Fall square dance lessons begin October 8

A Happy Anniversary cake is presented to Larry and Bonnie Kraber at a recent club dance.

A Happy Anniversary cake is presented to Larry and Bonnie Kraber at a recent club dance.

Bob White

Once again this year the SaddleBrooke “Squares” square dance club will be kicking off the fall dance season with lessons for those who would really like to get involved in an exciting and fun-filled way to socialize, exercise and dance in a whole different way: square dancing. This is not your grandmother’s old barn dance; this is dancing to all kinds of music being called by one of the best instructors teaching square dancing today, SaddleBrooke’s own Larry Kraber.

The lessons begin with a free demonstration of some basic calls. We call this demonstration “Give Us A Whirl” (GUAW). As a special this year the demonstration will be followed in the next two weeks with free dance instructions. We believe that after the GUAW demonstration and the first two nights of dancing that you will be convinced that this is going to be a great addition to your itinerary of fun things to do in SaddleBrooke.

The GUAW and all the dances that follow are open to residents from SaddleBrooke Ranch as well as HOA One and HOA 2. Guests from other square dance clubs in the area are also known to show up and brush up on their dance steps. One reason for this is the wide distribution of the SaddleBrooke Squares website (www.saddlebrookesquares.com) showing the dances as they are taught. This website has hits that number in the millions and are viewed in many countries around the world.

Meanwhile, 11 members of the “Squares” found their way up to Linden, AZ for a festival weekend July 21-23. The square dance club in Linden (near Show Low) was having a Christmas in June dance festival complete with a Christmas tree, presents and decorations. A weekend in Show Low gave us flatlanders an opportunity to enjoy cool days and cooler nights. It also provided for additional activities, probably the best of which was an afternoon of horseback riding by Ranch residents Don and Rebecca Williams. They found the time to go riding during a break in the dancing to enjoy another of their favorite activities.

On a more recent evening members of our club were invited to a birthday party at a local dance hall in Tucson. This venue is the Old Pueblo Dance Hall located on Delano Street. A couple (Chris and Gaylene Clark) that quite often dance as guests with our club were celebrating Chris’ 80th birthday by sponsoring the dance complete with cake and ice cream along with the two and one-half hours of round and square dancing. These are just two examples that once one knows the square dance calls they can venture on out through southern Arizona and find a place to “circle left” and “load the boat.”

Now is a great opportunity to sign up for the GUAW and free lessons to be given at the MountainView Ballroom. Call Bob or Kay White at 520-818-9482 or email [email protected] or Randy at [email protected].