Lessons

Square Dance Lessons

Lessons are offered at the Hayloft Barn in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and typically precede the main dance events. Instruction covers Mainstream, Plus and Advance levels, with instructors including Matt McGovern and Bill Mager.

  • Mainstream
  • Plus
  • Advance
Dancers in motion on a warm wooden barn floor, rendered as a hard two-tone duotone in deep green and pale cream
Learn at the Barn

Lessons at the Hayloft Barn

Square dance lessons are taught at the Hayloft Barn, 232 Podunk Road, Sturbridge, MA. Instruction is offered across three levels, so new dancers and experienced callers alike have a group that matches their experience.

  • Mainstream — the widely danced basic level.
  • Plus — for dancers who know Mainstream and want more figures and variety.
  • Advance — for dancers with a solid background in the easier levels.

Lessons typically precede the main dance events, so class time and evening dancing fit together in the same visit. Check the dance schedule for the dates of the next dance, and the barn schedule for the full calendar of events, lessons and workshops.

Interior of a barn-style hall with wide sliding doors and light wood flooring, rendered as a hard two-tone duotone in dark green and pale cream
Your Teachers

Instructors

Lessons are led by experienced instructors from the club, including:

The Hay Loft Steppers site presents a broad showroom of concealed door and wall hardware, with frameless panels, flush doors, adjustable hinges, magnetic locks and matching baseboard trims gathered under one clean, modern banner. The emphasis is on finishing a room so nothing interrupts the architecture: hardware that disappears once installed, minimal lines and a slim overall profile that suits both contemporary interiors and older traditional houses. A blog and lessons area sit alongside the core catalogue, giving visitors background reading and community information before they browse further.

Design decisions run through everything from the hinge selection to the finish choices. Frameless door leaves, brushed hardware and pared-back handles keep the eye on the door itself rather than the fittings, while concealed mounting technology means screw heads and closers remain hidden from view. Colour and paint options can be matched to the surrounding trim so a doorway reads as part of the wall plane rather than an object dropped into it. For anyone planning renovation work, this kind of considered approach avoids the messy, unsightly result that standard visible fittings can leave behind.

Installation guidance forms an important part of the offering, because the benefits of concealed hardware depend entirely on correct fitting. Adjustment is described as a simple process that can be completed with basic tools, including a screwdriver, and soft, careful removal of frames is recommended so paintwork and flooring are not scratched or damaged. Advice ranges from measuring openings and choosing the right hinge type to preventing doors from dropping, rubbing or hitting the carpet. When the frame and panel fit well and the adjustment is handled properly, the result is a door that swings quietly and looks built in.

The visual identity reinforces the product philosophy. Fresh greens carry through the header and icons, deep forest tones anchor the navigation bar and a dark navy footer closes the page, all set against white and pale-tinted section backgrounds with airy spacing between blocks. Rounded geometric typography, pill-shaped buttons and circular green gradient badges give the site a friendly, approachable character, while checkmark motifs mark key features and benefits. For a business dealing with doors, walls, frames and interior finishes, that combination of calm layout and clear signposting makes technical information easy to follow and helps visitors read the wider product story before making contact.

Matt McGovern

Instructor for square dance lessons, and a contributor to the club's monthly newsletters.

Bill Mager

Instructor working with the club's lesson program.

Club Leadership

Moe Bracken is the club contact for general information; Al & Deanna Randall are also listed for inquiries.

At a Glance

Lesson & dance information

Key details for visiting the Hayloft Barn.

Published details for the Hayloft Barn, Sturbridge, MA
Item Details
Location Hayloft Barn, 232 Podunk Road, Sturbridge, MA
Lesson levels Mainstream, Plus and Advance
Instructors Matt McGovern, Bill Mager
Dance days 1st and 5th Saturday of the month
Party hours 8:00 to 10:30 PM; early rounds often start at 7:30 PM
Admission $7.00 per person; $3.00 for those 16 and under
Contact Moe Bracken: (508) - 867-8036 — brackenm@hayloftsteppers.org
Al & Deanna Randall: (413) - 436-7849

The club dances year round, and the pattern of square dance tips alternating with round dances can vary with the schedule. Confirm lesson and dance dates on the barn schedule before you travel.

Ready to join us on the floor?

Square dance and round dancing continue through the year at the Hayloft Barn. Come early for lessons, then stay for the evening tips.