Get in line for a good time at Mike's Music & Dance Barn in Brown County

It's an 11-minute drive from Bloomington's far east side to Mike's Music & Dance Barn, with its polished 40-by-60-foot tongue-and-groove Indiana red oak dance floor. The Brown County location has a raised stage, bar, restaurant and walls of dart boards. 

The business, at 2277 W. Ind. 46, west of Nashville in Brown County, exists because owner Mike Robertson wanted to play his saxophone for an audience.

He still plays, but things have progressed. Crowds of young people who have started coming on Monday and Saturday nights to toe, heel, chew and sip. Robertson doesn't know what exactly is bringing them in, but he's happy.

He's always had an assortment of college students (he said he requires sorority and fraternity parties to ride buses, because he sells alcohol). Lately, however, the country line dancing events (boots usually hit the dance floor starting at 6:30 p.m.) are a mix of young amid the middle-age folk — with even a couple in their 90s.

Learn country line and partner dancing at Mike's

Billy Crase teaches line and partner dancing, with help from his wife, Carla Willis-Crase. It wasn't always that way. 

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"One night some college girls came in and wanted to dance," Robertson said, remembering back. "I didn't have a dance teacher. Billy had come to watch. He plays guitar and sings, and I said, 'Billy, get up there and show them some dances.'"

Now the Crases teach both line and partner dancing at Mike's, as well as at other area venues.

Darts and a pickin' music circle

On Tuesday evenings, Mike's offers darts competitions, led by Hondo Thompson.

"We also sometimes have a 'pickin' circle,' where people just bring in whatever instruments they have and everybody plays music together," Robertson said.

"The (Muddy Boots) Dart Club competed with Brown County's Dart Club here at Mikes," Robertson said. Muddy Boots is a steel-tip dart and social club and welcomes all.

Brown County resident Tom Preston has thrown darts at Mike’s "since Hondo made the deal with Mike to get us in there. We furnished and installed all six of the dart boards there," Preston said. Four of the boards get punctured for tournament play and the other two during practice sessions.

"It’s really a simple setup that just works. The club has one rule: be kind."

Hit the board in 3 tries

The dart folk have asked people not to come back if they can’t adhere to the rule of "be kind." Newcomers are welcomed and allowed to throw as long as they can hit the board with their first three darts, Preston said. If they can't they are welcome to come in and practice until they get good enough. 

"Everyone is welcoming and happy to help the newbies learn the ropes," Preston said.

There's a $5 entry fee ($6 if you want a chance to win the doubles pot). Doors open at 6 and the blind draw, double elimination tournament begins at 7 p.m. Tournament is capped at 12 teams (24 players). Each player draws a playing card and is matched up with whoever drew the same card.

"The tournament usually finishes up about 10 and the winners get their picture posted and, of course, have bragging rights!"

Annual "Running Fit Dances with Dirt" trail runs

Every May, Mike's gets out the grub to feed roughly 600 famished relay runners who have participated in a 31-mile foot race (split among five-person groups, so no one runs the whole 31 miles). They've just come off the hills of Brown County State Park, and Robertson prepares the end-of-race meal.

Randy Step directs the race and pays Robertson to provide the food. Step, leading his Running Fit Dances with Dirt staff, organizes trail runs throughout the Midwest. 

"We're close to the state park, so Mike's works out well for everybody," Robertson said.

Find more about Nashville's annual race at https://tinyurl.com/bdeh4cfz.

If you go

WHAT: Mike's Music & Dance Barn, with line dancing, darts, live music nights, food and drink 

WHEN: Line dancing is 6:30-9 p.m. most Mondays. Darts night is Tuesday, 6-10 p.m. Most Saturdays offer live music at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mike's Music and Dance Barn, 2277 W. Ind. 46, Nashville

TICKETS: All ages are welcome. $10 for line dancing; darts nights charge a $5-$6 entry fee. Some live music events have cover charges; check Mike's Facebook page, call 812-988-8636 or check @mikesdancebarn on Instagram page for more information.