Programs pair up to promenade
Published 10:38 am Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Brenda Sexton-The Courier-Herald
Bow to your partner, corners too. Now, circle left.
The directions may change from Thursday to Thursday, but the enthusiasm never wanes as participants from area special needs programs and experienced square dancers take to the hardwood at Enumclaw's Pete's Pool fieldhouse to Allenmande left and grand right.
Drop in a few yeehaws, a number of cowboy hats and a dozen or more high fives, and it's a boot-scootin' good time that is drawing more and more people - of both populations - into the fold.
“It's social interaction. It's integration with people with and without disabilities. It's following directions. It's fitness. It's fun and it fits into so many things well,” said Jamie Werner, who brings about nine participants each week from the Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation program to Enumclaw for the classes.
It all started in the fall, said Dave Pearcy, who organizes the Enumclaw Spinners square dance group which hosts community lessons on Tuesdays at the Buckley Hall. Three members of Sue Richards' Enumclaw Parks, Recreation and Cultural Programs Inclusive Recreation program were interested in taking lessons.
“They missed a couple lessons and they couldn't catch up,” Pearcy said.
So he and Richards put their heads together then brought in Tom Tomlison of the Rainier Callers and Cuers Association out of Puyallup, and “they grabbed it and ran with it, and it's a whole lot bigger than I ever thought it would be,” Pearcy said.
For the past several months, between 6:30 and 8 p.m. every Thursday, Tomlison brings in callers from across the Northwest to direct four, five or more squares. That's about 40 to 50 folks a night, evenly split between those from the recreation programs and those from the Spinners and other Northwest area square dance clubs.
Richards calls the square dance association volunteers “angels.”
“These people are willing to come after work, during the week, some of them coming from Puyallup and Spanaway. This is incredible,” Richards said. “It wouldn't be as successful if these guys weren't interspersed.”
She's not far from the truth. Among experienced square dancers, angels are someone who has taken lessons in the past and passes on what they've learned to help someone else learn so more people are exposed to the fun and exercise of square dancing.
That the group reaches past the boundaries of disabilities and county lines has become an unexpected bonus.
“It's not just limited to Enumclaw and Buckley and Auburn. The more the merrier,” Richards said.
Making new friends and learning new things is what brings both groups together.
“I love square dancing a lot. We do a lot of bow to the corner and do-si-do,” said Tami Zumwalt, who is one of the 15 to attend from the Enumclaw group. Her friend Debbie Brassard emphasizes the fact that they're, “learning a lot.”
“I like the new friends I've been meeting. I like the in-line dance. It's slow enough to learn. I haven't done square dancing since high school,” said participant Sue Rowland who comes each week from Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation department.
“Meeting new people, doing different routines,” is what Tina Bundy of Enumclaw likes. That, she said with a smile, and dancing with Pearcy as the two practice a Star Through and California Twirl.
Classes begin again April 19 and will run through May. Classes are set to break for the summer and then begin again in September. Participants can register at the Enumclaw parks department.
A special fund-raising dance for the entire community is scheduled for xxxx at Pete's Pool. Money raised for the dance will support the Enumclaw groups annual Wenatchee River rafting trip.
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
