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Just gotta dance to that fiddle tune Old Time Fiddlers' jam sessions every month bring out dancers and musicians with one thing in common: They love the music By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT - Mildred James loves to dance. "We go to three or four dances a week," says the 83-year-old Medford resident, catching her breath after turning a schottische (a Scottish dance similar to a polka) around the room with her husband of 66 years, Cecil. "That's the way we keep going. It's a lot better than going to a gym and getting your exercises." The Jameses are with about 200 people for the Old Time Fiddlers Jam Session, held on Saturday at the Eagle Point Grange. With 100 or so member families, District 4 of the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers hosts local jam sessions the first Saturday of the month. Jam sessions Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Association, District 4, jam sessions are from 1 to 4 p.m. on the following dates. They are open to the public and admission is by donation: Feb. 2 - Fruitdale Grange, Grants Pass Mar. 2 - Rogue River Community Center, Rogue River Apr. 6 - Roxy Ann Grange, Medford May 4 - Butte Falls Grange, Butte Falls June 1 - Eagle Point Grange, Eagle Point July 6 - Rogue River Community Center, Rogue River Aug. 3 - Palmer Park, Rogue River Sept. 7 - Lake Creek Grange, Lake Creek Oct. 5 - Fruitdale Grange, Grants Pass Nov. 2 - Rogue River Community Center, Rogue River Dec. 7 - Roxy Ann Grange, Medford Dedicated to perpetuating old-time music, the nonprofit organization started in 1972 and offers a venue for fiddlers, guitarists, harmonica players, singers, and anyone who wants to play old-time music. The events are held throughout Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties for musicians, dancers and spectators, beginner or professional, young or old. "We keep having to get larger and larger places," says Pat Manion, chairman of the local chapter, as he looks around the Grange at the toe-tapping crowd filling up the main room. From "My Dad's Waltz" to "The Games People Play," the musicians keep a lively tempo as couples glide and twirl around the floor. There are about 30 musicians lined up to play today, says Manion. He says everyone's drawn to the traditional music. "I've been in this music since I was 10," says Manion, adding that he's always enjoyed playing the banjo and guitar. "I was 72 when I started fiddling," says the 80-year-old Medford resident. Now, he participates in the local jam sessions and hooks up with old-time fiddlers when he travels. "I got friends all over the state, Washington, Idaho. Everywhere I go I've got friends," he says. "I've never had this many friends before." He says the local chapter also performs in nursing homes and retirement centers, or anywhere they're requested. "We've played for people's 50th wedding anniversaries," he says. Joan Allgood of Medford says she's been dancing since she was about 6 years old, and has been attending the jam sessions for five years. "I like the polkas and the swings and the fast waltzes," she says. She says her favorite part is getting together with everyone and seeing everybody have such a good time. For the Jameses, the Eagle Point Grange dance is just a warm-up. "We're going to two (dances) today," says Mildred - she loves the beat of the old-time music. "The peppier the better," she says. For more information, contact Pat Manion, chairman of Oregon Old Time Fiddlers District 4 at 779-8200. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.