Every year the Texas State Federation of Square and Round Dancers holds an annual dance festival for square dancers across the state—also welcoming square dancers from around the world. This year, the state festival comes to Bryan, Texas, on June 13-16, 2019. This year’s festival theme is “Dance Across Texas—Escape the Everyday!” In reality, every square dance is an entertaining escape from everyday activities—and the state dance shows how and why.
Square dancing stems from early immigrant folk dance roots, mixing styles from many countries into an American tradition. The type of square dancing done in Colonial America is now called Traditional Square Dance and is seldom practiced today. Traditional Square Dance more closely resembles what’s called contra dancing now (and there are contra dances across the state, too, if you’re interested). Most square dance clubs dance Modern Western Square Dance, regardless of country, which is performed in sets of four couples acting as one dance team following instructions of a caller.
Because of its heritage and team-style dancing, square dancing is as much a social event as a dance. Square dancing requires that dancers know at least the basic movements before joining a square, so don’t expect to take part in the dance this weekend. However, if you’re interested in this national tradition, you are welcome to come as a spectator for Saturday night’s dance (which starts at 7:00pm on Saturday). Square dance clubs frequently hold lessons and you can get schedules for clubs in your area at the festival.
You’ll notice the name of the state association is the Texas State Federation of Square and Round Dancers. At most square dances, you’ll also find times set aside for round dancing, which is a type of choreographed couples dancing that follows instructions of a cuer. Round dancing is much like square dancing in that it synchronizes dance moves, but round dancing uses different dance movements than square dancing.
To find out more about square dancing, check out the National Square Dance Convention, which by the way is holding its national dance festival this month as well—on June 26-29 in Atlanta, Georgia. Square dancing abounds around the country, but sometimes you have to search for it. Happy dancing!
In the Brazos Valley, January 2019 brims with opps to hear live music and dance to the music. Here are a just a few of the January chances to brighten your new year with music or dance.
Commended award recipients came from a wide range of community service and professional organizations including the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, district and county attorney offices, multiple police departments and sheriff’s offices, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Texas Department of Public Safety. Officer Stephen W. Burres of the Irving Police Department gave a moving keynote address outlining his personal and professional connections to the importance and impacts of impaired driving prevention. Recognized as an expert in impaired driving cases, Officer Burres is a 26-year law enforcement veteran who has made thousands of DUI/DWI and alcohol-related arrests and has successfully worked hundreds of intoxication manslaughter and assault cases.
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