July 13, 2016 – Whitewater Whirlers Square Dance, Dover, Caller Monte Guenzler. Three squares were present with dancers from Silver Treads, Kaleidoscope Squares, County Line Squares, and Whitewater Whirlers. Line dances and clogger demo between tips.
Dancers with Caller Monte Guenzler.
July 13, 2016 – Spares & Pairs Square Dance, Bloomington, Caller Larry Fruetel, Cuer Ray Belanger. Visitors included Jim and Sandra Wilson from Tuscon, Arizona, and Robert and Sandra Noyes from Fernly, Nevada.
County Line Squares with Caller Larry Fruetel.
July 9, 2016 – Grapevine Twist Square Dance, Albert Lea, Caller Jerry Junck. Seven squares with dancers from Whitewater Whirlers, Steele Steppers, Square & Twirl, Silver Treads, Mocha Crunch, Kato Plus, Kaleidoscope Squares, Grapevine Twist, Dan’se P.A.C., County Line Squares, and Century Squares were present. Also present were USDA Plains Region Vice Presidents Judy and Floyd Engelhardt, SDM Chair LeRoy Elfmann, Callers Mary Mehus, Dick Severson, Monte Guenzler, and Wayne Kubicek.
Dancers with Caller Jerry Junck.
July 8, 2016 – Prairie Fest “Demo” Square Dance, Clara City, Caller Gene Hoffman. Three squares were present with dancers from Jolly Twirlers, County Line Squares, Spares & Pairs, and Koronis Nite Owls.
Prairie Fest dancers with Caller Gene Hoffman.
July 6, 2016 – Spares & Pairs “Patriotic Colors” Square Dance, Bloomington, Caller Larry Fruetel, Cuer Ray Belanger. Eight squares were present. Guests included the Assistant General Chairman of the 66th National Square Dance Convention. Lee and Jane Penrose from Cincinnati, Ohio,
County Line Squares with Caller Larry Fruetel.
July 4, 2016 – St Peter Parade Square Dance, St Peter, Caller Larry Fruetel. Three squares of dancers were present.
Participants at the St Peter Parade.
July 4, 2016 – July 4th Celebration Demo, McGrath, Caller Abe Maier. Three squares with dancers from Rum River Squares, County Line Squares, Rays Promenaders, and Cambridge Corners were present.
Participants at the McGrath Celebration.
June 29, 2016 – Beaux & Belles Square Dance, St Cloud, Caller Tom Allen, Cuer Sarah Klaphake. Four squares with dancers from Rum River Squares, Rockin’ Country Dancers, Ocean Waves (Rockport, TX), County Line Squares, and Beaux & Belles were present.
Visitors with Caller Tom Allen!
June 22-25, 2016 – National Square and Round Dance Convention, Des Moines, Iowa.
For those of you who missed Jerry Story’s keynote address at the National Convention, his message needs to be heard by everyone who cares about the future of square dancing.
“Clubs, Dancers, Dancer Associations and Callers ALL want the same thing! We all want this very special activity to continue, to grow and to thrive. We are all on the same side and we must work together if we are going to bear witness to this goal. That means things as we have always known them or done them HAVE TO change.”
Click on the following link to read the rest of Jerry’s message: http://jerrystory.com/Portals/0/Save%20Square%20Dancing%20Official%20Rewrite.pdf
Read Jerry’s keynote address at the following link: http://jerrystory.com/Portals/0/KeyNote1.pdf%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.pdf
SDM Showcase of Ideas Display!
Final registration at the 65th National Square Dance Convention in Des Moines was 3,932.
About half of the Minnesotans showed up for this photo.
Minnesota dancers on the left side and on the right side are Wisconsin folks who were also doing a group photo.
Minnesota garnered the second highest number of dancers at the convention: 306! Some of them marched in the Parade of States Saturday evening. Iowa had the most dancers in attendance: 557. Illinois took third with 297.
Exhibition dancers were colorful and added sparkle to the convention.
The River City Riders from Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA, have performed at five national conventions.
The Ghost Riders Band from California has been featured at 14 national square dance conventions and provided live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the mainstream hall. A different caller sang/called with them every five minutes.
Ar-Dale Dancers at the National Convention in Des Moines.
June 19, 2016 – Kaleidoscope Squares Square Dance, Rochester, Caller Monte Guenzler. A square of dancers from Kaleidoscope Squares, Silver Treads, and County Line Squares were present.
Dancers with Caller Monte Guenzler!