Don’t be square
Old-time dancing clubs offer mental, physical benefits
Thursday, January 7, 2010 10:58 AM PST
BySean Hart
Argus Observer
SeanH@argusobserver.comWEISER
Square dancing offers a variety of mental and physical benefits, according to local dancers, and two clubs offer the opportunity every week.
“First of all, it’s exercise. Second of all, it’s memory retention,” Kathy Bosler, a member of Weiser’s Fiddle Footers square dancing club, said. “It’s also socialization. Square dancing isn’t a competitive sport. It’s a social sport.”
The Fiddle Footers offers square dancing to experienced individuals from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Elementary School in Weiser and will start a new class for beginners next fall, Bosler said.
“Not only is it good physical and mental exercise, it’s fun,” Lynne Krogh, who dances at Emmett’s Silverleaf Squares, said. “It’s kind of a neat, old-timey thing to do that is getting revived. You don’t have to be a dancer. It’s just about getting out and having fun.”
Silverleaf is the longest club in continuous existence in Idaho, Krogh said, and holds mainstream dancing at 7 p.m. Saturdays at the hall near Emmett. The club is gearing up to start a new round of classes for beginners at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 and Jan. 23. After those two free classes, participants can build on what they learned at regular classes at 6 p.m. Saturdays for $2.50. Traditional square dancing attire is not required, she said.
“Square dancing is all about having fun and friendship,” Krogh said. “Everybody leaves their politics, their jobs, whatever, at the door, and we just go in and have fun together.”
Krogh said there are also regional and national events scheduled, such as the Idaho Square Dance Association’s federation dance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Boise Square Dance Hall, 6534 Diamond St., off Gowan Road near the airport in Boise.
For more information about the Fiddle Footers, call (208) 550-1225. For more information about the Silverleaf Squares, or for directions, visit www.silverleafIdaho.org, or call Silverleaf’s caller, Jonathan Wood, (208) 830-9459.
Lifestyle Editor Sean Hart can be contacted at SeanH@argusobserver.com. For more local lifestyle news and videos, visit www.argusobserver.com/news/us.
