Every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. folks begin to arrive at the Sun City Vistoso Auditorium, the women dressed in swirl skirts or prairie skirts and the men in Western shirts and slacks. They are the Sundancers - a name derived from the community they live in - and they are there for the weekly square and round dance.
Square dancing has been a part of Sun City Vistoso in Oro Valley since 1988. The Sundancers are members of the Square and Round Dance Association of Southern Arizona.
The Sundancers, of which more than 50 couples are members, usually have four special dances each year with guest callers from around the country. Their weekly dances are "called" by Ron Markus.
"Mainstream" is a term used to describe the basic calls of square dancing. "Plus dancing" is the next step up, and that is the level of dancing done at Sun City.
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Square dancing is done in a group of eight people. Round dancing is a couples dance with the dancers performing movements as instructed by a caller, or in round-dancing terms, a "cuer."
Round dancing is a part of each Wednesday's activities. Square dancing, which is more like "walking to the beat of the music," provides excellent aerobic exercise, burns calories and is a wonderful social activity. The only things the Sundancers ask their members to bring each week are a smile and a desire to have fun.
In addition to their weekly dances, the club provides demonstration dances for seniors at retirement homes, and each year the members purchase Christmas gifts for needy children in the local area.
Also, the Sundancers hold lessons each year for those in the community who would like to learn to square and round dance, and guests are always welcome.
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