Norma Kellinghusen
Submitted to The Record
I’d like to talk to you about square dancing. Yes, I know it has an image problem. It’s not cool. That might be true. However square dancing is about simple things. It’s not about being cool. It has nothing to do with that and I think that’s why people enjoy it so much.
Or as Sam Newman, 28, of Detroit said at a dance, “Maybe it’s cool in its total not-coolness? I think it’s reverse cool, double reverse deep-end cool.”
Well maybe that’s a bit out there, but let’s look at square dancing a bit closer.
Square dances were first documented in 16th-century England. Square dancing a living thing and continues to change and grow in style of dance, dress and music. Very little is “traditional” about today’s square dancing. Calling has become more innovative and complex, dress can be traditional or casual, and music can be anything from old time to Bach.
What hasn’t changed is the enjoyment, the laughter and friendships that grow as you dance.
Why do people square dance, particularly at a time when we are encouraged to watch other people dance while we sit still? We should be moving, for our health, both body and mind. Many articles support dance as a way of staying active and fit all your life. I dance because it makes me happy. The health benefits are a bonus. How great is that?
We are so fortunate to have the Comox Valley Ocean Waves Square Dance Club in our Valley. The club will celebrate 65 years of square dancing in March 2019. Would you like to “Dare to Dance Square”?
If you want to try, “No Experience Necessary” square dance workshops start Sept. 10, at the St. John the Divine Church Hall, 579 – 5th Street, Courtenay, 7-9 p.m. each Monday. September 10 and 17 are free, so you can see if square dancing is actually double reverse deep-end cool. Everyone is very welcome.
For more information, call Fran 250-335-0096 or check out www.comoxvalleyoceanwaves.ca
