Dancing with the Squares

Published Mon, Mar 10, 2008 3:31 PM

By MARK ALLWOOD mallwood@beaufortgazette.com 843-986-5538

Although it has its roots in Europe, square dancing is quintessentially American, which may explain why 19 states including South Carolina and Georgia list square dancing as their official state dance.

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Not only do its participants think the dance is fun, but many dance as a form of exercise. The Beaufort Squares dance club celebrated its 45th anniversary March 1, and many members, new and old, expressed their enthusiasm for square dancing as a way to stay fit but also have fun.

"It's definitely exercise, because when you stand up there and do a tip, which is two songs back to back, you are moving!" laughed Joann Bright, who has served as the group's president for almost nine years. "And the caller likes to play fast songs. It gets the knees hurting, and it's just a fun thing."

As president, Bright arranges meetings and the callers, who are essentially DJs who call out which dance the participants should do to a particular song.

Bright also helped with the group's birthday-themed anniversary party, which featured party hats and balloons. She and her husband, Gary, have been Beaufort Squares members since 1984.

The group meets at 7:30 p.m., on the first and third Saturdays of each month, at the Shell Point Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Participation is free, and there are also lessons given about an hour before dancing starts.

"It's a big party every dance," said Bright.

Square dancing typically consists of four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, with one couple on each side. Although square dance music traditionally has been country, Bright said they incorporate other forms of music as well, including gospel.

According to www.squaredancing.org, the dance began in New England when the first settlers, and the immigrants that followed, brought with them various folk dances.

Bright said that there are also square dance clubs on Hilton Head Island, Savannah and Charleston, and the groups sometimes dance together. While Bright said that the ages of members ranges from 10 to 83, the Beaufort Squares typically consists of older adults, some of whom rely on square dancing for physical fitness.

"We're older, and we don't do a lot of physical stuff, so this is a workout, but it's a fun workout," said Bright, 65. "And it's a family activity. You can have your kids on the floor with you and your grandkids. My son-in-law took a class, my daughter's taken a class, and my granddaughter's taking a class."

Ted Baker, 48, and his wife Rina, 41, are among the group's youngest members. They've been involved for eight years, and their two daughters also square dance. Baker agrees with Bright that square dancing is a great way to stay active.

"It's constant movement; you never stop," said Baker. "It's rhythm. It's a feel-good thing. It makes you happy. It lifts you up, and you use all parts of your body. Your arms are always moving, hands, coordination, so it's good for your motor skills and keeping you alert and mobile."

The Bakers may be among the group's youngest members, but that's something Ted said he would like to help change.

"It's something that, even when we go to national conventions, you don't see a lot of youth, but that's what's needed to carry it on," said Baker. "We've got to get the younger people interested. It can be as modern as we want to make it."

Baker said that the Beaufort Squares recently did a dancing demonstration for Beaufort Middle School, because the school's physical education class is teaching square dancing this year.

He expressed pride in the fact that the Beaufort Squares have been around for so long and have had such a positive impact on the community.

"It continued on and on and on, long before we were there," said Baker.

"We're the next generation. We look forward to growing and continuing another 45 years, hopefully.It's the great American dance."

Dancing with the Squares