Rancheros dance to the music of the islands

Ranchero Rebecca Williams (center) joins friends Linda Lewis (left) and Kathy Smith (right) in dancing to the music of the Islands.

Ranchero Rebecca Williams (center) joins friends Linda Lewis (left) and Kathy Smith (right) in dancing to the music of the Islands.

Rebecca Williams

The Rancheros Square Dancers joined their sister club, SaddleBrooke Squares, and danced to the sounds of the islands on Aug 15. Dancers dressed in their favorite “island theme” attire, from Hawaii and the Caribbean. The caller, Dean Singleton, had a great selection of music such as “Island Song” from Zack Brown Band, “Sloop John B” from the Beach Boys, and “Coconut Tree” and “Son of a Sailor” from Jimmy Buffet.

Lessons at the “Plus” level are being offered by the Rancheros and SaddleBrooke Squares starting on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the MountainView Ballroom. If you are already dancing at the “Mainstream” level, this ten-week series will introduce you to all the plus calls. You will also have time to review each week’s lesson ahead of the regular club dance on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Club members will be there on both evenings to assist dancers in learning the new calls.

The two clubs will also join in offering beginning square dancing lessons in January. In early January, there will be a free evening, just to try out square dancing and see if it is for you. Lessons start on Sunday evenings in mid-January at the MountainView Ballroom located in SaddleBrooke TWO.

Last spring, the two clubs graduated 45 new dancers. We would love to have you join in the fun! Square dancing is popular not only here in Arizona, but all over the world! In September, seven members went to Munich, Germany to dance with a combined group from Arizona, as well as dancing with local German callers and nearby clubs in the Munich area. The calls are the same all over the world, so once you learn, you can go to any location and enjoy square dancing. There is square dancing in nearly every major city in the U.S.

If you would like to learn more about the fun of square dancing, visit saddlebrookeranchhoa.org, select the “Dance, Music, and Theater” under the “Things to Do – Clubs” tab, then click on “Square Dance – Rancheros,” or call Rebecca Williams at 520-825-2466.