Carla Marquardt, pictured, won the April raffle prize at the SBRSDC Western dance featuring Patrick Rayl and the .357 Band on Friday, April 8.
Janelle Authur
Have you recently spotted Ranchers in cowboy hats and boots at the Ranch House? If you have, they could be Ranch Country Western dancers headed to the Sol Ballroom for an evening of boot scootin’ to the live music of Tucson-area bands.
On March 9, Ranch Country Western dancers celebrated an early St. Patrick’s Day dancing to the Tucson-based band Wild Ride in the ballroom. On April 8, Patrick Rayl and the .357 Band, a Southern Arizona group, once again filled the ballroom with live music as dancers welcomed spring. As in prior months, the dance floor was full, with 70-plus dancers at each dance.
The SaddleBrooke Ranch Social Dance Club (SBRSDC) has monthly dances scheduled with popular live bands through year-end 2022. Wild Ride will play on Wednesday, May 11, and Patrick Rayl and the .357 Band will play on Friday, June 10. After a July break, dancing to live bands will resume on Friday, Aug. 12.
All the bands play a wide variety of country songs, favorites of both new and seasoned Country Western dancers. In addition to the two-step, swing, cha cha, waltz, Western partner pattern, and a few of the most familiar Western line dances, there is always a new dance or two to try. In March, dancers whirled to the Cotton-Eyed Joe and in April, the 10-Step. Each Western dance also features the same “end-of-the-evening” waltz, danced to the Rex Allen Jr. song, “I Love You Arizona.”
The dances also feature a raffle, with entry requirements that change each month—such as a cowboy hat, boots, jeans, or, for the March dance, a touch of green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The March winner, Rick Gillaspie, won two tickets to the April dance. The April winner, Carla Marquardt, won a flight of Ranch beer.
All levels of dancers are welcome at the monthly dances, and newer dancers are encouraged to “come on down” and practice their newly acquired skills. Given the popularity of the dances and size of the dance floor, registration is currently limited to 70 dancers.
The club offers a variety of western and social dance lessons in the Fitness Center at the La Hacienda Club. Lessons rotate monthly, with new and/or repeat offerings each month. For details and to register for the dances and lessons, go to the SBRSDC’s website at www.sbrsbdc.club.
The club also offers monthly social and rock ‘n’ roll dances, both hosted by a DJ. With more dancing opportunities, Ranchers are discovering that their dance skills can easily be adapted to ballroom, rock ‘n’ roll, and/or western music.
Information on the dances and lessons is emailed directly to club members and those on the club’s mailing list approximately four weeks before the dance and/or lessons start date. Details are also included in the weekly Ranch Reminder. Registration opens four weeks before the event.
Come on down and have a boot scootin’ good time dancing to the live music of Wild Ride on Wednesday, May 11.