Actual Press Releases

Published News & Press Releases

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

January, 2010

Music, physical education join forces at Sunset Elementary School: With their feet planted squarely on pieces of tape on the gym floor Thursday morning, 20 Sunset Elementary School first-graders were ready for one final rehearsal. The students were preparing for Friday’s dance performance, when their parents would line the walls of the gym with video cameras attached to their hands to watch their children perform.; On Friday, Jo Willey, a substitute teacher and mother of a Sunset third-grader, had arrived a few minutes early for her son’s performance. She peeked into the gym and a smile crept across her face as she watched a group of fourth-graders perform a square dance to "Houston." She said her son, Dakota, didn’t tell her what any of the dances were going to be, but he practiced a few of the moves at home.; "He’s really excited for this," she said. "He’s really excited for it, and for a boy to be excited about dancing, that’s awesome." She said the dance program sparked something in him she didn’t know was there.
Fest celebrates 50 years of old-time dances, good times Square Dance Glossary: Oregon’s Mid-Winter Square & Round Dance Festival will celebrate 50 years with its "Golden Jubilee" event Friday, Jan. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road.; Most of the dancers at the festival will be dancers with beginning (social dance level) skills, known as "mainstream" and "plus" level dancers, according to Sandy. A few dancers might have "advanced" or "challenge" level skills, which includes memorizing hundreds of moves and more closely resembles a drill than a dance.; "Mid-winter is a good time for beginning dancers to get that experience and get that floor time that they need," Sandy said. "It’s also a chance to experience a different caller every hour."; A rotating cast of callers and cuers including guest square dance caller Gary Shoemake of Tennessee, will host dancing from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday in the Willamette Halls of the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.
Square dance benefited New Horizon Academy: Published in:
The Star Banner
Ocala, Florida
January 21st, 2010

The Central Florida Callers Association held a square dance to benefit New Horizon Academy, a school that specializes in the education of children living with Autism, on Saturday, Jan. 16. Approximately 250 people attending the benefit and the proceeds from the admissions and silent auction, totaling $3,492 was given to the school. The Callers Association also donated school supplies to the school.
Square dance club to host benefit on Sunday in support of Alzheimer outreach program: On Sunday, Jan. 24, the Brockville-based GoodTime Squares square-dancing club will be hosting its 21st annual Square-Dance Benefit to raise funds for the Community and Primary Health Care (CPHC) Alzheimer Outreach Program.; This year's benefit dance will be dedicated to Lea Ormerod. An avid square dancer with the GoodTime Squares, she was the driving force behind the organization of this event. The CPHC Alzheimer Outreach Program supported Lea when she cared for her husband Tom who had Alzheimer's. She always said that, "The program was a godsend. It was wonderful."; Lea first asked the Goodtime Squares to hold the benefit dance back in 1989. Even after her husband passed away in 1991, she and the GoodTime Squares continued to support the program. Last year, the club raised $3,000 to support the many services offered by the Alzheimer Outreach Program.; Bob Summers will lead dancers with calls for newcomers, basic and mainstream square-dancing. Square dance clubs from near and far come to this event to dance the afternoon away. Members of the community are welcome to attend this benefit and take part in the fun - whether it is just to watch, to learn or to take a turn on the dance floor.
Wednesday's events: Published in:
The Greeley Tribune
Greeley, Colorado
January 20th, 2010

MERRY MIXERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB, 7-9 p.m., Greeley Senior Center, 1010 6th St., Greeley. $4 per person, first night is free to try it out. If you can walk, you can square dance! Casual dress. Men needed for modern Square Dance lessons. Questions? Contact ....
Hoedown at Vanden: A big thank you to the physical education staff at Vanden High School for allowing our square-dance club, the VacaValley Ramblers, to demonstrate for and participate in their square dance PE unit.; Thank you to the Ramblers who took time off work and made time in their busy schedules to dance at the school.; A huge thank you to Phil Smith from Roseville for filling in as caller when our club caller became ill. Our teen and adult club members were very excited to be able to share their dancing skills with the students at Vanden.; The VacaValley Ramblers are a family square dance group welcoming couples, singles and families w/youth 10 and over.
Jacks ‘n Jills Square Dance Club begins free lessons Tuesday: Ask Carol Green why she loves square dancing and she will give you a simple answer: "Square dancing is the easiest and funnest way to exercise your brain and your body," she said. "With the caller giving you movements, your brain is constantly working while you’re working your feet."; As the president of Jacks n’ Jills Square Dancing Club in Jacksonville, Green said the club will offer two free two-hour square dancing lessons to anyone interested in becoming a part of this classic, family-centered activity beginning at their next meeting on Tuesday.; "If you’re not sure that square dancing is for you, then you get try it for two nights," Green said. "If you like it, you can stay on for more lessons at only $20 for 10 lessons — that’s just a dollar an hour."
A roundup of 4-H news for the week of Jan. 14, 2010: Published in:
Farm and Dairy News
Salem, Ohio
January 14th, 2010

The Country Friends 4-H Club held their meeting at the Rogers Sale Dining Hall Jan. 5. Ashton Unger led the pledges. The group will be holding their square dance fundraiser from 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. Jan. 30. Admission will be $5 and it will be held in the restaurant at Rogers Auction. After the event they will auction off homemade pies left over from the square dance.
Azalea Squares plan open houses: Published in:
Mobile Press-Register
Mobile, Alabama
January 10th, 2010

The Azalea Squares, a modern recreational square dance club, will hold a free open house on two consecutive Thursdays beginning Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at Azalea Hall, a 7,000-square-foot dance floor at 5949 Bourne Road in Theodore. The club will also offer a fast-track three-day training program for square dancing on Saturdays following the open house events, with students determining the dates.; In addition, said Ben Preston, president of the organization, no experience is necessary to participate in the training program, which is designed by caller Patty Ping from Pensacola. Preston said that prospective students often ask about proper dress, visualizing perhaps an earlier time when square dancers wore special "uniforms" — the ruffled skirts and decorated shirts. But not only is the dance style more contemporary, so is the dress, as dancers most often wear jeans or casual pants and skirts.
Timberline Toppers start lessons: Kevin Reynolds wasn't enthusiastic about the idea of square dancing, but when friends invited her, she checked out the Timberline Toppers. Now, only a couple of years later, she and her husband are co-presidents of the Summit County square dancing club. "It was probably the most fun I've had in years," Reynolds said about her first experience. "There's lots of laughter, they're loose, and they don't expect perfection from the dancers."; Reynolds and her husband, Tom, keep coming back because square dancing offers “good exercise,” both mentally and physically. Though most of the members are retired locals, age 50 plus, Reynolds said square dancing is for anybody, and she encourages younger people to try swingin' a partner roun' and roun'. "It's a traditional dance that is part of Americana," she said. "I don't think people realize how much fun it is."; The Timberline Toppers Square Dance Club began in 1989, with Bob and Linda McKinley, and graduated a class of 15 that year. Members “graduate” after taking 20 lessons in 10 weeks. This year's classes start Thursday and take place every Tuesday and Thursday night (cost is $80). This Tuesday's chili supper already has about 116 people signed up to find out more about square dancing through an easy demonstration. Reynolds hopes the event will produce a class of about 40, to take beginner lessons.
Fundraiser Square Dance: Published in:
Massapequan Observer
Massapequa, New York
January 8th, 2010

The fun starts with a chuck wagon dinner at 7:15 p.m. at Temple B’nai Torah, 2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh, with hot vittles, on Jan. 23. Lee Kopman, the well-known professional square dance caller will be directing the square dancing fun. Country Line dances and partner dances will be taught by Lilith during the breaks. Dessert and coffee will be served at 11:30 p.m. The cost for all this fun is $31 non-temple members; $28 members.
Dust off those contra dancing shoes in N.H.: Published in:
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts
January 7th, 2010

The last 22 years have been blessed with the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend in Durham, N.H., an annual celebration of the New England traditions of contra and square dancing. These dance forms have been a part of life in the region for 200 years, and men like the late dance caller Ralph Page gave their time and energy to keep the traditions alive. The weekend of Jan. 15-17 is the 22nd Annual Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend, hosted in his honor. The celebration brings together top dance callers and musicians and offers visitors unique learning opportunities in dance. Cost is $80 for entire weekend for walk-ins, or $60 for pre-registration.
Square dance lessons debuted Monday at Odell Recreation Center: "We’re starting the year off trying to get some exercise," Kaufman said, stating hers and Godlin’s motivation, "in a fun way." Godlin and Kaufman took part in beginners square dance lessons, which debuted Monday at Odell Recreation Center.; Mason, who has arthritis, has become more limber through square dancing. And because it requires mostly an upper-body effort, square dancing is easy on leg joints. "You’re just walking," Mason said. "It’s very easy on the knees and hips."; R.J. Hogan is the caller for the lessons. The Gainesville resident has instructed square dance lessons in The Villages for 21 years. OB Squares members known as "angels" and "helping hands" are guiding newcomers through the lessons.
Don’t be square: Square dancing offers a variety of mental and physical benefits, according to local dancers, and two clubs offer the opportunity every week.; "First of all, it’s exercise. Second of all, it’s memory retention," Kathy Bosler, a member of Weiser’s Fiddle Footers square dancing club, said. "It’s also socialization. Square dancing isn’t a competitive sport. It’s a social sport."; The Fiddle Footers offers square dancing to experienced individuals from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Elementary School in Weiser and will start a new class for beginners next fall, Bosler said.; "Not only is it good physical and mental exercise, it’s fun," Lynne Krogh, who dances at Emmett’s Silverleaf Squares, said.
Resolve to square dance for fun and health: Published in:
Hot Springs Village Voice
Hot Springs, Arkansas
January 6th, 2010

Modern American Western Square Dancing is significantly different from barn dancing of yesteryear, with several levels of dancing proficiency. It is a great social mixer, using non-alcoholic stimulants of fun and fellowship. It’s a great way to meet people and a refreshing, healthful exercise without being taxing. Imagine the benefits of exercise while having fun.
Square dance group holding district dance: Portales’ square dancing group, the Portales Starlight Swingers, is hosting this quarter’s district dance. The dance includes square dancing groups from Clovis, Artesia, Hobbs, Roswell, Portales, Carlsbad and Ruidoso.; Karl Cox Jr. works as a caller for the Portales Starlight Swingers. He said district dances are meant for fun. "We get together to enjoy each others friendship," Cox said. "We’ve all known each other for along time. We laugh, we joke. We talk about fishing, going to the casino, our grandkids. We just visit."; Cox said he prefers calling to dancing. "Most callers don’t dance much ‘cause we’re calling all the time. We’re the sorriest of dancers," he said. His wife, Angela, said anyone is welcome at the group’s weekly dance. "We give lessons all the time. Anyone who walks in the door can do it. Anyone who wants to do it can," she said.
A hoe-down in the snow-down: Forget about singing in the rain. Try dancing in the snow. Grand Spinners Square Dance Club will take the party outdoors today during the group's first-ever Polar Bear Dance. Not only will members perform, but everyone and anyone is welcome to stop by and join the fun.; "It was just something really different, like those guys jumping in the water," seven-year member Chuck Roberts said. "We just wanted to do something different, just to get a little attention (like): 'Those crazy square dancers out there.'"; "We're just trying to grow the activity," president John West said. "It's an inexpensive activity to get involved in and you have a lot of fun."; Both West and Roberts are hopeful those who attend the dance will take Grand Spinners' classes and become members of the dance club. Grand Spinners, in existence for 25 years, offers weekly classes for $3 each at Forest Park Senior Center.; For those who think the dance sounds fun, but not keen on being outside for hours, don't worry. Chili, coffee and hot chocolate will be available inside the center.; And, if your New Year's resolution is to get active, square dancing could be the perfect addition to your fitness routine as it's great for the cardiovascular system.

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