Laurel Theater
Historic Knoxville venue hosting traditional dance and music gatherings
The Laurel Theater is a 19th-century converted church in the Fort Sanders community of Knoxville, built in 1898 as the Fort Sanders Presbyterian Church.
Before your first class
All regular dance events welcome newcomers with no partner or experience required; instruction is provided.
$10 general admission for Laurel Square Dance, $5 for JCA members/seniors/students; Laurel Old Time Jam is free
About this studio
The Laurel Theater is a 19th-century converted church in the Fort Sanders community of Knoxville, built in 1898 as the Fort Sanders Presbyterian Church. After serving various community roles, it became the main home of Jubilee Community Arts in the early 1980s. The building suffered a catastrophic fire in 1982, but a volunteer-led rebuilding process restored it, and the modernized Laurel reopened in 1986. Today it houses an acoustically and visually excellent concert hall, a secondary display and performance space, audio production facilities and archives, and serves as a hub for traditional performing arts of the Southern Appalachian region.
The venue hosts several regular dance events. Laurel Old Time Jam runs every month on the 2nd Thursday with no charge—bring your instruments. The Laurel Square Dance is held on fourth Tuesdays, featuring traditional Southern square dance with calling and instruction from Stan Sharp and live music from the Lincoln Park String Band. This is a welcoming social dance open to all experience levels, with no partner required and instruction provided as you go. Admission is $10 general, $5 for JCA members, seniors, and students.
Beyond JCA's own events, the Laurel Theater hosts several affiliate dance groups. Lark of the Morn English Dance meets Sundays at 8 PM for 17th–18th century social dancing with live music, including sword dance and Morris dance teams—newcomers are welcome. Knoxville Contra Dance gathers Mondays at 8 PM with live acoustic music. Trollkretsen Scandinavian Dancers meet Tuesdays at 7:30 for polskor, schottische, waltzes and more, with instruction provided and no partner required. The Knoxville Swing Dance Association meets Wednesdays with lessons at 7:00 and dance at 8:00, requiring no partner or prior experience.
Jubilee Community Arts, which operates the Laurel Theater, began as an arts presenter in Knoxville in 1969 and received 501(c)3 status in 1980. The organization's mission is to promote, preserve and present the performing arts of the Southern Appalachian region and to nurture the cultural environment responsible for their birth and evolution. The venue receives major financial support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the East Tennessee Foundation, and the Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, and is also supported by Community Shares, the City of Knoxville, and Knox County.
What to expect
Your first visit
You'll step into a restored 1898 church building with excellent acoustics. Dance events are community-oriented and beginner-friendly, with live musicians and instruction provided. Most gatherings are casual social dances where you can drop in, no partner required.
Instructors
Who teaches here
Stan Sharp provides calling and instruction for the Laurel Square Dance, accompanied by live music from the Lincoln Park String Band.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
All regular dance events welcome newcomers with no partner or experience required; instruction is provided.
Studio history
The building opened in 1898 as Fort Sanders Presbyterian Church, designed by George Barber & Co. It became a performance space in 1969 when Jubilee Community Arts began operating. After a catastrophic fire in 1982, volunteers led a rebuilding effort, and the modernized Laurel reopened in 1986.
Styles offered
8 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Amenities
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Laurel Theaterhasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Laurel Theater, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Laurel Theater
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Laurel Theater teach?
Laurel Theater teaches General, Square Dance, Sword dance, Morris dance, Contra Dance, Scandinavian dance (polskor, schottische, waltzes) and 2 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Laurel Theater located?
Laurel Theater is located in Knoxville, TN. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Laurel Theater offer private lessons?
Contact Laurel Theater directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Laurel Theater teach kids and adults?
Laurel Theater welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Laurel Theater?
The fastest path is to visit Laurel Theater via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.