Square Dance News Digest

Recent examples of square dance news on a variety of topics from various publications around the United States. Excerpts appear below, please follow the link to the original article.

June, 2010

Hoedowns are a family tradition

The Morning Call
Allentown, Pennsylvania
June 30th, 2010

If you are at the Kutztown Folk Festival and hear knees being slapped and feet being stomped there is a good chance Lester Miller is nearby. That is because Miller, 75, has been calling the always popular hoedowns at the festival almost continuously for about 45 years.

The 30 or so dancers that perform in the hoedown demonstrations represent four generations of Miller's family. They range in age from 5 years old to fortysomething. Only two of the dancers are not related to Miller and they are dating his grandsons; one of them will marry into the Miller family in July.

Square dancers convening for 'Shakedown 2010'

Windy City Times
Chicago, Illinois
June 30th, 2010

John Glover was volunteering at Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry at Bonaventure House several years ago when he became friends with one of the House Supervisors, Eric Calimag, who told Glover about a gay square-dancing club. Calimag invited Glover to watch them dance at the 2001 Northalsted Market Days. Glover was hooked—and he joined the group that fall.

Glover is the chairman of the Chi-Town Shakedown 2010, which is expecting participants from across the United States, as well as Canada, Japan, Great Britain and Denmark. "The venue itself will go a long way toward making attendees' stay here special," Glover said. "The Hilton Chicago is located conveniently to the Taste of Chicago, Millennium Park as well as the lakefront, museums and great shopping. In addition, we are featuring specialty cocktails prepared by the Hilton specifically for our event and a piano par in the hotel lobby most evenings during convention."

Independence Day party 125 years in the making

North Platte Telegraph
North Platte, Nebraska
June 30th, 2010

A three-day celebration in Imperial that begins Friday and continues through the Fourth of July has been 125 years in the making and a year in the planning.

According to Chase County Historical Society information, the original town of Imperial was built on land homesteaded by Thomas Mercier and M.L. Goodrich in 1885, and some of Imperial's original buildings were built on their homesteads.

Mercier and Goodrich provided lots to anyone who would put up a building and help to start the town. Thomas Mercier was also Imperial's first Postmaster when the post office was established in December 1885.

Friday's events will be capped off with a square dance outside on West Eighth Street in Imperial.

Blanchester parade expected to be largest ever

Wilmington News Journal
Wilmington, Ohio
June 29th, 2010

Blanchester’s annual July 4th celebration always has hundreds of participants and even more spectators, but this year’s parade is expected to be the largest ever since it will have a countywide focus and is the official Bicentennial parade celebrating the 200th birthday of Clinton County and Wilmington.

Live entertainment will be non-stop with performances starting at 1 p.m. and continuing until the fireworks show.

THE GEORGE BROTHERS BAND — This group of three members has been together for 20-plus years. They perform locally at the Clinton County Corn Festival and the Clinton County Fair each year. They specialize largely in square dance music but also entertain with music for line dancing and ballroom.

Queen's arrival in Canada dampened by heavy rain
*** International ***

BBC News
Surrey, United Kingdom
June 28th, 2010

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Canada at the start of a nine-day royal tour of the country. The Queen spoke of her happiness of returning to the country and said it felt like "a home away from home".

The Queen has visited the Commonwealth country 22 times during her reign as its head of state.

The Queen first visited the country in 1951 when she was still a princess. She travelled 10,000 miles and attended a square dance during her tour.

Square dancers congregate in Kentucky

United Press International
Washington, DC
June 28th, 2010

The 59th National Square Dance Convention came to a close Saturday in Louisville, Ky., with one-fifth the number of dancers the event attracted there in 1983.

The three-day annual gathering brought nearly 6,300 dancers to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center this year, a fraction of the throng of 30,000 that descended on the center the last time Louisville played host to the event 27 years ago, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported Sunday.

Participants, mostly retirees, lamented the decline of their pastime while celebrating it with as much gusto as they did decades ago.

More than 6,000 square dancers attend convention at Expo Center

Courier-Journal
Louisville, Kentucky
June 26th, 2010
Includes 10 image slideshow

Neither a stifling heat wave nor thinning ranks stole the flounce from dancers' crinoline skirts as the 59th National Square Dance Convention closed its three-day annual gathering Saturday at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.

The last time the event was held in Louisville was in 1983, when it drew 30,000 dancers.

This year it attracted 6,295 dancers from across the United States and abroad, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Australia.

Hip to be square: 14-year-old has passion for square dancing

News and Tribune
Jeffersonville, Indiana
June 25th, 2010

There is a National Square Dance Convention at Freedom Hall in Louisville this week, with dancers and callers from around the world. Among them is Samuel Mestel, a 14-year-old homeschooler from New Albany with a passion for both square dancing and calling, the art of leading square dancers through their moves.

Mestel, who also enjoys taking computers apart and rebuilding them and playing piano, said he hopes to talk more youth into getting involved in square dancing and in calling — and is willing to talk to anyone about why his old-fashioned interest has a modern appeal.

It's a 'Shindig' at Kennedy Center

Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
June 25th, 2010

N.C. Dance Theatre had to pull off faster footwork than it planned or wanted, but it still went over big in a two-night visit to Washington's Kennedy Center. During a dress rehearsal mere hours before the opening of the center's Ballet Across America festival, dancer Sarah Hayes Watson turned an ankle. Curtain time was even closer when a doctor ruled that she couldn't perform.

There were no backups. So artistic director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux had to shuffle the dancers in his bluegrass romp "Shindig." Even his choreography had to adapt - as in the finale's square dance, which lost one of its couples. "It became a triangle," Bonnefoux said, "instead of a square."

The festival's opening June15 "was looking woefully predictable until North Carolina Dance Theatre hit the stage with Appalachian strings and a barnstormer aptly named 'Shindig,'" the Washington Post's Sarah Kaufman wrote. "Shindig," she wrote, "brought ballet and bluegrass into a surprisingly natural partnership, each enlivening the other, and underscoring their shared qualities of lightness, vigor and skimming speed.

In a wrap-up of the entire festival - which featured nine dance companies - the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jane Vranish said "Shindig" supplied "the most surprising and popular performance." One night, Bonnefoux said, the crowd clapped along with the entire finale. "It was amazing," he said.

Dancing documentary to premiere at Brewery

Nevada Appeal
Carson City, Nevada
June 25th, 2010

A documentary about square dancing will do-si-do through Carson City before making a grand promenade around the circle of film festivals, where producers hope it will be picked up by cable TV.

Partly filmed in Minden and featuring residents of the area, "Larry Ward — The Square Dance Caller" will premiere at the Brewery Arts Center at 5 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for the free showing.

Produced by Steven Shore Productions and directed by Andrew Shepherd, the film is based on the 61-year career of square dance caller Larry Ward, who now lives in Carson Valley and teaches ballroom and square dancing in the area.

Ward is excited to see more young people take up dancing, including square dancing. "When I taught in Southern California, the square dancers were 60 to 70 years old, but here, half of the dancers are under 25 and there's a lot of teenagers," Ward said in an interview last year.

In the documentary, he explains that we, as a culture, spend too much time sitting. Square dancing is good exercise and also builds a sense of community as dancers interact.

National Square Dance Convention Opens in Louisville

WFPL News
Louisville, Kentucky
June 24th, 2010

The National Square Dance Convention is back in Louisville this week — after a 27-year hiatus. And it kicked off with a caller — or announcer — calling the moves as he sang and the dancers swung around the floor. This Southern Indiana group, like many from the region, has been anticipating this week’s convention. So says Cindy Schoen, general chairman of 59th annual Square Dance Convention.

"It’s a big deal to them, to finally bring something and be a host to 10 foreign countries," she says. "People from every state in the union are coming here to dance with us. We’ve got 6,000 people here."

Lubbock dance group joins forces with Children's Miracle Network

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Lubbock, Texas
June 24th, 2010

Dancers seeking new steps and the chance to help children can do both as a Lubbock dance group joins forces with Children's Miracle Network to raise money and spread awareness.

The group, the Lubbock Area Square and Round Dance Federation, will offer a free introduction to round dance Saturday and is planning a series of lessons for those wishing to learn more.

Gene Turnipseed, a member of the federation and organizer of the partnership, said one free class of round dancing will be offered Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Following the free lessons, participants will have the opportunity to register for a 10-week program.

Kornerstone Briefs - June 23, 2010

Santa Rosa's Press Gazette
Milton Florida
June 22nd, 2010

Pensacola Lutheran Blind Mission (PBLM) will hold its monthly meeting and dinner for the blind and sight-impaired at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at 5 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 24 W. Wright Street in Pensacola. The PLBM will present an evening meal and recognize fellow members. It will be an evening of food, fellowship and learning the art of square dancing as taught by Mrs. Patty Ping. Come and enjoy a great meal and learn how to square-dance.

Eat, Drink and Square Dance at Thayer Nursery's Winedown

Milton Patch
Milton, Massachusetts
June 22nd, 2010

The busiest part of the year is winding down at Thayer Nursery so to celebrate the summer and thank their loyal customers, the owners are hosting the First Annual Thayer Nursery Winedown on Saturday, June 26.

The event is part pig roast, part wine tasting and all hoedown complete with square dancing. From 3 to 7 p.m. guests are invited to the entirely free event at the nursery.

Maggie Oldfield, who runs the family business with her brother Josh, said they've wanted to host a spring/summer event, but never had an appropriate theme. That was until vendor Bruce McCue of McCue Gardens mentioned he has been a square dance caller for 49 years. Though she's never square danced before, Oldfield said she's looking forward to learning.

Re-enactors dance and make married

Journal-Courier
Jacksonville, Illinois
June 20th, 2010

The second Grierson day came to a close Saturday with a special Presidential Grand Ball attended by President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Both members of the Union and the Confederacy participated in several period dances, including the Virginia reel, waltz, and polka.

In the evening soldiers and people in their finest dress came together to dance. Deborah Hyland, of St. Louis, served as the dance mistress calling out instructions as dancers promenade, sashay and do-si-do. "I don’t want to call it a military ball," Hyland said. "Because you wouldn’t have Union and Confederate soldiers dancing together." She said a ball of this time shares elements of modern dances, like a prom dance, and square dancing.

"I’m a dancer in the worst way," Abraham Lincoln said. "As I’m sure my wife, Mary, can attest." The President and First Lady will also be present for Grierson Days activities in Community Park today.

Pickaway County Fair opens today

The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio
June 19th, 2010

The first central Ohio county fair of the season opens today in Pickaway County for an eight-day run.

Monday evening's entertainment, starting at 7:30, will be a demolition derby with farm combines that includes a square dance by people on tractors.

"Women are on the Farmall tractors, and the men are on John Deere tractors, and they do-si-do," James said. "They actually dress in square-dancing clothing. They've got skirts on the side of the tractors."

Best bets for Myrtle Beach area

The Sun News
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
June 18th, 2010

With the scorching weather outside, it seems like the perfect week for Bike the Neck's Ice Cream Social & Square Dance. Swing your partner into the Litchfield Exchange on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., and let George Nash call you through promenades and do-si-dos while you check out the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway's progress with new maps, new T-shirts, chocolate bicycles and Wholly Cow ice cream from the Chocolate & Coffee House.

Travelers square dance club preserves traditional American entertainment

Pulaski County Daily
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
June 17th, 2010

"Swing your girl around and promenade! We sure make lots of waves on the water, a-rocking in Rosalie’s boat!" Those words, dancing directions set to music by square dancing caller Kenton Sullivan, sounded Thursday evening inside the St. Robert Community Center at the Pulaski County Regional Fair.

Area square dancers, many attired in traditional 1800s American clothing, gathered to perform the traditional dances. Dancers included Beatrix Hutchins who began dancing only three years ago. "Square dancing is a lot of fun, a lot of exercise, brain exercise on top of it, and the fellowship is wonderful," Hutchins said. "You meet the best people with this square dancing and you get to travel because it is everywhere in the United States."

Hutchins said she was introduced to square dancing by Cindy and Carl Boone, both members of the Travelers square dancing club in Pulaski County. "They are free lessons," Hutchins said. "We stuck out the lessons and we had fun after that. We wouldn’t miss it for the world."

Good planning, right events make Art and Orchard Festival a big success

Romeo Observer
Romeo, Michigan
June 17th, 2010

Washington Township officials and a half dozen charities have to be thinking that they love it when a plan comes together. Their well-thought-out plan to combine and turn the annual Super Sunday and Summerfest events into something more turned out to be just what they had envisioned.

The first annual Art and Orchard Festival ran for four days, June 10-13, and though there is no easy way to measure the number of people attending, organizers say there was never a shortage of people at the more than 12 events.

"It was an incredible success," said Washington Township Supervisor Dan O'Leary. "Every event seemed to be well attended and everyone I spoke to thinks that the new events added to it. Bringing everything together made it a nicer, bigger event for everybody."

Even the Friday night Square dance surprised people with attendance. A total of 32 people signed up in advance but 120 showed up the night of the event.

Japanese teens visit Ada High School

Ada Evening News
Ada, Oklahoma
June 14th, 2010

For more than 20 years now, three weeks in March at Ada High are highlighted by the visit of Japanese teens from Ibaraki Christian School in Japan. The Japanese students were excited and eager as were the hosts and shadows who were prepared to show these students the typical American life with as much fun and excitement as possible.

While here many activities are made possible for the students, the hosts and the shadows. One activity that gets a big response every year is the square dance. The whole family was invited for dancing and dessert at Wintersmith Park Lodge March 11.

Square dancers show off their moves at the San Diego County Fair

KFMB TV 8
San Diego, California
June 13th, 2010
Includes two Video segments

The San Diego County Fair features more than just fried food and fun rides. On Sunday, hundreds of square dancers converged on the Del Mar Fairgrounds for one heck of a hoedown.

It's a blur of beauty on a day these longtime friends look forward to every year. Hundreds of square dancers are strutting their stuff with a whirl of colorful costumes.

Ideas flow for the next life of Carpenter's Barn in Cazenovia

Syracuse.com
Syracuse, New York
June 13th, 2010

When Jesse Fairfield Carpenter commissioned a carriage house in 1889, he requested a second-story office and private balcony overlooking Cazenovia Lake, where he "could take refuge from the women and children." More than a century later, Cazenovia leaders are deciding how the historic landmark at the village’s entrance will serve the community for generations to come.

Sitting on the edge of Lakeland Park, the site was used as maintenance and storage space for municipal operations from 1934 to 1974, when it was remodeled to serve as headquarters for the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In 2008, when quotes to repair the building topped $500,000, corps members opted to build a new home on Route 20. It was completed earlier this year.

Last month, more than 50 residents attended an open house hosted to generate ideas for the now-vacant property. The list included a petting zoo, loft apartments and a community center that could house a winter farmers market, square dancing, an outdoor cafe and other activities.

Festival offering down-home music today in Pasco

TriCityHerald.com
Kennewick, Washington
June 13th, 2010

Get ready to see some of those talented musicians today, as well as a rare visit from the Foghorn Stringband that will headline this year’s festival at Sacajawea State Park in Pasco. The festival started Friday.

Besides all the great music, there also will be scrumptious Dutch oven cooking going on throughout the weekend. There’s also some new stuff at this year’s event, including an old-fashioned square dance with Foghorn Stringband, said spokeswoman Liz Sapp.

"This is a once in a lifetime chance to see this type of band around here," she said. "This band is nationally acclaimed and has toured Europe and the East Coast."

Keystone hosts first state square dance festival

Summit Daily News
Frisco, Colorado
June 11th, 2010

Timberline Toppers hails itself as the highest square dance club in the world, and this weekend, it's calling all square dancers statewide to join in the high elevation fun.

For the first time in its 55-year history, the Colorado State Square Dance Festival takes place in Summit County, as the Keystone Conference Center hosts about 600 dancers, said festival chairperson Dan Pantano. Of the 120 members Timberline Toppers boasts, about 60 to 80 will attend, said former president Chuck Boyd.

The festival began Thursday night, with callers from Montana, Tennessee and Iowa. The weekend gives people a chance to visit vendors selling Western clothing because Colorado doesn't have any stores that cater to square dance.

Get your Square Dance on!

Chicago Now
Chicago, Illinois
June 11th, 2010

Are you a square dancing fanatic? Then you won't want to miss the Chi-Town Shakedown taking place at the Hilton Chicago over the 4th of July Weekend. This is the 27th Annual Convention of International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs and will surely have your toes-a-tapping!

During that first dance they're inviting everyone from the community to stop by and learn as they'll be teaching basic square dance moves to the uniniated. I haven't square danced since I was in the fourth grade and we performed during our annual May Day event....I'm sure that this will be a lot more fun than that.

It’s a Good ‘Ole Fashioned Square Dance Ya’ll

MyNC.com
Wake County, North Carolina
June 9th, 2010

Kick up your heels at the Raleigh City Museum's Square Dance! On Friday, June 11, from 7:00p.m. to 10:00p.m., dance the night away with the museum and Southern String Band. Band member Ron Raxter will call the Simple Square and Round dances. New and inexperienced dancers are welcome, and no partners are necessary. Refreshments will be available throughout the evening. If the dance goes well it could become a regular event at the museum!

Southmoreland High School announces top students

Daily Courier
Connellsville, Pennsylvania
June 8th, 2010

On Thursday, Southmoreland High School's 193 seniors will walk across the stage to accept their high school diplomas. They will be led by two fellow graduates who have earned the right to claim the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian.

Nicole Leigh McCracken is the salutatorian. During her junior and senior years, McCracken was part of the National Honor Society, Scottdale Area United Methodist Youth Ministries, the reading team and Westmoreland Squares square dancing club.

Her junior year, she was a Westmoreland Fair Queen contest participant, Teens for Christ vice president, Pennsylvania Farm Show square dance contest award winner, fifth-place winner at the Pennsylvania State 4-H achievement days in senior Hippology, and physics Olympics first-place winner and team leader.

Square Dance with "Country Notes"

WBGH TV Channel 34
Binghampton, New York
June 8th, 2010

The Country Notes have been playing old and new country, round and square dancing since 1975. They play in a 40 mile range for nursing homes, assisted living, senior citizens, church groups and benefits.

The band consists of five members whose combined age is an astounding 378 years! They have played country music for a combined total of almost 200 years and have played collectively for this band for over 70 years!

Their usual 3 hour evening consists of 2 round dances, a polka, 3 sets square; then repeat 3 times for a total of 12 round dances, 12 square dances and a slow song to end the evening.

Historical society plans summer events

Mt. Vernon Register-News
Mt. Vernon, Illinois
June 7, 2010

The Jefferson County Historical Society is planning for a variety of events this summer, including an expansion of the Day in the Life of a Prairie Child event.

This year’s theme for the event will be dance and music, said Jefferson County Historical Society Director of Community Relations Ron Copenhaver. "The children are going to learn square dance lessons and lessons on the dulcimer," Copenhaver explained. "For gardening and cooking, they will transplant herbal plants from the gardens around the cabins."

Utah Pride Festival has been growing

Examiner
Denver, Colorado
June 6, 2010

It is a festival about diversity. It was crowded and full with the solid colors of rainbow to support the gay & lesbian community. Delicious food, places for dance, pop culture tents with a variety of items for sel and many advertising tents increased the impression of diversity. It looks many of the societies were proud of what they had been doing. Square Dance shared that are the only organized place for dancing of the Gay & lesbian community.

Free, weekly event inviting all to tap their toes

Beloit Daily News
Beloit, Wisconsin
June 5, 2010

From swing to square dance and from the tango to the polka, Stateline Area residents can be their own Dancing with the Stars, according to Nicki Meyer, the executive director of Friends of RiverFront. Beginning Monday, they can strap on their dancing shoes and get ready to twirl as the fifth season of Dancin’ at Harry’s Place kicks off.

Just remember to wear comfortable shoes, Meyer added, because the dancing is done on concrete. Other upcoming dances include the waltz, swing, the Cajun Two-Step, square dance and the polka. In addition to Country Plus, the other upcoming instructors will be Darrah and Peggy Chavey, the Forest City Swing, and the Petunia City Squares. Don’t be intimidated, though, as Dancin’ at Harry’s Place is for all ages and all dance levels, according to Meyer, adding that an 84-year-old woman regularly participates.

Dancing is a hobby the Chaveys picked up in college. In fact, they met at a square dance. They’ve gone on to dance throughout their lives, and are mentioned three times in a book about Wisconsin’s history of square dancing. "(Dancin’ at Harry’s Place) is a great opportunity for people to get out and try it in an open, welcoming environment because there’s no commitment," Darrah said. "You don’t have to pay for 10 weeks. You can come and watch and see if you want to try it next week."

Square dancing for charity
*** International ***

BC Local News
British Columbia
Canada
June 4, 2010

The Abbotsford Grand Squares, a local square dance club, is putting on a benefit dance on Sunday, June 6 for the Zajac Ranch for Children. The organization is a camp for handicapped children that otherwise would not get experience at summer camp because of their handicap or illness.

A down home fest in downtown Princeton

The Paducah Sun
Paducah, Kentucky
June 3, 2010

Perhaps no interview quote can more accurately describe Eddie Pennington’s approach to music, and the festival with his name, than what the famed thumb-picking style guitar man offers on his website: "If I had to play strictly top-40 type country music, I’d rather be embalming," Pennington writes. (The Hopkins County native and Princeton resident is a licensed funeral director and embalmer.)

And not many events get more musically down-home and heartfelt than the Pennington Folk Festival, which kicks off tonight. "We want it to be a small-feeling festival," Pennington said Wednesday. "We like good people to play at our festival, people you know like to play for the crowd and then meet the crowd, too."

From a Saturday afternoon music show 13 years ago, Pennington and the community have nurtured the festival into a four-day event keeping alive folk traditions not just of the musical sort. "We’ve added a square dance," said Stacey Menser, Princeton Art Guild member and eight-year festival committee member. "Just as guitar playing is a folk tradition, square dancing is a folk tradition to keep alive."

Pennington Festival tuneup begins

The Times Leader Online
Princeton, Kentucky
June 2, 2010

The annual Pennington Festival, Princeton’s premier musical event, is now in its thirteenth year and promises not to disappoint with four days of activities, fabulous musicians, food and lots of fun for the whole family.

Festival events kick off Thursday, June 3, at 6 p.m. at the Central Presbyterian Church parking lot, 206 W. Main St., with a free, family-friendly square dance. Two callers will be on hand, Dr. Susan McElroy-Marcus and Ray Wyatt.

During the square dance, the Princeton Rotary Club will hold a fish fry at the church. "This is a wonderful addition, we think," said Stacey Menser of the festival committee. "We hope to see more families, church groups, anybody and everybody come out for the square dance."

Career was a tuneful tour

The Cary News
Raleigh, North Carolina
June 2, 2010

Q: What is your students' favorite part of music class over your 34 years of teaching?

A: I think it has to be fourth-grade North Carolina music. We follow the fourth grade social studies curriculum and "travel" through the state.

Music is everything. It connects to everything and it especially connects to history. When we visit the mountains, we use dulcimers and do square dancing.

Square dancing weekend a blast
*** International ***

Canada.com
Don Mills, Ontario
Canada
June 2, 2010

Ripple Rocket Square Dancers "Blast Off" was a great success during the May long weekend.

The local club hosted approximately 175 dancers at the Quinsam Hall. There were R.V. units parked around the hall from the Friday morning through to Monday morning as well as dancers staying at the local motels.

Disclaimer: Links to other websites are informational and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement by the San Diego Callers Association or any of its members.