Happy New Year to everyone!
I’m looking forward to a new year of dancing, seeing friends and having fun. I hope everyone else is doing so too. As we move into January, don’t forget to remind fellow dancers and don’t forget to tell new dancers/graduates about Mid-Winter Festival. Also – if you haven’t been for a couple of years, come join the fun this year. It’s in Albany January 24th-26th. This is a great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones from across the state. You can also get to dance to great callers and cuers both national level and ones from Oregon that you might not have danced to yet. There is a level of dance available for each dancer’s desire.
As our classes get close to graduation, please make sure that the new graduates continue to get out to dances. Don’t let them slip away quietly now that you might not see them every week. If you are going to a dance, call them up and invite them to join you there. Or if you have room, offer to pick them up.
Something to think about as we have new graduates or new club members join: they often want to get more involved in the work side of the club. Please don’t discourage this. There are a lot of ways to offer involvement that isn’t door or kitchen duty or one of the big officer positions in a club. Decorations committee ? New faces often have new ideas and more hands make it go faster. Special theme dances? Again, new ideas – can they come up with different ideas and how to make it work? Think outside the “box” and encourage new ideas. Don’t just say “we don’t do it that way”. Granted, sometimes an idea just won’t work logistically, but think it through first and ask them how they think it would be possible. See if you can put a small group together to brainstorm an idea.
Many new dancers/club members/youth don’t know about dance break times and what/if they should bring something or even what type of item to bring. Give them something in writing to refer to or make a general announcement. Many people (yes even youth) love to bake and can bring cookies or brownies to a dance for break – if they know it would be welcome.
Have fun this month and I hope to see you at Mid-Winter Festival. If you need to catch me there – check out the youth table in the mainstream hall – if I’m not there the youth should know where I am or how to reach me.
Karyn Buchheit
After receiving several requests from readers, I've now added a "New Dancer Jamboree" section to the OFN. When you add your dance flyers, look for the checkbox to designate the dance as a jamboree.
Click here to find out how to get your information into the OFN, including dances, lessons, photos, flyers, advertisements, and caller/cuer information.
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The next Federation meeting will be at Mid-Winter Festival, on January 26, 2020.
Oregon's Mid-Winter Festival 2020 will be held January 24, 25 and 26, 2020, at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany.
We hope you are planning to attend the 2020 Summer Festival, to be held at the Seaside Convention Center in Seaside on August 21-23, 2020. This festival is sponsored by the Eager Beavers and the Hoedowners.
The 69th National Square Dance Convention® will be held in nearby Spokane, Washington, June 18-21, 2020. The 70th National Square Dance Convention® will be held in Jackson, Mississippi, June 23-26, 2021.
All clubs in the Oregon Federation are required to maintain their status as non-profit corporations with the State of Oregon. The Secretary of State's office mails out a renewal notice about a month before your registration expires every year. The following clubs expire this month:
January 3 -- Heads to the Center
January 16 -- Columbia River Dancers
January 21 -- Corvallis Squares
January 22 -- Cherry City Cloggers
January 25 -- Happy Hoppers
Download a complete list of the Federation club dances this month, all sorted by date and city.
Everything in the When & Where is extracted from the state directory information. If you find that your club information is wrong, you can fix that by going to the directory information area and fixing your data.
Click on the title to see the article.
Recently, the Bachelor Beauts (mainstream) and Swinging Mountaineers (plus) in Central Oregon voted to become one club. With longtime members aging out of the dancing community and volunteers weary of serving on multiple committees and boards, it was a practical decision. Central Oregon's smaller population also translates into a smaller dance community, and combining the two Bend-based clubs will mean fewer board meetings and an elimination of duplicate leadership positions. The two clubs become the High Desert Dancers as of January 1, 2020. Mainstream dances continue on first and third Saturdays, and Plus dances will be held on 2nd and 4th Fridays.
Longtime River City Dancers member Gail Domine passed away suddenly on December 12, 2019. She was 77 years old.
Gail was married to Tim Domine, and they began square dancing while Tim was stationed in Germany in the army. After Tim’s death in a traffic accident, Gail and Al Wolf (who also lost his wife in a traffic accident) became dance partners and best friends.
All told, Gail was actively involved in square dancing for over 55 years. She danced with the Barn Owls, River City Dancers and Diamond Cutters. She was active in the Portland Area Council (state delegate for 15 years) and the Oregon Federation of Square and Round Dancers. In 2010 Gail and Al were awarded the Randall Award for their service to square dancing and to the Federation. Gail leaves behind a son, Steve Domine (Polly), and three granddaughters.
Billie Smith, Randall Award winner and mother of Patty Cooper, passed away on Tuesday, December 10. There will be a celebration of life in Port Orford on January 4.
You can download this list of callers and cuers who are available and ready to call or cue a dance for you.
Callers:
Cuers:
The Mid-Willamette Area Council has chosen the Jamuary 2020 Oregon Round of the Month: "You Can Do Magic", Phase II Two Step, choreographed by Jack & Christa Gail Pointer, by America. Download your cue sheet here.
For more information on the Round of the Month, please contact .
Everything in this section is taken from the state directory information. If you find that your class information is wrong, you can fix that by going to the directory information area and picking to the "Lessons" tab.
January 3 (1st Fri)
January 5 (1st Sun)
January 10 (2nd Fri)
January 10 (2nd Fri)
January 10 (2nd Fri)
January 17 (3rd Fri)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
February 8 (2nd Sat)
January 19 (3rd Sun)
January 19 (3rd Sun)
February 14 (2nd Fri)
February 22 (4th Sat)
February 22 (4th Sat)
February 28 (4th Fri)
February 29 (5th Sat)
March 14 (2nd Sat)
April 19 (3rd Sun)
May 22 (4th Fri)
June 6 (1st Sat)
June 7 (1st Sun)
July 22 (4th Wed)
August 7 (1st Fri)Click a thumbnail to download the flyer.
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Click a council name to go directly to that section.
We learned in late November that Kurt Jensen had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for a few days. He was expected to go to rehab from there for about a week. His speech was unaffected but he did suffer some left side mobility problems. We are hoping he can return to dancing as soon as possible. We love his sense of humor and his general affability.
We dance normally about two Sundays a month. Please check ur website at cas-sq.yolasite.com. It might be best to call to be sure (541) 741-4149. We dance in Hall B at the Emerald Square Dance Center at 20th and Yolanda in Springfield, OR. Hall B is behind the main hall which fronts the street. Please come join us for a fun time.
Gaynor Hintz
Club reporter
Ten Single Trees attended the Turkey Dance this year along with over 20 Whirl-A-Ways. Whirl-A-Ways received a trophy for the club with the most members present. The turkey dinner was good as always and the floor was jam-packed with enthusiastic dancers. Jim and Jackie make a great pair and one can never get tired of dancing to their calling and cueing. So good to see people return to this dance in droves. Sure makes it a lot more fun.
On the 4th Friday, Nov. 22, we had Darrel Kalmbach call our dance for us. We haven’t had Darrell down for a long time and he is as good as he ever was! He kept us on our toes, really concentrating but still having a great time. That night was our Western Hoedown and Chili Feed and some of our members really outdid themselves with the homemade chili and cornbread! We returned to our former schedule to fit in a break for the chili feed, but we normally dance from 7:30 to 10:00 without a break since the change in September.
Come join us at the Emerald Square Dance Center at 20th and Yolanda in Springfield off I-105 in Hall A which fronts the street. The hall is large with a wood, cushioned floor very easy on the feet.
Please come join us. In January we only have the one dance January 10 with Jim Hattrick and Jackie Gale. The 4th Friday we will be dark for Mid-Winter. The Jan. 10 dance will be held at New Dancer level (Roger’s class will be well advanced by then). This will be a Gospel Dance.
Gaynor Hintz
Club Reporter
Kurt's sister, Kris Jensen, extended her stay after Thanksgiving to be with her brother. Kris was here to calls our annual Pre-Thanksgiving dance with potluck and silent auction. We had a small crowd, but everyone had a fabulous time, awesome potluck and sold some pretty cool items at the silent auction. Kris always does an amazing job of calling. One of our newer dancers was pleased that Kris could get her back to where she needed to be, and that she was watching the floor. Kurt will be going to rehab soon. We are all hoping for complete recovery for Kurt so he can get back to dancing and doing the infamous "Swap around!"
An update on Kurt Monday Dec. 2: Kurt improved dramatically and was able to go home where he'll do some outpatient physical therapy instead of at rehab We hope to see him in a square very soon! That's the greatest news ever! Good job Kurt!
Kurt and Lorna are angels for our Challenge - 1 class. There are many calls at C-1, but it's taking a long time as the class is Sundays and not everyone can be there, especially during the holidays. It's fun nonetheless. And yes, a challenge!
We dance almost every Sunday at the Emerald Dance Center in Springfield. 5:30 - 8:00. We dance all levels. Our caller, Tim Matteson, will adjust the levels according to who shows up to come and dance. It's always FUN, and we always have a lot of FOOD! We encourage all square dancers to join us! The floor is cushioned and comfortable! We even have heat and air conditioning!
Please call Tim at 541-988-0399 or David at 541-520-7311 to make sure we are dancing. We are dark once in a blue moon, but we'd hate to miss you.
Keep on dancing,
Christina Corelli
Janet Geiger filling in for him when needed. Christina Corelli cues for both dances.
Lennie Ludiker's mother passed in late November; our thoughts are with him.
Sandy Harris
Club reporter and caller
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 18 (3rd Sat)Dances. We are looking forward to seeing many of them at the Mid-Winter Festival.
Carmen
We feel good about our annual December service project. The proceeds from our successful Christmas Dance silent auction were donated to Windsor House, homes for brain injured adults. Every evening the Windsor House residents gather to review their day and enjoy a cup of decaf coffee -- brewed from cans of decaf coffee that IWW contributes every December.
Come dance with us on the first and second Saturdays of each month at the Polk County Fairgrounds. Especially be sure that you mark your calendars for our special dances: February 8 “Mix it up” Dance; March 8 (Sunday) IWW 60th Birthday Dance.
Looking ahead: Mystery trip (date to be determined); Annual Koast Krash April 24 – 26 (Yachats Inn. Theme: At the Hop). Dee Mackaman
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 19 (3rd Sun)
We spent December practicing on our music for the Showcase of Ideas. We will also be thinking about what rhythm to pick up next as we progress through things.
Hope to see a bunch of you in the Santiam Hall during Mid-Winter as we dance to the featured cuers and have a great time dancing. Marilyn Schmit
We do have our new dancer dance this month - come out and join us! Our baked potato dinner will be just before the dance - check out our flyer for more information.
We are starting some of our practices for competition this month and we are still fundraising. Please save the date of March 22 for our fundraising dance. Look for one of our youth at a dance or at Mid-Winter to get a teen festival pin or a raffle ticket. See you at a dance soon.
Petrina Buchheit
January 10 (2nd Fri)
January 19 (3rd Sun)
January 3 (1st Fri)
January 17 (3rd Fri)
On December 1, we hosted a new dancers’ dance. As many as 100 people signed in so we had a great crowd. The majority of the time there were eight squares on the dance floor. In addition, we held a used clothing sale. The clothing was priced to sell so everything was a bargain. We didn’t make that much money, but it was worth making square dance attire affordable and to see the faces of new dancers light up when they found an item of clothing that not only fit but would have them dancing in style! The new dancers were awesome, so full of enthusiasm and fun loving! They got to experience a variety of callers and why square dancers refer to square dancing as “friendship set to music!”
Willamette Squares wishes everyone great dancing in the New Year! Jodee
January 31 (5th Fri)
Remember, except for Christmas and New Years, we dance each Wednesday that the temperature is over 32 and under 90.
Rodney
January 3 (1st Fri)
January 8 (2nd Wed)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
Chaps and Petticoats celebrated the Christmas season with friends, food and enjoyed the “Left and Right” ornament-exchange game at our Club Christmas Party on December 15, 2019. While the weather outside was frightful... our enjoyment was merry at the Maplewood Grange!
Bachelor and Bachelorettes held their “new-dancer” B-48 Jamboree on Wednesday, December 11th at the Abernethy Grange with Jim Hattrick (caller & cuer). Chaps had a square (4 Angels and 4 students) and a wonderful time dancing. Chaps new dancers experienced “progressive squares” for the first time and enjoyed it the most. Moving through the hall was a fabulous way to meet other Clubs. their new dancers and dance with new partners!
On December 7th, we attended the Oaky Doaks “Christmas Memories” dance (Don Hart called and Julie Stiers cued). Ee were just one dancer shy of a Visitation Banner. Gee, I guess seven is not so lucky! We helped make two squares and spirits bright though - after all, t’is the Christmas Season.
We were overjoyed by the nine squares (also two sitting out) attending our ‘new-dancer” Jamboree and “Turkey Trot” dinner on Sunday, November 24th. Where else can you enjoy a full-trimmings turkey dinner and dance for only $6. Once our tummies were full, we danced it off with Scott Zinser's tips (“yes, Scott, we’d like to see that again”) and Mark MacDonald’s aerobic cueing. Thanks to all who attended and shared our Thanksgiving.
Chaps and Petticoats will bring in the 2020 New Year with these January and February dances. We hope our friends can help us fill the hall and make some new memories during these 1st and 3rd Friday dances:
- Scott Zinser and Julie Stiers on January 3rd (no particular theme) - opens with Plus 7:30pm,
- Leonard Snodgrass & Lonnie Sycks (will be razzing each other) on January 17th - Rounds open 7:30pm
- Scott Zinser (opens with Plus) & Randy Lewis cues for Chaps on February 7th, then
- On FEB 21st: Darrell Kalmbach & Tami Helms will help us celebrate our Anniversary at the FLINTSTONE dance.
Have a healthy & Happy New Year, everyone! We look forward to seeing you at Mid-Winter 2020!!
Betty Chipps
We have a great Mainstream class going and will be doing a second Jamboree on Sunday, January 5th from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM with Scott Zinser and Tami Helms, and hopefully some guest callers. Floor time is so important to getting these new dancers ready to join us at regular dances. Come bring your new students or just come as an angel to support the new dancers.
Set the date aside for Sunday, March 8, 2020! The next Murder Mystery Play and Dance will be performed at the Boring Barn! The play this year will be titled, “The Wanderer,” and will again be performed by the Crazy 8 Players. Tickets will go on sale by Mid-Winter.
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 5 (1st Sun)
On January 6, 2020 we will start our third eight-week session of lessons. The anticipation of meeting new students and getting together with continuing students always feels sort of like the first day of a school year. It’s an exciting experience! This year we are planning to extend our lesson season through June in order to give students more dance experience.
The Hoppers will also be gearing up in January for Mid-Winter. Traditionally a significant number of members have attended this great event. It’s a perfect time to renew acquaintances with dancers we see only at special events as well as spending time with our own members. We are looking forward to some terrific dancing to local and national callers and cuers as well as having a chance to shop at vendor booths and at the clothing resale.
Jean Tolstrup
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
In December our club was very active. We had a club visitation to Tumbleweeds on December 6 and then that same evening had another visitation to the Toe Draggers New Dancers Jamboree. We brought some of our students. It was a fun day and evening of dancing. On December 11 we had our annual holiday dinner and of course our two club dances that month.
In addition to our two club dances in January (which are held the second and third Saturday), we will host the PAC dance at our hall January 31. Many of us are also planning to attend Mid-Winter in Albany January 23, 24, 25.
Happy Dancing.
Carol Mendenhall
January 11 (2nd Sat)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
January 3 (1st Fri)
The council has started a new activity for our new dancers from each club. New dancers will be given dance cards from the home club. The card will need to be signed and dated when attending a student level dance. Each student must attend at least one student level dance at each of Rogue Sis Q Council clubs, one dance sponsored by Rogue Sis Q caller/cuer dance, and one council dance within a year to receive a dangle for participation. Student dancers had a chance to get their first signature on December 15th at the Rogue Sis Q Caller/Cuers Midway dance. The next council dance will be January 10th at the council sponsored Pajamarama dance; this could be signature number two
Encourage your students to attend the student level dances at Charlie Brown Squares, Circle N Squares, and Star Promenaders and get a signature. Accompany your students to the dances.
Hope to see everyone at the Pajamarama dance in Grants Pass at the Josephine County Square Dance Center. All levels of square dancing, starting with Advanced squares and moving on to student level Mainstream and Plus. Round dancers will have beginner level dancing too. Richard Lane will be calling and Rikki Lobato cueing. This should be a fun night to remember. And, don't forget to wear your best pajamas.
January 10 (2nd Fri)
What an absolutely fabulous 52nd birthday dance we had!!!! Michael Haworth called an exceptionally fun and challenging dance; starting with Advanced and continuing with Mainstream and Plus the rest of the night!! We had a floor full of round dancers all nite with Rikki Lobato cueing. Most everyone stayed til' the last tip. Thank you to ALL of our visitors!! What a treat it will be to dance to Michael Haworth again at Diamond Lake 2020.
We are looking forward to Richard Lane and Elaine Funk for our Christmas in Hawaii dance on December 21st. Will report on that dance next time.
January 4th we will have Chuck & Bob for our "Do Your Happy Dance" dance. Spaghetti feed potluck starts at 6pm. 7pm for Pre-rounds and MS/Plus 730-10pm. Bring your appetite and have a ball dancing the nite away.
January 18th we will have Chuck & Rikki for our "Have a Party with Pooh Bear" dance. Chuck will call A-1 at 6pm and pre-rounds start at 7pm. The rest of the dance will be alternating Plus & Mainstream til' 10pm.
Look for the flyers for more information! We hope to see everyone there.
The Boatnik Committee is hard at work and looking forward to putting on a great party with the wonderful talents of Bronc Wise and Peter Gomez over Memorial Day Weekend!! Get your ribbons soon!
All of the Charlies would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season! We look forward to seeing you soon..
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
I begin this on a sad note. We recently learned that long time member Annie Blaylok has passed away. It is always difficult to get this kind of news. Thank you Elaine, Ron, and Francis for sending me this info.
We are planning our next party night to be held on Jan 16th at Evergreen Elementary School. Because of winter conditions, and travel concerns the dance will be 6:30 to 9:30 If we have enough Advanced dancers I will attempt a tip or two. This dance will be catered toward our new dancers. At this point they are the most active and most enthusiastic so we want them to join us experience a party night, welcome them into the club and meet other dancers. So bring a new dancer along!
Sherrie and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. We hope that this next year brings all of you good health and happiness.
Merry Christmas !
Come out and join us on January 3rd for the next Game Night. The theme for this one will be “Cold Weather Comfort Food.” It is a “Hoot.” If you don’t play Mexican Train, there is usually a game of cribbage going on. We are open to most any table game. In fact, there was another game being played at the last “Game Night” besides Mexican Train and Cribbage.
Classes are going well and the students are really enthusiastic.
The Stars are once again collecting stuffed animals for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department to give to children in distress. Last year we collected and donated 200+ animals. I think we can do better. There is a tote on the stage at the Rogue Valley Square Dance Center to put the animals in. PLEASE HELP!!
We are again going to sponsor the Alzheimer’s Benefit Dance. It will be Sunday, June 7, 2020 from 2 to 5pm. This is a very worthy cause and hits home to a lot of us in the square dance world. All proceeds will go to Alzheimer Research. The Callers & Cuers are donating their time and the Stars are donating the hall. A challenge has been issued. Last year we raised $520+ and the challenge is to double that; at the very least.
On December 19th the Stars’ Class held their Christmas Potluck. Besides the Potluck Dinner (which was free), there was a White Elephant Gift Exchange. Of course, there was dancing around the Christmas Tree.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE
See you in a square.
January 11 (2nd Sat)The TVC fifth Saturday Dance, held at the Aloha Grange on November 30th was attended by 9+ squares of enthusiastic dancers. Mike and Julie Stout were the featured caller and cuer and did a great job! Julie Stiers added a round or two and Dan Nordbye called a plus tip. The dance was co-hosted by our brand new club to the TVC, the Oak Hills Squares, who also took home the TVC banner for having the highest percentage of the club in attendance.
The next Council event in January will be our annual TVC Presidents Meeting & Potluck to honor current and past club Presidents will be held at the IOOF Hall, 267 East Main Street, Hillsboro, OR 97123 on January27th. The evening will begin with the potluck dinner starting at 6:00 followed by a meeting at 7:00. All TVC club Presidents & dancers are invited to join us. The TVC wishes to thank all the presidents of the TVC Clubs for volunteering their time and efforts into this activity we all love. Also, at this meeting the TVC President, Mike St Clair, will announce the recipient of the Tualatin Valley Council “Recognition Award” for outstanding service and special contribution to the square dance community within the TVC geographical area.
The next TVC dance will be the "Celebrate Winter Ending" on February 29th. This dance will feature Adam Christman calling and Joyce Hooper cueing. Co hosted by the M 'n M's. More details to follow.
Ferrous Steinka
January 27 (4th Mon)The club has chosen to support the Mid-Winter festival on January 25th and will be dark so we can attend the annual event.
We did not have our Burn-Off dance in November since Thanksgiving was so late. Look out though for next year.
Happy new year.
Nick Johnson
January 11 (2nd Sat)We sadly lost two members in November, first Jeanne Evans a long time square dancer and member of Hoedowners and Eager Beavers. Later in November we received sad news of the passing of long time member Jim Rogers. He was in Seaside with many family members for their annual Thanksgiving week gathering. Our hearts go out to Kay Rogers and the whole family. Jim along with Kay have been actively involved in all aspects of Oregon Square dancing for about 30 years. Jim will be missed and fondly remembered. We look forward to January events including Mid Winter Festival in Albany.
Don't forget about TVC's annual potluck event January 27th at the IOOF Hall honoring club presidents past and present. The TVC president will present the TVC's Recognition Award to a deserving couple or individual.
On Monday February 10th we start our afternoon Plus square dance lessons, noon to 1:15 pm. Come to learn and/or refresh. Our regular Plus dance is at 1:15 - 3:00 pm immediately after lessons. Come enjoy our three great callers. We dance "Every Monday Afternoon" at Sunset Presbyterian Church 14986 NW Cornell Rd. Beaverton, OR 97229. Please check for up to date information at www.EagerBeavers.info.
Karen Steinka
January 6 (1st Mon)
January 13 (2nd Mon)
January 20 (3rd Mon)
January 27 (4th Mon)Mark will accept new students for square dance lessons beginning on Sunday January 12th at 3:00 p.m. at the Pacific Grange, 90475 Highway 101 in Warrenton.
For more information, view the website Hayshakers.org which is currently up to date.
Craig Holt
The Aloha Grange was attacked and boarded by a group of nefarious brigands on the 9th. In short, it was The Hoedowner’s Pirate Dance. There were skeletal pirates guarding several locations in the building armed with muskets and swords. The upper deck was awash with booty and fleeting glimpses of familiar looking pirates. The scallywags on the captured galleon were properly dressed in pirate apparel adorned with gold doubloons, tricorn hats, cutlasses, pistols and an eye patch or two. Pirate fare was the order of the evening in the dining room with a huge pumpkin stuffed with homemade dirty rice as the centerpiece. Hope you didn’t miss it!
Was that a gobble I heard? Yes it was if you were at the Hoedowners Annual Turkey Toss on the 23rd. When the tossing began, the benches on either side of the ballroom were jammed with hopeful participants, the corn hole boards were set out and the bean bags distributed. Which is the better method; overhand, underhand, with your eyes open or closed? I couldn’t ascertain a pattern of success and I threw mine completely off the boards but winners abounded taking home small, medium and large turkeys, a couple pairs of Cornish game hens and a ham. To the delight of everyone attending a light turkey dinner was served in the dining room following the dance. Did I mention the Sunset Promenaders were out in force? They took home their fair share of poultry.
January 2020 looms ahead. We’ll have our New Year’s Resolution Dance on the 11th. Sounds a bit tricky!
We’ll be dark for Mid-Winter January 25th and hope to see you in Albany.
Krystal Laas
January 11 (2nd Sat)
January 25 (4th Sat)Lindie Noonan
On November 30th we co hosted the fifth Saturday TVC dance at the Aloha Grange. This was a first for us and we all had a good time. We also took home the TVC banner for having the highest percentage of their club in attendance.
The ugly sweater dance on December 2nd was good fun, with all Christmas music, lots of goodies, and some really huge inflatables of Santa and a snowman. Most sweaters were pretty rather than ugly, however. The ‘experienced’ dance clothes brought in a good amount to benefit the club. A contingent of Sunset Promenaders visited and received a banner. Thanks for visiting!
Our class graduation ceremony will be in January, since December is busy and we will be dark on December 30th. A new dancers’ class will begin on February 10th.
Please join TVC’s newest club on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30. The first Monday of the month is our theme dance and continues until 9:00, with mainstream dancing to all singing calls, and phase two rounds. Our January 6th dance will be a Trivia Dance. Questions will be asked! Prizes will be won! We hope you will join us!
Happy Holidays!
Marie Clem
January 6 (1st Mon)"A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year".
Our new year will bring lessons January 8th. Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm for Plus, following our previous workshop/lesson format. Beginning class starts at 7:30 with the first 2 lessons free for beginners! This is a great way to start out the new year with dancing ahead and new friendships to develop for the future.
The second Friday dance in January is the one in which we serve up soup to warm you up for coming out on a wintry night. Mid Winter is the regional dance of the season, an opportunity to dance with those from far and wide. On the 4th Saturday R Square D will be dark, but we will dance with you in Albany!
Dance info: 7pm - 8pm Plus with advanced rounds, 8pm - 9:30pm Mainstream with rounds. 106 NW 8th Ave, Kelso, WA 98626 by the Rotary spray park at the intersection of Hwy 4 and W Main, Kelso/Longview. Our dances are $6 admission.
Looking forward to 2020 with you,
Annie Tietze
Our January calendar of Mainstream dances includes Wild West Dance on the 4th with chili and cornbread at the break. Mike Stout and Ken Pratt will be the caller and cuer.
Then on the 18th the club will be having a Pajama Dance.
On our Thursday Plus Dance nights which are on the first, third, and fifth (2nd, 16th, 30th) our caller is Darrell Kalmbach and Ken Pratt Cueing.
Of course the big things for our club this month is the start of our Cha Cha lessons, our Mainstream lessons, and Intermediate Rounds workshop. These lessons start on Sunday the 5th of January. The Cha Cha lessons start at 2:00 with Ken and Dianne Pratt instructing, the Mainstream lessons start at 4:00 to 6:00 with Mike and Julie Stout as the instructors. And then having Intermediate Round Dance Workshop from 6:30 until 8:00. The lessons are all at the Hillsboro Odd Fellows Hall 267 E. Main Street. That is a busy schedule each Sunday! If you or someone you know are interested feel free to come and join in.
Thank you to all you visitors that come to our dances, we really appreciate it, your visit makes a difference to our dances. By the way, Happy New Year! God bless you.
Tom & Janice Sminia
January 2 (1st Thu)
January 4 (1st Sat)
January 16 (3rd Thu)
January 18 (3rd Sat)
January 30 (5th Thu)With only 2 lessons remaining, the 4 students will be graduating before Christmas. They are already joining us at our dances.
The November canned food drive collected a large barrel of food for the needy in our area, thanks everyone who contributed.
Our first dance is January 3rd, regular dance, and January 17th is a masquerade ball. Looking forward to that one.
Please join us as caller KC Curtis calls and Bev Flint cues. See you soon.
Kathy Degman
January 3 (1st Fri)
January 17 (3rd Fri)In January our lessons continue after the pause for the holidays. We’ll have a special B51 dance on January 10th “The Cowboy B51 Festival” for all the students out there, called by Terry Halley and cued by Sandra Pinion. No second dance in January, in honor of the MidWinter Festival in Albany.
Gloria Davis
January 10 (2nd Fri)Our round dance workshop continues just prior our 2nd Friday Plus Dance, led by Ken and Dianne Pratt, beginning at 6:30 pm. This is an excellent opportunity to work with your partner and the professionals on rhythm figures that need refinement and floor time.
Some of our new dancers attended the Tri-Squares and Toe Dragger new dancer jamborees and are looking forward to several other jamborees coming up. The Valley River Dancer New Dancer Jamboree / Christmas Dance will be the 4th Friday, December 27th. Although this dance will be at Mainstream level, Randy Dibble will call to the floor level to accommodate new dancers. Sherri Clark will be cueing. Traditionally we play a game involving a gift exchange, and so we encourage dancers to bring a wrapped gift of no more than $5 to exchange.
Randy Dibble is teaching a DBD class which started in December and continues through Mid-Winter Festival. This fun class is held Tuesdays 6:30-8 pm at the Chehalem Community Center, south entrance; admission $6. We have new students who just graduated and some experienced dancers attending this class designed to prepare dancers for the mainstream hall at Mid-Winter to be able to dance with a little more confidence and not have to spend all their time in the B-51 hall. This is a great way to very quickly step up one’s mainstream dancing skills.
More than a square of Valley River Dancers plan to visit Golden Squares at the Woodburn Senior Estates Community Club for pie night on Monday, December 30th beginning with pre-rounds at 7 p.m. Randy Dibble is the caller and Julie Stiers is cueing. The dancing at this lovely club is super fun, and the pies are to die for, so you simply must put this dance night on your calendar and come check it out.
Valley River Dancers are dark for our 4th Friday January mainstream dance as most all our members will be attending Mid-Winter Festival. Our next mainstream dance will be our Anniversary Dance on February 28th. We hope you will save the date and come dance with us to wish us a happy birthday in person and enjoy some delicious cake and ice cream as we celebrate at break. Additionally, complimentary sodas are offered to square dancers after our dances at Abby’s Legendary Pizza, in Newberg.
We wish all of our dancing friends a very happy new year!
Josie Rosenbury
January 10 (2nd Fri)Our classes will begin on Tuesday, February 4, 7-9 pm. February 4 & 11 are free classes. Fees thereafter are $6 adults, $3 youth and $15 family. Get the word out please.
We will resume our dances on February 15th with a soup, salad and bread dinner at 6:30 downstairs. Dance will begin at 7 pm with dessert served upstairs with open break.
Hope to see you in February for great soup, conversation, and dancing.
Carolene Siebert
Bob Allen
January 11 (2nd Sat)