Flat-footing is a traditional dance in which dancers' feet are kept flat as they make some very fancy moves. There are many styles of flat-foot dance, and visitors can see some of them at the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston, West Virginia, every Memorial Day weekend. The outdoor flat-footing stage is a highlight, and spectators are encouraged to jump in and kick up their heels.

Since 1976, the Vandalia Gathering has brought together dancers, musicians, storytellers, and craftspeople from small communities and isolated valleys to showcase their talents.

One of these performers is Melvin Wine, a fiddler and recipient in 1981 of the first Vandalia Award, West Virginia's highest folklore honor. He was born in 1909 in Braxton County, West Virginia. He learned many of his old fiddle tunes from his great-uncle and father, who had learned from his grandfather.

The Vandalia Gathering is the place to be if you want to do a little dance, listen to a little music or hear a good story.

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