It’s a New Generation of Dancing

Sixteen dancers from SaddleBrooke Squares Dance Club traveled to Yuma, Arizona to attend the annual Yuma Square Dance Festival held on Friday, February 14 to Sunday, February 16. Over 140 people danced to two well-known and popular callers, Buddy Weaver, from California, and Dee Dee Dougherty, from Minnesota. Dancers had a chance to meet up with old friends and make new friends.

You might ask “why do these people enjoy this activity so much that they are willing to travel long distances, out of state and even out of the country to square dance?” The answer is easy… “It’s so much fun!” Square dancing is also considered a low impact exercise, a great stress reliever, keeps you mentally sharp and a great way to make new friends. As Buddy states, “Square dancing has to be the greatest recreational activity in the world and it is my mission to share it with everybody, everywhere.”

Some years ago, the square dance community adopted the slogan “Live Lively — Square Dance!” Why? “Lively” means full of life and energy, active and outgoing, energetic, animated, spirited, vivacious, enthusiastic, vibrant, exuberant, cheerful, zestful and exciting. Dancers will tell you that these words describe what square dancing is.

It’s time to erase the old image you might have of square dancing from your school days or TV. Today’s square dancing is done to the best of modern music, including pop, country, rock, disco, gospel, hip-hop, bluegrass and more! There are a variety of dance steps and exciting new patterns to learn. Best of all, there are new people to meet, friends to make, events to attend. You can dance all over the country and all over the world. Square dancing is “Friendships set to music”. Square dancing is one of the best kept secrets in town.

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• It’s fun!
• No prior dancing ability needed!
• It’s an aerobic, weight-bearing, calorie-burning activity!
• It forms lifelong friendships!
• It develops teamwork!
• It increases listening skills!
• It’s economical.
• It broadens your social life!
• It’s performed in a healthy non-smoking/non-drinking environment!
• It’s multi-generational!

To find out how you can join in this amazing activity, visit saddlebrookesquares.com.

Live Lively — Square Dance!