Shall we dance?

I was intrigued by Wendy Nugent's article entitled "We adults need to have some fun" in the Friday, August 12, Kansan (Viewpoints). I also like to stop in city parks or county parks and swing in the adult-sized swings. Maybe when Wendy gets a little older, she won't feel like she needs to stop and run to her SUV to prevent people from seeing her swing.

As for watching movies or watching a favorite sports team, a limited amount of that is O.K., but it's too sedentary. Six years ago, my wife and I started participating in an activity which combines fun with exercise and friendship - square dancing. An evening of square dancing may be the equivalent of walking five miles! At the same time, concentrating on the caller's instructions keeps you mentally active the entire time. Then there's the social aspect; you meet a lot of new friends. The whole family (ages 8 to 88 or more) can enjoy square dancing, and there's no alcohol allowed. There is a lot of snack food, though.

There are two square dance clubs in Harvey County. The Newton Circle 8 club meets the second and fourth Sundays of each month from September to May, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Chisholm Middle School.

The Hesston Shoe Scuffers meet the first and third Saturday of each month from September to May, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Hesston Middle School. Everyone is welcome to come and watch these dances free of charge. Everyone who knows the square dance calls is welcome to dance also (there is a charge). Other square dance clubs in the Kansas South district are in Salina, Hutchinson, El Dorado, Wichita, Haysville, Derby, Harper and Chanute.

Hesston Shoe Scuffers will start lessons for new square dancers at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Hesston Elementary School lunchroom. Allen Hahn is the instructor. Try it; we think you'll like it!

Newton Circle 8 sponsored a Family Game Night Sunday at Chisholm Middle School. This was open to non-dancers as well as square dancers and featured a variety of games and dances, to benefit a couple who is adopting an embryo (left-over frozen embryo instead of an already born child).

-- Allan Mast, Hesston

This letter to the editor of the Newton Kansan appeared in print Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 
Shoe Scuffers
8/29/11