It’s all about having the right moves.
A good ear and quick reflexes are important because square dancers must be able to turn on a dime, at a moment’s notice. Even though dance calls might seem familiar, more often than not they are mixed in with rock and roll.
Like many members of the Elora Grand Squares, current president Johanna Postma became involved through friends who were square dancers. “When we finally came out, we wished we’d done it earlier.”
She and her husband Harold had a few free nights for dancing. “I’d told him if he didn’t like it, I wouldn’t bother him again. He liked it so much, he couldn’t wait to go back.”
The group meets regularly on Monday nights at St. Mary School in Elora. In addition, the club holds theme nights and other events. “We also get involved in other dances on the weekends where clubs get together.”
Treasurer Connie Webers became involved about 12 years ago as a result of friends who invited her and her husband Herman.
“We got hooked right away. We’ve been doing this ever since,” Webers said. “It is fun; we meet lots of people; it’s entertaining.”
She said, “It’s not like the old time square dancing. You learn the basic steps and move on from there.”
Elora Grand Squares members John and Joan Klapwyk got involved through friends.
“Our neighbour had been asking us for years,” Joan explained.
Each time, she believed her husband would not want to go. Then one day, the neighbour got her husband on the phone and he said, “Sure, why not?”
Joan added, “That was 30 years ago and we’ve been coming ever since. It’s the best way to spend a Monday night,”
John added, “We still love it. This club has lots of energy.”
Joan added, “We started out when we were young. We’re all getting a bit older, but it’s still a lot of fun.”
Jeff Priest of Brantford acts as the caller for not just the Elora Grand Squares, but for similar groups across the region.
It’s a role with which he is more than a little familiar.
Priest has been calling square dances since he was nine years old, and by doing that he is continuing a family tradition.
His father was also a full-time professional square dance caller.
“We need to get past the gingham-check, hoop skirt, knee-slapping, fiddling-out-in-the-barn stereotype, so people can come out and enjoy some good exercise and socialize with like minded folks,” said Priest.
He works with nine different clubs each week and in the schools.
“Most often [clubs] dance in schools, but often it happens in churches as well – simply because they have the facilities available.”
Priest stressed that the clubs take part in modern square dancing as opposed to the traditional old time square dancing.
A primary difference is that in traditional old time dancing, participants learn a routine from start to finish.
“It’s referred to as a visiting couple dance, where couple one goes to couple two and does a particular routine. Couple one goes to couple three and repeats the routine. Everyone gets their turn.”
He added, “If you come into a traditional old time dance and don’t know the routine, they just put you into couple four position and you see it done a few times before it gets to you.”
But in modern square dancing the participants are taught individual dance steps and figures.
There are 11 different levels in modern square dancing, Priest added.
He estimated that by the time someone learns those 11 levels, they would know about 6,000 movements in total.
“This is a physical and mental exercise,” he said. “You have to dance the commands as they are given by the caller … There are no memorized routines in this.
“Generally it is two couples working together across the square, or they will work in pairs.
“But whatever happens on one half [of the square] happens on the other half. Everyone is working simultaneously. You don’t have anybody standing and watching.”
People dance “choreography as presented by the caller – which is my job. They don’t know what is coming next.”
Dancers must hear the command, decipher it, get it to their feet – and perform it.
“This is one of the best mental-physical exercises you will ever participate in. Square dancing really has been given a bad rap over the years because it’s been compared to traditional or old time, which is usually done in a bar atmosphere with a live band,” Priest said.
“In modern, we have a tremendous variety such as swing, rock and roll, ’50s and ’60s.”
Priest chuckled as he noted there are two individuals who call to rap music as well.
“It moves forward with the times – that’s why it’s modern.”
Priest said there are so many people, from so many walks of life, that it is just a wonderful variety of people on the dance floor.
“People are here for the social aspect, so they are all really friendly. It’s just a very warm, welcoming environment for people.”
Priest said, “It’s hard to get people into square dancing, because the media still pushes it as an old-fashioned, red-neck kind of thing. It’s not.”
Square dancing is done on a grid-type formation. Priest used the analogy of a chess board with the moves made by the dancers.
“If I say the equivalent of ‘Queen to Rook four,’ the dancers know where they need to move.”
Priest said modern square dancing is recognized as a low impact aerobic exercise because it is measured dancing. People dance for about 12 minutes and then rest for five to six. That continues through the two dances. He said some may find it a bit of a challenge the first few nights.
“But it’s like any other exercise program; once you are used to it, and once your body adapts, then it becomes a lot more comfortable. There are folks in this room who dance four or five times a week.”
Unfortunately, he said, one of the drawbacks is that nowadays, with people’s mindset, the costume has become an issue.
“That’s what back dates us to the old-time barn dances. If you look around the room tonight, some are dressed up and some are not. It’s a personal option.”
Residents are invited to come and join the Elora Grand Squares on April 30 for a free introductory night to discover what they have been missing.
Priest said there is a convention this May at the in Guelph. The 51st International Square and Round Dance Convention is May 4 to 6 at the University of Guelph.
“We’re expecting probably 1,000 dancers from across Canada and the United States,” Priest said. And earlier this year, the Royal City of Guelph held its 50th anniversary dance on March 3.
For further information about the Elora Grand Squares contact Priest at Jeff@jeffreypriest.com, Connie Webers at webers@sympatico.ca or Johanna Postma at h.j.postma@sympatico.ca
