By Brian Elmer
There’s possibly no other activity where people can socialize to the extent they can in the very social recreation of today’s square and round dancing. Its essence is interactivity. Its code is friendship.
They did just that on March 10 at the Winfield Memorial Hall when dancers from throughout the Okanagan Valley converged on Lake Country for the 2012 Spring Fling. The annual event is the largest dance held by the non-profit Okanagan Square and Round Dance Association.
Amid springtime decorations in the hall, the fling opened in the afternoon with a smaller dance attracting about 35 who are accomplished at the Plus Program of square dancing with some round dancing interspersed. The featured talent was a couple who are both the square dance caller and round dance cuer, Dave and Sharon Boggs from Moses Lake, Wash.
That Saturday evening, about 60 dancers from points between Osoyoos and Salmon Arm enjoyed the Blossom Ball, a three-hour program with a half-hour of just round dancing. A Mainstream square dance program began at 8 p.m., alternating with round dancing.
Round dancing is choreographed ballroom dancing conducted to live cues over the microphone. It includes all the familiar rhythms such as waltz, two-step, rumba and cha-cha.
Dave, the guest caller with 13 years experience, put the square dancers through their paces with some interesting routines. He even conducted a quick-teach of a choreographed call known as the Grand Colonel Spin. After a little rehearsing, the whole floor of dancers rejoiced to correctly executing the call.
The round dancers were very pleased with the wide selection of dances presented by Sharon with varied choices in music. She’s been cueing for six years.
Rosalyn Garnett, from West Kelowna, enthusiastically danced to the lilting Spinning Wheel Waltz, a round dance that she exclaimed is her “very favourite!”
Snack foods and hot drinks closed the evening whereupon the dancers agreed it had been a most enjoyable day.
Today’s style of square dancing has been standardized worldwide in the English language. Various levels of challenge are available, grouped into programs. The dancer chooses a program according to their comfort level and time available to learn.
