Phantom Theater presents two nights of Queer Country Line Dancing

July 10, 2026  |  By Ramsey Brown

Grace Palmer and CG Kelly lead Queer Country Line Dancing July 16 and Aug. 20. Photo by Robyn Nicole

Dust off your cowboy hat, your fiercest boots, or come as you are to two nights of Queer Country Line Dancing at the Warren Town Hall – Thursdays, July 16 and Aug. 20.

Presented by Phantom Theater, all are welcome to drop in; no experience needed.

Queer Country Line Dance began in 2024 when instructors Grace Palmer and CG Kelly hosted a handful of friends in an empty apartment. What started small has grown into a grassroots project that reclaims country dance from rigid norms and centers queer joy, self-expression and community well-being across the greater Burlington area. 

“I think it is especially the case with queer line dancing that people want to connect, build community, support each other and have a really good time in that space,” Palmer said.

Line dancing is partner-free, choreographed group dancing performed in rows. While modern line routines trace back to 1970s disco and soul-era favorites like the Electric Slide, queer country line dancing has long functioned as a site of refuge and resistance for LGBTQ+ people.

As venues and laws once constrained queer public partnering, partnerless formats provided a space to gather safely. That legacy endures: line dancing removes rigid gendered roles, turning the dance floor into a place of sanctuary, resistance and celebration. 

Phantom Theater presents Queer Country Line Dancing July 16 and Aug. 20 at the Warren Town Hall. Photo by Robyn Nicole

“Queer social dance has been around forever, but it has really taken off in a big way. It goes without saying that we’re living through really, really hard times, and I think it’s important to have spaces that are centered around joy and connection,” Palmer said.

Expect a welcoming atmosphere, step breakdowns, guided routines, and open-floor time to an energetic mix of classic country as well as contemporary pop and dance anthems. 

Palmer and Kelly lead the instruction at a patient, all-levels pace so newcomers can jump in and seasoned dancers have room to improvise. Palmer, who grew up in ballet, remembers discovering line dancing in college while living in the remote Hudson Valley. “There was nothing going on except for a Tuesday night line dance at a BBQ restaurant,” she recalls, saying she thought it sounded like fun. “With line dancing, you’re in your own bubble, but you’re still having a collective experience together, which is so special.”

After one event last year, Phantom Theater has added a second date this summer. The July 16 and Aug. 20 dance parties will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Costumes and country flair are encouraged but optional. 

Ramsey Brown is a member of Phantom Theater’s Board of Directors. More information online at phantomtheater.org