Ranch western dancers donned a wide variety of red, white, and blue attire at the June 9 western dance sponsored by the SBR Social Dance Club. (Photo by Bob Authur)
Janelle Authur
Ranch western dancers, decked out in red, white, and blue, took to the Sol Ballroom dance floor for the SBR Dance Club’s western dance on Friday, June 9. Tucson-area band Whiskey Roads provided the live music as dancers swirled and twirled to their favorite country-western songs.
The club sponsors monthly western dances featuring some of the best country-western bands in Tucson, all appearing live on the Sol Ballroom stage. The bands play a wide variety of country-western music, including two-step, waltzes, swing, partner pattern, and a few western line dances.
In June, 50 western dancers donned their boots, hats, and jeans for a boot scootin’ good time. Ranch dancers were joined by dancers from the western dance clubs at SaddleBrooke and Sun City Rancho Vistoso, adding a lively mix of dance styles to the evening.
All the monthly western dances feature a door prize, with entry requirements that change each month—such as cowboy boots or hats, or, for the June dance, wearing “something red, white, and blue.” June dancers went all out to meet the entry requirements, with red, white, and blue shirts, bandanas, hats, scarves, shawls, jewelry, and even purses. The June winner, Sandy Cooper, won two tickets to the July dance.
All levels of dancers are welcome at the dances and newer dancers are encouraged to “come on down” and practice their newly acquired skills. Given the size of the dance floor, registration is limited to 90 dancers.
Bands are already scheduled for the remainder of 2023, so mark your calendars. On Friday, Aug. 4, Patrick Rayl and the .357 Band return to the ballroom stage. The Anthony Taylor Jr. Band and their “long live the steel guitar” will kick off the fall dance season on Sept. 8, playing at the Ranch for the first time. Most recently, the Anthony Taylor Jr. Band was a headliner for the annual Barn Dance at the 2023 Tucson Rodeo.
Clear Country returns on Friday, Oct. 13, with Patrick Rayl and the .357 Band bringing their music on Thursday, Nov. 9. Whiskey Riverdogs rounds out the dance year playing on Thursday, Dec. 7.
The club also sponsors rock ‘n’ roll and social dances, featuring a live band or DJ, as well as a variety of ballroom and western dance lessons. Western dance lessons include the two-step, western waltz, swing, and partner pattern dances. Two-step and other lessons will resume in September.
For details on upcoming dances and lessons in 2023 and/or to register for the dances and lessons, go to the club’s website at www.sbrsbdc.club.
Information on the dances and lessons is emailed directly to club members and those on the club’s mailing list. Details are also included on the club’s website and in the Ranch Reminder and Ranch events weekly newsletters. Registration opens approximately four weeks before the event.