Dancing on air in a square; Never too old or young for foot-tapping partner-swinging fun.Byline: Sarah L. Hamby STURBRIDGE - When the weekend rolls around and there's still nothing to do but sit at home and play video games See video game console. , the Sturbridge-based Hayloft Steppers Square Dance Club Square dance clubs are the primary form for organization within the recreational activity of square dancing, and more specifically modern Western square dance. This article's focus is the modern Western square dance club, and it is understood in the context of this article that encourages dancers of all ages and any skill level to put on their dancing shoes and head out to the Hayloft Barn. Club President Maurice "Moe" Bracken bracken or brake, common name for a tall fern (Pteridium aquilinum) with large triangular fronds, widespread throughout the world, often as a weed. is proud of his club and of the barn that members refurbished and added on to themselves. Founded in 1960, the Hayloft Barn is the premier square dancing facility in the area - the rubber cushioned "floating floor" and air conditioned space inviting both the young at heart and the young in years to answer the call of the dance. Square dancing appeals to all ages, says Mr. Bracken, not only for the fun of it but for the exercise. "We've made a real effort to reach out to the young people," he said in a telephone interview. "We're known as a family friendly club so we have a lot of youngsters dancing." The Hayloft Barn has been known to host dancers from ages 8 to 80 years and, he added, "We have at one point had four generations on the dance floor at once." Don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how to square dance or think you need to dress the part? "At one time the purest of square dancers were really sticklers on the outfits, but we felt that that might turn some people off so around here outfits are optional," explained Mr. Bracken, who laughingly allowed, "But clothing is mandatory..." Dancing like a professional is not a requirement for visiting the Barn, either. The club offers affordable lessons, with a $20 cap for families. With eight people in a square of dancers, half are students and the other four are what the club calls "Angels" - more experienced dancers ready to lead new dancers through the intricate steps of the square dance as the caller Caller may refer to one of the following:
v. en·ter·tained, en·ter·tain·ing, en·ter·tains v.tr. 1. To hold the attention of with something amusing or diverting. See Synonyms at amuse. 2. . Deanna Randall has been with the Hayloft Steppers Square Dance Club since 1997. She said she started dancing in 1970, but she and her husband had not danced for 10 or 12 years before picking it up again with the club. "We got involved and we don't want to stop dancing," she said. "It's a lot of fun. It's good exercise. ...You get kind of wild and crazy and you have a good time." She added mildly, "Sober wild and crazy." Mrs. Randall also mentioned the varied ages of the members of the club. "We're one of the clubs that really encourages young folks. ... We've had kids as young as 6 or 7. The more young people you have the better time they have because they've got peers there."She said a mother is taking lessons with her three children - brother-and-sister twins who are 10, and a boy who's 12. Teenagers can get very involved with the nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. square dancing organization. Mrs. Randall spoke highly of Matthew McGovern, 15, who's been with the club for several years. His grandmother, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Mrs. Randall, says he grew up singing, and he's now a caller for the club, performing and calling out steps at evening dances. Square dancing is popular around the world. The New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. Square and Round Dancing Associate Convention was held in Sturbridge last year and the 2009 convention will be, too. It is planned for April 24-25 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, and dancers attending the convention will also visit the Hayloft Barn. Mr. Bracken said several thousand people attend local conventions; and national conventions can attract nearly 10,000, with dancers from around the world appearing in full square dance attire. "No matter where you square dance in the world the calls are always done in English," he said, "It's considered the national dance, the heritage dance of the nation. You could go to Germany and jump in a square." Mr. Bracken would love for more people to jump in: "If you have never square danced, please come and try it out! And if you have square danced in the past, please come and sharpen sharp·en tr. & intr.v. sharp·ened, sharp·en·ing, sharp·ens To make or become sharp or sharper. sharp your skills, renew some friendships and form some new ones." For more information, visit: www.hayloftsteppers.org or call Moe Bracken, club president, at (508) 867-8036. Answer the caller's hollers What: The Hayloft Steppers Square Dance Club Where: The Hayloft Barn, 232 Podunk Road, Sturbridge When: Dances held year-round every 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday of the month Lessons: 6 to 7 p.m. Sundays, beginning level: 7 to 8 p.m. Sundays, plus (intermediate) level and/or workshop; 8 to 9 p.m. Sundays, A-1 (advanced) level. $6 for an hour's lesson. Upcoming special events: "Class Ball," 6-8 p.m. March 29, to honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. new graduates at the club, open to the public Free fun nights 6 to 7 p.m. April 19 and April 26, designed for people to come and get acquainted with square dancing. ART: PHOTOS CUTLINE: (1) Above, at right and below, members of the Hayloft Steppers Square Dance Club dance at the Hayloft Barn in Sturbridge on a recent Saturday night. (2) Sharing a dance and a smile are, in the foreground foreground - (Unix) On a time-sharing system, a task executing in foreground is one able to accept input from and return output to the user in contrast to one running in the background. , Barbara and Edward Gebo and, in the background, Donna and Maurice Bracken. (3) Fifteen-year-old caller Matthew McGovern directs the action. (3) Caller William Mager leads dancers through their steps at the Hayloft Barn in Sturbridge. PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : T&G Staff Photos/MARK C. IDE (1) (Integrated Development Environment) A set of programs run from a single user interface. For example, programming languages often include a text editor, compiler and debugger, which are all activated and function from a common menu. |
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