September 19, 2008 - We're Back Dancing
After almost three months of not dancing, due to health issues, we are now back. We went to the Wranglers, the Sandpipers, and the Ruffles 'n Beaus' dances last weekend. We've also been checking out the new classes starting this month.
There are two new classes in the Penasquitos area. The Wranglers have about 18-20 students and are dancing four squares with the angels helping out. Ray has done a good job keeping the energy level up during the first couple of weeks.
Also in PQ, Dave is trying his hand at teaching his first mainstream/plus class, sponsored by Magic Squares. It's unusual for an advanced club to offer a mainstream class, but it's all about promoting square dancing in general, and Dave is trying to get more families and young people involved by advertising through the schools. He had 13 students (including four kids) the first night and still has one more open week to go.
Both of these classes are looking good. We noticed a little younger average age at each of them and everyone was picking up the moves fairly easily. There were a lot of smiles around the rooms, with everyone having a good time. That's really nice to see as I've heard that some of the local clubs are really hurting, with only one or two new students showing up.
June 26, 2008 - Dancing at the Fair
We went to Square Dance Day at the San Diego County Fair last week. I was only able to dance a little, since turning my ankle a couple weeks ago, but we had some fun dancing, and watching, and visiting with friends. Ray Holmes and Jim Randall were calling all singing calls the hour we were there, which I think makes a nice show for spectators, and Ray and Jim always sound so good singing together. There were five to seven squares danceing at first and nine squares finishing out the hour.
Before the last tip they announced that one of the Charger football players, Shawne Merriman, was in the crowd and had expressed an interest in giving square dance a try. Of course there was no problem finding a place for him in a square. With the help of the seven other dancers, he did very well in the tip, even though he had never square danced before.
June 3, 2008 - Fun Dance
We went to a fun dance this past weekend. Jointly sponsored by the Circulators and the Alpine Squares, it was a special dance introducing the new, young caller, Hunter Keller, calling with Scott Byars. Hunter is a college student from Billings, Montana who's only been calling a short time, but shows real talent and possibility. He has amazing stage presence with an "Elvis-like" quality and is a lot of fun dance to. And don't we really need more young callers?!
There were twenty-two squares in attendance. Helping Scott and Hunter, Steve Woodard and Andy Allemao acted as emcees, and with several other callers on the dance floor, I counted eleven callers in the room. Wow, now there's a "purple heart" opportunity, but I'm not sure anyone does that anymore. It used to be you could earn a purple heart pin (I guess it would be a dangle now) by dancing in a square with three callers.
April 7, 2008 - Good-Bye Pat
Last night was Pat Carnathan's last night calling for the Ruffles and Beaus after 23 years of being their caller. There were nine-plus squares of dancers there to share memories and bid him farewell. Pat calls a fun dance and we will miss dancing with him each week.
Though the official Welcome New Caller Dance isn't until next month, Buddy Weaver (another of our favorite callers) will take over as the Ruffles and Beaus' new club caller starting next week.
April 6, 2008 - The Wearing of the Plaid
Today is National Tartan Day, a day to recognize and honor the contributions made by generations of Scottish-Americans to the "foundation and prosperity of modern America."
For those of us in California not of Scottish descent, there is the Official State Tartan, duly registered and accepted by the Scottish Tartans Society, The Scottish Tartans Authority, and The World Register of Tartans, as a unique tartan.
All residents of California may rightfully wear and show this tartan as their own. The tartan's blue reflects the sky, the Pacific, and the rivers; the green, the Sierras, fields, forests, and parks; and the red, gold, and blue signify the arts, sciences, and industry of the people of the State of California.
So everyone, don your tartan and join us in a Scottish Country Dance.
February 17, 2008 - Grand Colonel Spin
At the last Wrangler (student level) dance Ray taught and called the Grand Colonel Spin. It has been years since I've heard it. It is a 32-bar dance sequence which is basically a fancy variation of the Grand Square done to the music River Kwai March. But it's a lot more fun than a Grand Square. Since the heads and sides are doing different things simultaneously, the caller usually just calls to the heads and the sides just need to know their part until they come to the head position and it all repeats.
