đ Thursday, April 4th â Sunday, April 7th
đ Tickets start at $15
đ Renaissance Seattle Hotel: 515 Madison St, Seattle
Country music can get a bad rap, but the genre has LGBTQIA+ roots stretching back to its start. Musicians like the Sweet Violet Boys paved the way for the Lil Nas of today. And, of course, there are Black peopleâs contributions to the genre from long agoâLeslie Riddle and Rufus âTeapotâ Payne, who influenced some of the countryâs greatest artists, like the Carter Family and Hank Williams. Shoutout to BeyoncĂ© for bringing things full circle with Cowboy Carter. And speaking of full circle, if youâre looking for an inclusive spot to turn circles in a two-step or try the new sailing line dance, head to the Renaissance for the 15th annual Emerald City Hoedown.
Held on April 4th-7th by the Rain Country Dance Association, a member of the International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs, the Hoedown includes four days of dancing, plus 35 workshops on topics like line dances, two-step, and bachata. There are also numerous mixers like a womenâs social, menâs social, and trans/NB social, along with after hours parties almost every night. The Hoedown works to be an inclusive space, with self-identified participation at all events, workshops on dance accessibility, and work-trade, where you can volunteer in exchange for discounts on admission. If you donât have time to trade, organizers say that no one will get turned away for lack of funds.
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