mail

1) Write a check for the amount you are willing to pay, starting at $65 (limited income). See Paypal drop-down menu for suggestions. Make the check payable to Nashville Country Dancers.

2) Enclose the following information:

  • First and last names of all dancers, for our list at our registration table and for your pre-printed button

  • Your preferred email address.

3) Mail to Nashville Country Dancers, PO Box 40581, Nashville TN 37204-0581

5) You will receive email acknowledgement.

Schedule for Playford Ball 2026

All Dance events are English Country Dance, and take place in West End Middle School Gym.

You can pay for each workshop individually, at the door.

We accept Paypal, Venmo, cash and checks. Make check out to Nashville Country Dancers.

Registration 7.30pm.

Friday Welcome Dance 8pm - 10.30pm

Saturday Workshop 10am - noon

Lunch on your own

Saturday Workshop 2pm - 4pm

Saturday Playford Ball 7.30pm - 10.30pm

Saturday Night After-Party at Joyce’s house 10.45pm - 1.00am. Contributions of food and drink are greatly appreciated. Directions to the party will be available at the venue on Saturday.

Sunday Farewell Dance 10.30am - 1pm


Additional Information

Health and Refund Policy

At present we have no Covid policy, but ask that if you are sick, you stay at home. We recommend, but do not require self-testing for Covid.

We reserve the right to adapt our health policies if conditions require it

If you need to cancel due to illness, we will issue a refund.

Housing:

If you want to be housed with a local dancer, please email ncdwebteam@gmail.com as soon as possible.

For information about hotels and other accommodation, click here.

Other good, less pricy hotel options are in Brentwood, about 15 minutes drive from the venue. Try Expedia or Travelocity.

Shoe Policy:

We require clean, inside-only shoes that have rubber soles, or soft leather shoe with soft leather non-marking sole. If you rub the heel on white paper and it leaves a mark, then find another shoe. Heels must be wider than 1.5".

Refreshments:

Good quality water is available at the venue. To reduce waste, please bring your own re-fillable water-bottle.

Coffee, tea and light snacks will be available. Finger food contributions are very welcome, especially for the break during the Playford Ball!

Click here for list of restaurants.

Parking Map

For best results with GPS, use this address: 315 Elmington Ave, 37205.

The Gym is marked in large red letters, and parking is indicated by blue letter P’s.

The best parking is in semi-circle close to the gym, marked by curved red arrow. Street parking in the neighbourhood is fine.

You can also park on the West side of the school, accessed from Bowling Avenue.

Please enter the Gym from the East side (on the semi-circle).