July 25, 2010
Greetings Happy Time Squares Members-
Two reports this time:
Docey Dandies Fun Dance, Friday, July 23
Thirty-two HTS members joined other club dancers from Kansas and Missouri at Gardner for Docey Dandies' Rock & Roll dance on Friday night, July 23.
Jay Krebs was in good form for the all-singing-call three-hour dance. Twelve squares, in a 3 wide by 4 deep squares arrangement were crowded into the Grange building, so Jay suggested it would be less crowded if the center row of 4 squares would swap head and side position terminology (heads respond to calls for the sides and vice-versa). It worked. There was less interference between squares, and definitely more challenging, and lots of fun.
For those who danced in the center row, it should have given the guys some insight of what the ladies experience in normal tips. We maintained our position during the tip but had to remember to respond to calls for the other position. The ladies had to remember which position they were currently in, then respond to the other! Four times during the tip.
Caller's TAW, Linda Krebs, pleased the crowd with wearing a neat car hop uniform, which blended in with the great decorations the Dandies had in place: ice cream parlor and juke boxes included.
Jay called on Sam Hunsaker and Wade Morrow to split one tip. They each did an excellent job, of course. Jay then split a tip with Emporia's Kerry Wallace. Another fine round. We really appreciate these newer callers.
Thanks to the Docey Dandies and callers for a memorable 50s dance!
Eudora CPA Square Dance Demo, Saturday, July 24:
Twenty HTS dancers braved ominus weather (severe thunderstorm watch and an active thunderstorm) to converge on Eudora and the CPA picnic for our square dance demonstration last evening (Saturday).
Caller Wade Morrow was scheduled to take stage on the gazebo at 6:00pm. Phone calls at 4:00, with Wade, Tim Shepard, and Toni Nelson netted a unanimous "let's go with it," although at the time a thunderstorm was over Eudora. Mother Nature cooperated with an end to rain by 5:15. Mostly clear skies and a temperature in mid-70s followed.
Rosalee and Lydia swept water with a borrowed broom from the concrete 'dance floor' and wiped bleachers with towels so our dancers and spectators would have a relatively dry place to sit. There was plenty of room for two squares on the floor.
Wade set up quickly under the roof of the gazebo where his equipment would stay dry in event of return of rain while dancers talked of dancing in the rain if necessary, maybe even with eight umbrellas twirling round the square.
Curious passersby stopped even during the first tip. More tips and more spectators, even applause at end of tips. Lesson announcement cards and brochures were distributed as new folks arrived. Vernon cued a couple of Rounds and a Line, which brought some "civilians" onto the dance floor.
A parade started on schedule at 7:00pm and was a welcome break, especially since we were adjacent to a food concession stand. Dancers munched on burgers and such as they watched the parade down Main Street. Did we mention that the concession stand also had ice cream? It was at this time we discovered that the band, which was scheduled to perform on the gazebo following the parade, had cancelled out due to the weather.
Well, there were dozens of folks hanging around after parade so concensus was -- let's dance some more! Some suggested the crowd remained because they did not know the band was a no-show, but others of us thought they wanted to see more square dancing, so Wade again fired up his Hilton and dancing continued until after 8:00pm.
The crowd was such that we ran out of a large quantity of literature.
Happy Time Squares Members attending the demo were: Frank & Betty Alexander, Carl & Mary K Bahnmaier, Mike Bower, Larry & Alice DeMoss, Ernie Dyer, Ruth Mitchel, Wade, Laura, and Lydia Morrow, Robert Mugridge, Vernon & Toni Nelson, Bob & Rosalee Rainbolt, Tim & Ronda Shepard, and John Studdard.
We were pleasantly surprised that former members Phil & Tammy Gabriel dropped by to visit. Tammy danced several tips with us! Other former members who came by to say hello were Violet Huseby, Larry & Janet Taylor, and Westie & Dottie Westerhouse. Gene & Judy Broers and granddaughter enjoyed the carnival rides and dropped by as we were departing. It was good to see so many old friends. Each was, of course, advised of upcoming lessons, and our BBQ.
The Eudora CPA picnic demo was great fun and we believe several spectators are interested in lessons.
Thank you to all the HTS dancers who came out to support this square dance demo. We think it was well worthwhile.
And a big thank you to Toni & Vernon Nelson for their organizing this demo, and especially to Tim & Ronda Shepard for being their liasion with the CPA folks.
Lastly, thanks to Wade Morrow for excellent calling to us and entertaining the crowd. He did a superb job!
We hope to see you at our 2nd Annual Summer Social this afternoon. See our website for details.
