Steve Turner To Call at Woolgoolga
July 13, 2008
Steve Turner (squares) and Corinne Brodshaw (rounds) will call at the 2006 Gala Weekend Festival in Woolgoolga 23rd - 24th August 2008. Take a look at this flyer (click on image) to register:
MIKE DAVEY WILL CALL IN NEWCASTLE
June 26, 2008
THE HUNTER VALLEY SQUARE DANCE SOCIETY Inc PRESENTS Squares with MIKE DAVEY & Rounds with MARILYN LAMBDEN
This dance extravaganza will take place on Friday 3rd October – Sunday 5th October 2008, Warners Bay High School, Cnr King & Myles Streets, Warners Bay NEWCASTLE NSW 2280
Friday: 7.30pm - 8.00pm Rounds; 8.00pm - 10.30pm Squares
Saturday: 12.30pm - 2.00pm Rounds; 2.00pm - 4.00pm Squares; 5.30pm 3 Course Dinner at the School; 7.30pm - 8.00pm Rounds: 8.00pm -11.00pm Squares
Sunday: 12.30pm - 2.00pm Rounds; 2.00pm - 4.00pm Squares; 7.30pm - 8.00pm Rounds: 8.00pm - 10.30pm Squares.
W/end tickets @ $38.00 pp Saturday 3 course dinner @ $15.00 pp. Session tickets available at the door.
THEME FOR SATURDAY NIGHT RED, WHITE & GREEN
Bookings must be completed by: 14 September for catering purposes
Email: bevandgeoff1@bigpond.com or Phone Violet (02) 4950 1128
The Hunter Valley Square Dance Society Inc AGM will be held on Sunday 5th October 11.30 am
Cheques & Enquiries may be sent to -
Hunter Valley Square Dance Society Inc.
PO Box 3024 Glendale NSW 2285.
Jeff Seidel Honoured
June 20, 2008
At the 49th Australian National Square Dance Convention, Jeff Seidel, caller for Wild Frontier and Kanella Square clubs in South Australia, was awarded life membership of the Australian National Square Dance Convention, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Australian square dancing and national conventions.
Jeff joins a small but illustrious group of life patrons first established in 1989 when Jim White received this honour. Since that time others honoured are: Ron and Ella Whyte, Graham Rigby, Laurie and Kit Spalding, Roy Petty, Gary Brown, Jan and David Woodget, Bev and Nev McLachlan, Ivan Dawes, Marion Brown and Barry Chandler.
Well done Jeff , SDM wishes you the very best.
TAWS Inaugural AGM
June 16, 2008
I attended the Travel Australia With Square Dancers (TAWS) inaugural annual general meeting on 6th June 2008 at the Australian National Square Dance Convention; Brisbane.
I counted 57 attendees (with many apologies). This is encouraging, considering the inaugural meeting held at the SA National Square Dance Convention in June 2007 had 29 attendees. Mal Harrington, the associations currently sends emails to approximately 300 TAWS members.
Many TAWS members danced at the TAWS Casino hoedown in NSW prior to attending the 49th National in Brisbane then moved on to Budrim (the birthplace of TAWS) on Tuesday 10th June, to spend some time on maintenance tasks at the dance hall there, prior to a further weekend of squared dancing on 13th -15th June.
The Objective of T.A.W.S. is to provide an opportunity for, and to encourage those interested in, both modern square dancing and travelling to combine these two activities for mutual enjoyment. RV’ers meet according to events listed on the TAWS calendar and have a wow of a time. To find out more email Mal & Chris Parrington at malnchris@bigpond.com
A Successful 49th Convention
June 15, 2008
The Queensland 49th Australian Square Dance Convention committee are to be congratulated; they ran a very successful convention at a splendid venue, the Sleeman Centre, in Chandler, a suburb of Brisbane. The venue, a sports centre surrounded by gum trees bush gardens, BBQ break out areas and many capacious car parks, was built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
More than 1100 dancers enjoyed the dancing, with 81 listed callers and cuers. Approximately 60% of attendees travelled from interstate and overseas including USA, Canada UK, and New Zealand; 47 dancers made the trip from Japan.
The convention was opened by Brisbane councillor Adrian Schrinner who is extremely supportive and during his opening speech suggested square dancing be adopted as the official dance for the state of Queensland.
The convention theme was based on Walt Disney’s movie The Lion King. Outstanding stage props and an opening ceremony incorporating an African group Paparasa African Drums ensured the convention started with a bang (excuse the pun).
The dress set parade and dance was spectacular with 45 dress sets; 6 from Japan (one Australian made up the numbers), 3 from New Zealand, 1 from USA, 1 from Tasmania, 2 from ACT, 2 from SA, 2 from Vic, 3 from NSW and an incredible 21 from Qld. Approximately 80 non registered spectators looked on and some asked where they could learn to dance.
It was pleasing to see approximately 40 fellow crow eaters made the trip up to this memorable event. Well done Queensland! In anticipation, I eagerly await Perth 2009 and have already registered.
Wild Frontier at Barmera and Berri
April 27, 2008
Square Dancing Photos - Click to Enlarge
The Wild Frontier weekend at Barmera and Berri was a great success. Most square dancers stayed at the Lake Bonney Caravan Park at Barmera and travelled 14kms to the Berri Town Hall for dancing. The weather was very pleasant and contributed to the success of the well planned weekend away, as did the dinner at the Berri Club.
There were several dancers from Renmark and Naracoorte who took adavantage of the closeness to join in the dancing and renew acquaintances, and several Adelaide Clubs also supported the weekend.
Dancing was held over three days at The Berri Town Hall with the main activity being the Saturday night dance. The acoustics of the hall weren’t the greatest but it didn’t stop everyone from enjoying themselves, with the hall full to capacity most of the time. The square dance workshop on Sunday morning was well attended and enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Jeff Seidel, Wild Frontier, and Kannella Squares for a wonderful weekend of Square Dancing.
Photos provided by Roger Marchant.
Square Dance Origins - Quadrille
April 23, 2008
Square dance is a folk dance with four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, with one couple on each side. The dance was first described in 17th century England but was also quite common in France and throughout Europe and bears a marked similarity to Scottish Country Dancing. It has become associated with the United States of America due to its historic development in that country.
The various square dance movements are based on the steps and figures used in traditional folk dances and social dances of the various people who migrated to the USA. Some of these traditional dances include Morris dance, English Country Dance, and the quadrille.
The quadrille dance shown in Video #2 on the right is performed by four couples complete in period costume.
The dance appears to include the following Mainstream square dance movements:
Bow to your partner and your corner too
Allemande Left
Courtesy Turn
Turn Through
Circle to the left
Pass Through
Promenade (inside the ring)
Ladies Chain
Single Circle
Up to the middle and back
Star Turn (right & left)
Sweep a Quarter (head or side couples)
Thought you may like a history lesson
Roger
TAWS Square Dance Events for March-April 2008
March 30, 2008
29 March 2008 NSW
NSWSDS, Padstow RSL, AGM 3.00pm, Dance 7.30-11.00 pm
NSW Square Dance Society AGM
& 5th Saturday Dance
Rosslyn Burrrett
Robyn Craine
04-06 April 2008 SA
Wild Frontier/Kanella Squares
Lake Bonney Caravan Park (FPA)
Ph: (08) 8588 2234/Free: 1800 034 828
E: lakebonney@bestonparks.com.au
Annual Weekend Jenny Battersby
(08) 8264 39054 or
12 April 2008 Vic
Kelly Country SquareDance Club
10 Mile Ck Rd, Glenrowan
Back to the Shed Dance
Featuring Peter Humphries
Robyn Hodder
03 5722 4449
13 April 2008 NSW
Cloverleaf Dancers
Tamworth
Kootingal Pumpkin Festival
Max Hall
28 Panorama Rd Tamworth 2340
02 67658499
19-20 April 2008 NSW
Glen Squares
Glen Innes
27th Birthday Party – (Afternoon & Night/Sun Morning)
Barry Knight (Leader)
193 Lambeth Street, Glen Innes, NSW, 2372
6732 1735
25-26 April 2008 Qld
Cane Country Square Dance Club
Bundaberg
Cane Country Silver Anniversary W/E
Shirley Kelly
07 4159 2308
01 May 2008 NSW
Coffs Harbour Squares
Coffs Harbour Squares Birthday
Lionel Herring (Leader)
92 Thompsons Road, Coffs Harbour 2450
02 6652 4837 0423117413
Learn Modern Square Dancing
March 14, 2008
Do you live in Adelaide South Australia?
Come and learn Mainstream square dancing and you will open up a new world of experience (you will be able to dance in any country in the world - we all speak the same language). No dancing experience needed, just step in time to the music and obey the callers instructions.
We offer some of the cheapest cardio-vascular (and brain) exercise available; plus:
FREE entertainment and fellowship.
Where?
Wild Frontier Square Dance Club, in our hall (access from car park) behind Kensington Park Uniting Church , 286 Kensington Road, Leabrook, SA.
When?
Thursdays 2008, 7:30 PM for a 8:00 PM Start, Join from 13th March – 10th April,.
1st night FREE! then pay as you go $5.00 per night
Call: Jeff Seidel, phone: 8263 5023
Also phone: Les Hedger 8337 7019, Helen Marchant 0417 804 104
Email: jse24459@bigpond.net.au Internet: http://wildfrontiersquaredanceclubinc.com
A Call for Volunteers
March 14, 2008
Are you traveling to Queensland, and particularly to the Sunshine Coast? Are you also looking for cost effective pleasant surrounds at which to stay awhile? Then look no further than the Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre , Dixon Rd, Buderim.
The Centre management would appreciate a small amount of your time to assist with the maintenance of buildings and surrounds.
If you have your own accommodation, ( e.g. caravan, mobile home camper trailer etc.), then stay at the Centre, and attend all dance sessions at nil cost, in exchange for some of your time spent on Centre maintenance. No job too large or too small.
Put some of those not often used personal skills to good and much appreciated use, from which you the dancers cum holiday makers will ultimately be rewarded. Monies saved in labour costs will benefit all in the future.
Use the Centre as your base to discover the beauty of the Sunshine Coast and the adjoining Hinterland, at the same time maintaining and improving the facilities offered to us all at the Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre
For further information please contact:
Nev & Bev McLachlan
PO Box 248, Buderim.
Queensland. 4556
ph (07) 5445 1238
fax(07) 5445 6742
or email nevbevmclachlan@bigpond.com
