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Butte’s Bygone Ballrooms

Campaign Introduction:

I’m writing a book, “Butte’s Bygone Ballrooms: A Social History,” to record the Mining City’s rich, cultural dance history.

$4,575

Funds Raised

$4,000

Funding Goal

Aug 2017

Ended

This campaign was successful! 😃
Or purchase a reward below if available!
Raised Percent :
114%
Location:
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$4,575

Funds Raised

$4,000

Funding Goal

Aug 2017

Ended

Raised Percent :
114%
This campaign was successful! 😃
Or purchase a reward below if available!
Campaign Location:
Share Campaign:

Campaign Story

Butte, Montana is home to several hidden, mostly forgotten ballrooms that rollicked with the joy of life back in the Mining City's heyday of the 1920s through the 1960s and beyond. My book, "Butte's Bygone Ballrooms: A Social History," will bring to life the formal dance clubs and their elegant, historically and architecturally significant ballrooms, where folks congregated regularly for dances -- often to big-time national swing bands such as the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

The idea to write about the history of Butte's fascinating ballrooms first dawned on me as a reporter at The Montana Standard, when photographer Walter HInick and I toured a few of the better known spaces around Butte. My feature story touches upon the Pioneer Club above HeadFrame Spirits, a dusty, underused Elks Lodge ballroom and the Masonic Temple ballroom where Big Bands thrilled local audiences like during the Swing Era of old.

Weaving Butte-laden oral histories into my narrative, I will capture the richness of the bygone era of formal ballrooms, their colorful inhabitants and their formal social rituals. We will two-step to our hearts' content and learn some new dance styles while imagining the dance culture of old. So fill your dance card and join me as we fill our dance cards and revive the forgotten history of social dance in beautiful ballrooms for older, younger and future generations.

Pioneer Club ballroom photo by Walter Hinick.

Campaign Contributions

Name Location Date
Campaign Backers Laramie, WY August 01, 2017

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Rewards

$5

Acknowledgement

Virtual Thank You on our campaign site.

0 backers

$25

Receive an early released copy of my book.

Donate $25 and receive an early released, hard copy of my book.

0 backers

$50

Personal signed copy of my book

Donate $50 and receive a personally signed copy of my book and a huge Thank You for your support of my project.

0 backers

$75

Your Choice -- Ballroom Tour or Private Dance Lesson

Donate $75 per person for 2 and receive your choice of a behind-the-scene tour of Uptown Butte's Ballrooms or a one-on-one dance lesson for 2 from a Montana dance instructor who competes regularly in swing and ballroom dance events.

0 backers

$100

Receive a signed copy of my book and a personal 2-hour writing workshop from Renata.

If you have always wanted to refine your writing skills, this reward level is the primo choice for you. Donate $100 to receive a signed hard copy of the book and a personable 2-hour writing workshop from Renata.

0 backers

$250

Evening with the Author

Donate $250 for you and a guest to spend an evening with Renata. The night includes a lively live reading of book excerpts, yummy drinks and appetizers and fascinating discussion. Each guest will receive a copy of the book, hard copy.

0 backers

$500

VIP Evening with the Author --

Donate $500 allows you and 3 guests to spend the evening with Renata, the author. Includes your choice of 1 photo print from the book for the donor and for the group, an engaging live reading, dinner and rousing discussion. Each guest will also receive a signed copy of my book.

0 backers