Be there and be square

EDGEWATER — Whether it’s “Allemande Left,” the “Star Promenade,” the “Teacup Chain,” or “Relay the Ducey,” members of The Edgewater Squares kick up their heels each Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Creekside Lodge under the direction of instructor Gene Warrington, who’s been choreographing and calling for square dancers for over 30 years.

“You might think you’d hear only country and western music here,” Warrington said with a smile, “but we play everything from Lady Gaga to Mozart…and anybody can learn square dancing.”

With the men decked out in colorful shirts, Western ties, or bolos, and the ladies wearing fancy ruffled skirts or dresses that show off their turns and spins, The Edgewater Squares have been circling, sashaying, and shooting the star together for more than five years.

The group’s members, who practice the Modern Western Square Dancing style, enthusiastically point out the many joys of square dancing, including the social, physical, and mental acuity benefits that are rewards of the pursuit.

“Square dancing is quick, and the exercise is fun,” said Jan and Mike Morse, with Joyce and John DeJong enthusiastically agreeing.

“You can dance until your shoes fall off,” joked Bill Taylor, who, with his wife, Ann, said the camaraderie experienced by The Edgewater Squares is a big draw. “Our group has become friends, enjoying social occasions together in addition to our Tuesday evenings at the Lodge,” they added.

Bobbi and Chuck Bradley said they’ve made valuable, “irreplaceable friendships” as a result of their participation in Edgewater Squares.

Dancers say that what they’ve learned with the Edgewater Squares has become a springboard for involvement with square dancing groups in neighboring towns as well…and there are many of them. This multiplies their opportunities to meet new people as they pursue a common passion for this very social, very interactive form of dance.

“Because square dance moves are universal, and the calls are always done in English, Americans can dance anywhere in the world — even in countries where they don’t know the language,” Gail Anderson, Edgewater Squares founding member, said.

Along with her husband, Ronald, Gail has pursued a love of square dancing for 42 years, which led to the couple dancing in many different U.S. states and in Mexico.

Gene Warrington points out that the American Heart Association

endorses square dancing as an effective form of exercise for heart health. Paying attention to the calls hones mental alertness as well.

There are more than one hundred different calls in square dancing, but once the basic steps and formations are learned, participants are ready to go. By listening and following the directions of the caller, the dancers, who are grouped into squares of four couples each, perform the patterns and interchanges, turns and swings that make square dancing such a showy and colorful art.

The Edgewater Squares were proud to present a demonstration of their dancing expertise at Elgin Community College last year. With their membership currently standing at approximately two squares and alternates, the group is seeking to increase its numbers. They need people to come out for the group as couples, as that is how the dances work best.

Beginners are welcome, and all dancers are urged to make a commitment to be present frequently. The precision of the routines and the fact dancers in the squares depend on each other to perform the various routines require ongoing participation.

The reward is the benefit of all that friendship, fun, and do-sa-do-ing!

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