Janelle Authur
Ranch Western dancers continued to wear the leather off their cowboy boots with some major boot scootin’ at the January and February 2024 SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) Social Dance Club’s Western dances.
On Jan. 12, Anthony Taylor Jr. and the Good Ol’ Boys brought their steel guitar and honkey tonkin’ back to the Sol Ballroom stage. The band once again “burned the barn down” with their popular classic country music as 90+ dancers filled the dance floor.
Another Ranch favorite, Wild Ride, had dancers celebrating an early Valentine’s Day on Feb. 2. Dancers stepped out to popular Country Western tunes, demonstrating their skills at the two-step, cha cha, Western waltz, Country swing, Texas 3-Step, partner pattern dances, the Barn Dance, a few Western line dances, and the Cotton-Eyed Joe. Keeping with tradition, dancers partnered up for the Western group’s tribute to Arizona, a partner pattern dance to Rex Allen Jr.’s song, “I Love You Arizona.”
All the monthly Western dances include a door prize, with eligibility requirements that change each month—such as cowboy boots, hats, jeans, or something in a specific color or pattern. In January, dancers who correctly answered the Trivia Question “How many steps are there in the Electric Slide?” were eligible for the door prize. Ranch resident Faye Puelston knew there are 18 steps in the Electric Slide and won the January prize—two free tickets to the February dance. In February, dancers were required to wear “something red or with hearts” in honor of Valentine’s Day. Bill Henderson was the February winner, taking home a giant box of chocolate candy.
The club started sponsoring monthly Western dances at the Ranch in September 2021. Since then, the club has brought some of the best-known and respected Tucson-area Country Western bands to the Sol Ballroom stage. Bands are already booked for much of 2024, with Whiskey Riverdogs returning to the Sol Ballroom stage on Saturday, March 9, and Clear Country on Saturday, April 6. Anthony Taylor Jr. and the Good Ol’ Boys return in June and Wild Ride in August.
All levels of dancers are welcome at the dances and newer dancers are encouraged to “come on down” and practice their newly acquired skills in a friendly environment. Given the size of the dance floor, registration is limited to 90 dancers.
Don’t know how to Western dance? Come on down and listen to 2½ hours of great live music, or, better yet, take a few lessons and show off your dance skills at the next dance! The club offers Western dance lessons throughout the year, including the two-step, Western waltz, swing, Texas 3-Step, and partner pattern dances. For details on dances and lessons in 2024 and/or to register, go to the club’s website at sbrsbdc.com.
Information on the dances and lessons is emailed directly to club members and those on the club’s mailing list. It is also on the club’s website and in the Ranch Reminder and Ranch Events weekly newsletters.