The spring bulbs are slowly making an appearance around the Okanagan and to celebrate, the Okanagan Square & Round Dance Association is hosting its 42nd Annual Spring Fling this weekend in Lake Country.
“You can trust the lively nature of the square dancer not to miss an opportunity to dance,” said Brian Elmer, a volunteer with the association. “And the onset of spring is certainly another reason for fun, low-impact exercise and friendly socialization amidst springtime decorations.”
Elmer said a big attraction for the dancers is featured entertainer Doug Davis, a professional square dance caller from the Spokane, Wash. area.
The non-profit association is presenting two big events, both taking place at the Winfield Memorial Hall.
Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. is a Plus program square dance where dancers who want a little more challenge make the time to learn some extra square dance calls.
The evening Blossom Ball from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. presents the Mainstream program of modern square dancing.
“Although still fun and interesting, it’s the common-denominator in the modern square dance community and includes lots of modern music,” said Elmer. “In actual fact, two other dance forms embraced by the dance association will be part of the fling: round dancing and clog dancing.”
In the round dance, couples progress clockwise around the dance floor in ballroom dance-style. The man doesn’t have to lead because live cues over the microphone direct them in every step with the aid of a cuer.
The fling will feature a half hour of pre-round dancing from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday then the dance form will be interspersed throughout the evening.
The round dance includes all the steps and rhythms familiar to ballroom, such as waltz, two-step, rumba and cha-cha. Allan Peterson of Salmon Arm will be the round dance cuer.
Clog dancing is a percussive, high energy dance that’s usually performed to live cues. The dancers wear double (or jingle) taps on their shoes to create a pronounced clicking sound. It features a wide variety of music.
Clog dancers from the Central Okanagan club, Got 2 B Cloggin, will present a demonstration of clogging at intermission time about half-way through the Saturday night dance.
On Sunday, the association will hold a day-long training session at the same location for new square dance callers, taking advantage of pro-caller Doug Davis’ accreditation as a caller-coach.
It’s anticipated that dancers from Penticton in the south, north to Salmon Arm and west to Kamloops will be in attendance.
Spectators are welcome to attend both events at no charge.
For more information, e-mail dancinglikethestars@gmail.com or call 250-768-2694.
