Square Dancing

Dance Zone will begin a 12-week square dancing class on Monday, October 2.  In this class you will learn the steps and moves that will allow you to dance at the mainstream level with square dance groups across the globe. 

Sound square?  It isn't.  Not only is square dancing an enjoyable social activity, it is also a mental challenge and physical activity (dancers walk about 2 miles during an evening of square dancing).  Plus, modern square dancing uses more interesting music and movements than its earlier styles.  And you will meet some of the nicest people on earth.

The class will run on Mondays, 6-7:30 PM.  Students will be encouraged to stay and dance one tip with the more experienced dancers after the lesson.  Refreshments are always served.

The class is offered at Dance Zone, 1113 Lincoln Avenue in Marquette.  Contact us or call 906-236-1457 for more information.   

We Love Square Dancing!  Our group was organized around 50 years ago when area dancers started dancing to records in a member's basement.  Now we have a caller dedicated to our group offering regular dances every Monday evening and a visiting caller twice a month on Saturdays.  Dancing has physical, mental and social benefits.

Schedule:

• Square Dance Class - begins Monday, October 2 at 6 PM.
• Mainstream and Plus Square Dance - every Monday, 7:30-9:30 PM.  In 2 hours of square dancing, you can walk about 2 miles.  Marge calls the square dances and Gil Martin cues rounds between dance sets.  $5 per couple.
• Mainstream and Plus Dance on Saturdays - first and thrid Saturdays each month, September through May.  Paul Williams, a caller with around 50 years of experience visits twice a month and we benefit from his expertise.  Paul's dances are at the Jacobetti Veterans Center on Fisher street.  Dancing is $10 per couple and we meet in the rec hall at 7 PM.   All summer dancing is at Dance Zone  (we're air-conditioned).

ABOUT SQUARE DANCING:

Square Dancing dates back from qaudrilles done in the French, English and Irish courts.  In fact, there are dances from all over Western Europe in which four couples move to a set of patterns, changing partners and finishing back with original partners.  Modern Western Square Dancing evolved from quadrilles to American traditional square dancing to what is now considered "Modern Western" square dancing.  American traditional square dancing (sometimes called one-night stands by the callers) can be learned quickly and dancers can learn some dances in an evening.  Modern Western dancing consists of a set of 51 moves in the basic program and an additional 18 moves to master the mainstream program. There are other levels (plus, advanced and challenge) but mainstream will allow dancers to got to most dances. 

Dancers can learn the basic set of 69 calls in a 15-week class.  Some groups keep beginners in their own class until they learn all the moves.  Other groups, like ours, encourage beginners to come to the regular mainstream club dance and join in the socializing and a couple of sets during the evening.  Square dancing is fun, works the mind and the body, and is a gentle, healthful form of exercise.  It can be enjoyed by pre-teens through older adults.  Quite a few of our dancers are in or near their 80s.  Our younger dancers are in their early teen years.   

We dance on Monday evenings at 7:30 in Dance Zone.  Marge Sklar is the caller and Gil Martin cues rounds between squares.  After almost 30 years of square dancing, I can honestly state that square dancers are among the nicest people on earth.  We dance because we love the activity and we really enjoy the social activity.  We also dance twice a month on the first and third Saturdays of the month, September through May, with Paul Williams calling and Gil cueing rounds between squares.  Call for information.  If you're interested in learning, let Marge know.  We run classes when there is enough interest.  A new class will begin on Monday, March 6 at 6 PM.  Marge 906-236-1457906-236-1457.   Visiting dancers are always welcome.

Studies have shown that dancing is good for you.  The New England Journal of Medicine reported on the effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging.   http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm

They studied cognitive activities such as reading books, writing for pleasure, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards and playing musical instruments.  And they studied physical activities like playing tennis or golf, swimming, bicycling, dancing, walking for exercise and doing housework.

One of the surprises of the study was that almost none of the physical activities appeared to offer any protection against dementia.  There can be cardiovascular benefits of course, but the focus of this study was the mind.

There was one important exception:  the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing.

• Reading - 35% reduced risk of dementia
• Bicycling and swimming - 0%
• Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week - 47%
• Playing golf - 0%
• Dancing frequently - 76%.   That was the greatest risk reduction of any activity studied, either cognitive or physical.

WEBMD had a feature article on square dancing:

FROM:  WebMD Feature      http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/dont-be-square-dance

July 9, 2001 -- "Bow to your partner, bow to your corner, circle left, alemand left ... swing and promenade home."

In squares of eight across the country, Americans from senior-citizen age on down are linking arms, sashaying, and "do-si-doing" themselves to longer, healthier, and happier lives. They're having a blast and also lowering their risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer, age-related memory loss, osteoporosis, and depression.

Good for Body and Mind

With all its moving, twisting, and turning, square dancing provides more than the daily dose of heart- and bone-healthy physical activity. Remembering all the calls -- from "do-si-do" to 'alemand' -- keeps the mind sharp, potentially staving off age-related memory loss, experts say. And the companionship that regular square dancing offers is an antidote to depression and loneliness, a statement confirmed by square-dancing advocates everywhere.

Come and enhance your memory and your physical condition.  We'd love to help you.