2024 is here, and 16 SaddleBrooke Squares Dance Club members, along with 52 other dancers, celebrated by attending the 32nd annual New Year’s square dance in Green Valley, Arizona on Sunday, December 31, 2023. The event was sponsored by the Green Valley Square and Round Dance Club that was formed in 1965.
Dancers covered a wide range of experiences, from longtime square dancers to brand new dancers, enjoying a selection of Mainstream and Plus square dancing along with round dancing. Also available during the festivities were tables full of delicious sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, candy, punch, coffee… the list goes on!
Energetic caller, Andy Allemao, from California, transferred his high energy to the dance floor as he called out instructions in time with the music, keeping everyone from newcomers to old pros moving. Lynn Van Atta, from Green Valley, called smooth rounds. You may be asking yourself, “What is the difference between square dancing and round dancing?” Square dancers tend to retain the “whoop and holler” spirit of dancing, while round dancers tend to dance with greater precision and thus help to improve the overall smoothness experienced by all in the intertwining square dance movements.
A Simple Definition
of Square DancingThere are eight people in a square, which is broken down to two people on each side of the ‘square’. A Caller instructs or “calls” the moves for the dancers to make following the beat of a song with the objective of making sure, when the song ends, the dancers are in the same square position in which they started. Square dancing is performed to any music having a steady count of four beats. If you can count to four, you can square dance! If you can walk, you can square dance… you can even have two ‘left’ feet!
All attendees enjoyed the end of the current year and the anticipatory feelings of the new one coming. The dancers loved this festive night of dancing, laughing, visiting, eating and especially being with friends! Make a New Year’s resolution—learn to Square Dance… Meet new friends, have fun with moderate exercise. Partners not required. Couples and singles welcome. Dress is casual. No dance experience required. For lesson information, visit us online at saddlebrookesquares.com.
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