Our Philosophy:
West Coast Square Dancing is a program created to be delivered in ten two hour sessions. Sure we're here to learn the jargon, but we're also here to have fun! That's why we strive to make each session feel like a dance party. Once you have completed the brief West Coast curriculum, we welcome everyone to attend our regular West Coast dances on Thursday evenings as well. In square dancing, there are progressively higher levels of dance to aspire to if one so desires. This is a personal choice. West Coast Square Dancing can be treated either as a stepping stone along the way or as the ultimate destination. We'll provide the options; you choose the level at which you'd like to dance. |
Fitness:
West Coast Square Dancing offers a unique approach to health and fitness. You're not one dimensional and neither should your fitness program be. West Coast Square Dancing is a low impact aerobic exercise which delivers all the positive aspects of intense physical activity with none of the negative elements which often force people to drop out of other sports and fitness regimes. And the health benefits are not only physical! Responding to rapid fire commands means that your mind gets a workout at the same time as your body does. Translating oral commands into action helps to develop and maintain a person's mental agility. Furthermore, square dancing takes place in a positive social environment which is a significant factor in the maintenance of good psychological health. |
Entertainment:
Square dancing has come a long way from its traditional roots. Dancers used to learn a dance for each piece of music. Neither the music or the dance ever changed much. If you didn't know a dance, you'd simply watch what those who came before you did and then repeat that when it was your turn. A caller's job was to initially walk the dancers through the dance and then let them have at it, calling only enough to keep everyone in time with the music. Today's modern West Coast Square Dancing has been designed to be merged with a wide variety of modern music. The dances are developed spontaneously and are only limited by the caller's imagination and the dancers' ability to respond to the calls. Once you learn the lingo, the possibilities are unlimited. It is easily adapted to what, in square dance circles, are known as "singing calls". A singing call can be described as a cover of a popular song which has been edited in order that directions to dancers can be incorporated into the lyrics. |