Square dancing has a long history, going back as far as the 17th century when male performers wore bells and danced a choreographed sequence known as the morris dance.
More than 400 years later, square dancing is as popular as ever and its popularity was in evidence recently as the Vernon Star Country Squares hosted their annual 3/4 Dance at the Halina Seniors Centre.
“The hall was filled with lively local and visiting dancers all the way from Kamloops to Penticton,” said the club’s new dancer coordinator Darlene Poetker. “It was a chance to celebrate the progress of our new dancers and Allan Peterson from Salmon Arm did a fine job as the emcee, along with a panel of callers.”
The Got 2 B Cloggin group from the Kelowna area entertained everyone during the half-time intermission, with their fancy footwork.
“They even got some of the square dancers up for a go at it — oh my, that was real entertainment.”
The Star Country Squares’ next big party will be graduation night in April, after which the new dancers will be able to join any mainstream dance, anywhere around the world.
During the summer, they will be joining the group that dances in Polson Park on Tuesday evenings, where everyone is welcome to either dance or to be entertained.
“Bring your chair — see you there!”
For more information, see the club’s Facebook page.
