Kaylie Karsch was among several other young children who whirled and twirled, stomped and clapped during the monthly family dance at The Pittsfield Union Grange outside Saline recently.

“It’s my first time here and it’s really fun,” said the 5-year-old Ann Arbor girl.

The dances take place the third Sunday of the month, from 2-4 p.m., from October through May at the Gange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. They provide a chance for children, parents, and even grandparents to participate in country dances performed to live music.

Ann Arbor musicians David West and Donna Baird provided the backdrop for the families who danced the afternoon away recently in the building that provides a space for many dance events.

“The family dance started more than 20 years ago,” said John Freeman, one of its original callers. “There are so few family events we started it at Cobblestone Farm and moved it here several years ago.”

Dave Smith, of South Lyon, also a square dance caller, said, “This is a chance to bring the family every month to square and contra dances that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend.”

Joan Hellmann, president of The Grange said there are about 50 members, most of them dancers and musicians. She said the family dance “is something fun. We like to do things that the community will enjoy.”

On a recent Sunday, Angelika Prochozkowa, and her family attended the dance. The student at Pioneer High School is from the Czech Republic and said they’d danced at The Grange before.

And although other groups rent the hall for dances, Grange members also hold programs such as its preserving traditions series. On Jan. 9, there will be a presentation on making simple farmer’s cheese such as Monterey Jack from 2-5 p.m. The event is $5 for non-members and free to members.

Membership in The Grange is $40 for individuals and $70 for a family and provides price breaks for events at the facility as well as discounts at Choice Hotels and rental cars, Hellmann said.

Grange members hold Apple Days the fourth Saturday in September during which people can make their own apple cider. Plus, members have a booth at the annual Saline and Chelsea Community Fairs and contribute to Project RED (Rural Education Days) when in the spring, third-grade children from across the county learn about farming and farm practices at the Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds.

Richard Raymond, treasurer of The Grange, said the Pittsfield chapter was begun in 1901 and that there used to be 10-12 granges in the county during the 1930’s. This chapter is the last one standing in the county.

While The Grange used to be a farmers’ organization, now members are involved in many different professions and members with interest in music and dance have “kept us alive,” Hellmann said.

Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and include a potluck dinner, a program and a short business meeting.

For more information about the Grange, visit www.pittsfieldgrange.org. Lisa Allmendinger is a reporter with AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.