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Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

John Prickett and Gerry Frakes partnered up during a Sunnyvale Single Squares dance at Murphy Park last week.

On the Promenade

Square dancing sheds its 'old fogie' image

By Pam Marino

In its heyday during the 1960s, square dancing was very popular in Sunnyvale, with sometimes more than 300 people coming together one night a week to "promenade" and "do-si-do."

Over the years the popularity of square dancing has waned, but local square dancers say interest in the uniquely American dance form is sparking once again.

"In this valley you can dance every night of the week if you want to," said Larry Davenport, the professional caller of the Belle Swingers Dance Club, which meets Wednesday nights at Las Palmas Park.

Sunnyvale's two square-dancing clubs, co-sponsored by the city's parks and recreation department, are offering free classes this month to beginners. And locally there are some families who are trying to get a South Bay club off the ground for children and teenagers from ages 8 to 18.

The Sunnyvale Single Squares and the Krazy Dazys, a Cupertino club, are co-sponsoring four free lessons for singles and couples beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. The Tuesday-night lessons will be from 7:30 to 9:30 at Murphy Park Community Center, 260 N. Sunnyvale Ave.

The Belle Swingers Square Dance Club is beginning a class at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Las Palmas recreation building, 850 Russet Drive.

Both clubs have been around Sunnyvale for more than 30 years. Many members of both groups have belonged for 10, 15 or more years. Although square dancing has a reputation for being for "old fogies," as one dancer put it, both clubs have members in their 30s and above. The Belle Swingers even has a few teenagers.

"For us we can bring our kids," said Sunnyvale resident Elaine Spotts, whose daughters Kristi, 17, and Dawn, 14, dance with the group. There's no drinking at square dancing events; dancers need to keep a clear head to follow the caller.

According to several historical accounts, square dancing has its roots in the folk dances brought over to America by the first settlers as well as by later immigrants. As cultures intermingled, so did the dances. During the Industrial Revolution, when people began to move to the cities, square dancing became less popular.

Ironically, it was one of the Industrial Age's most prominent figures, Henry Ford, who helped bring square dancing out of obscurity. In the 1930s he promoted the American folk dance in Detroit, and extolled its virtues in his book, Good Morning.

Efforts were made to modernize and standardize the dance, and by the 1940s it was spreading quickly across the country. The dance started to become less popular again in the '70s and '80s, but that didn't stop President Ronald Reagan from making square dancing the country's official dance in 1982.

United States servicemen stationed abroad have introduced square dancing to foreign countries since World War II, and now clubs can be found all over the world. Because the moves are standardized and calls are in English, any square dancer who visits other countries can join in on a dance.

"If you take a class, you can go and dance anywhere in the world," said Belle Swingers president Marvin Wahl, who has square-danced in Japan. He couldn't converse with his fellow dancers, but he had a good time dancing anyway, he said. The electrical engineer has square-danced in 10 different states while on business trips.

Over the years more and more square-dancing moves have been introduced. Most local clubs dance at the "plus" level, which features nearly 100 different moves that take about nine months to learn. There are other levels, however, from those with 60 moves to up to 150 moves.

There are four couples in a square, and after bowing to one other, they follow the caller who will tell them to "wheel and deal," "zoom," "pass through" and "Ferris wheel," among other moves. At the end of a "tip," the square comes together in the middle to give a rousing "thank you" cheer. A tip is a set of two dances that include a "patter," when the caller is calling out moves to music, and a "singing call," when the caller combines singing with the calls.

Although daunting at first, the moves and customs eventually come naturally, dancers said.

"You build it up over time," Davenport said.

Eager to introduce the dance to newcomers, longtime dancers are happy to help out beginners and are patient with those who are in the process of learning.

"We all make mistakes out there all the time," said Wayne Page, president of the Single Squares. "The good dancers actually have more fun when they make mistakes."

Beginners also need not come in the full traditional dress of petticoats for women and Western shirts for men. On club nights the costumes are optional, especially in the summertime. People do dress up for hoe-downs, however, when each area club takes turns hosting Saturday night dances.

Local dancers, who come from all walks of life, said they like the exercise and the concentration on calls which helps exercise memory and block out life's troubles.

Chris Weber, a Single Squares member, said returning to square dancing two years ago helped her recover from the brain surgery she had four years ago. Pain that had kept her awake nights lessened, allowing her to sleep, and her short-term memory returned.

Health benefits aside, what dancers said they really like are the people they meet. Clubs become like family, dancers said, even going on camping trips together as well as participating in other activities.

"The people are very friendly and very accepting," said Sunnyvale resident and retired CPA Lanell Smith. She said she has been with the Belle Swingers for around 10 years.

"You meet wonderful people," said Sheri Westerman, who with her husband, Dave, has been dancing with the Belle Swingers for approximately four years. The two have been square dancing for 20 years.

"Who knows? You might meet a special sweetheart," Sheri said with a twinkle in her eye. She and Dave met in a singles square-dancing club in San Jose.

That's exactly what happened to Jeanne Powell and Dick Gaskill of San Jose, who met exactly one year ago at the Single Squares. The two were married on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Gaskill had been in the Squares for nine years, even serving on the board. But all that changed after he married Powell; the club is only for singles.

"We must be the marryingest club in the area," Gaskill said of the club. There have been 125 marriages since the group started in the 1960s, he said.

Powell and Gaskill said square dancing is a good way for people to meet, and "it's something you can do for the rest of your lives together," Gaskill said.

Powell's teenage daughter Carissa is president of the Silver Buckles, a group for youths ages 8 to 18. The group has been struggling, having a hard time finding free space. It will start meeting in Mountain View soon, Powell said.

Page said the Singles Squares have been unofficially trying to help the Silver Buckles become a success, to help keep the dance alive.

"It would behoove the communities to look at that as an activity for teenagers," Page said.

Page himself began square dancing as a teenager in Mountain View in the 1960s. He has seen the number of dancers decline, but he said there is an upswing in interest now.

Davenport said it may be the rise of two-career families, and even VCRs, that has taken people away from getting out one night a week. He thinks the bonuses of square dancing are worth people giving it a whirl.

"Rediscover getting out for an evening," he said.

For more information about classes with the Sunnyvale Single Squares and the Krazy Dazys, call 245-9156, 296-6349 or 725-0344. For information about the Belle Swingers classes, call 739-3977 or 734-4404. For more information about the Silver Buckles, for ages 8-18, call 369-1026.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 2, 1998.
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