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in Clovis & Central California
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50th Annual California State Square
Dance Convention |
Story, Photos & Slide Shows by JoAnne
Green
April 12, 2010
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One of the major family fun events in the
Central Valley of California in the middle
of April of this year was the 50th
California State Square Dance Convention.
Each year, one of the member associations in the
Council of Square Dance Associations of
California organizes and hosts the State
Square Dance Convention in a selected city
in California. This year, the convention was
held on a three-day weekend in April at the
Fresno Fairgrounds. It is said that the
first California State Square Dance
Convention was held in Fresno fifty years
ago.
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
After countless hours of
preparation over a two-year period and the tireless effort of many
volunteers, the 50th California State Square
Dance Convention, began on Friday, April 9th
and continued through Sunday, April 11th. The theme
was "Fifty
& Fabulous in Fresno."
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
Traditionally, a "Trail End Dance" is held on
the evening prior to the first official day
of the convention. This year, Travelin'
Pioneers, a Clovis-based square dance club,
hosted the Trail End Dance at the
fairgrounds from 7:00 p.m. to
10:00 p.m. with our favorite local square dance caller Ernie Kinney and
round dance cuer
Mirdza Ward.
Top Callers are the magnets of these events
Like many square dance enthusiasts, I always
look forward to dancing to many excellent,
nationally known callers at square dance
festivals and conventions any chance I can.
So it was a fabulous treat to have top
national callers such as Tony
Oxendine, Dan Nordbye, Charlie Robertson,
Bob Baier, and Tim Crawford at the 50th
California State Square Dance Convention.
Not only are they fun to dance to, they are
great entertainers! They took turns throughout the convention
singing and calling to music for all levels of
square dance --
Mainstream, Plus, and Advanced. These excellent callers
definitely drew many dancers to the
event because they help make square dancing
at any level so much fun.
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
There were also special section and callers
for the Handicapable level.
I noticed that throughout the convention,
these featured callers constantly reminded
dancers during many of their calls and songs:
"The more you dance, the better you feel."
Not only were there hundreds of dancers at
the convention from the Central Valley and
throughout California, but there were also
many dancers from other parts of the United
States as well as other countries.
Amazingly, one couple actually came all the
way from Australia to spend their honeymoon
at the 50th California State Square Dance
Convention in Fresno.
From the first evening through the last day
of the convention, at each session began, dancers poured
into the dancing halls assigned for each
dance level with a smile on their face
and a lot of energetic
anticipation. Invariably, by the end of each
session, the smiles were even broader and
the energy level even higher.
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
Friendly People
It was easy to see that square dancers are
friendly people as they greeted other dancers
with a big warm hug -- even those they have
just met. Just like a big family reunion,
many of the dancers came to the 50th
California State Square Dance Convention to
rekindle friendship with
many fellow dancers that they had met at
past conventions or festivals.
It sure put a big smile on many older dancers'
faces to see so many youths at this
convention. It was such a pleasure to watch
these young dancers dancing and having a
good time. Their enthusiasm was contagious.
These young dance have brought a new level
of energy to square dance activities. Their
participation has shown that square dance is
very much alive and kicking.
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
A Wholesome
Family Activity
Square dance is well known as a wholesome,
family-fun activity. That was demonstrated
at this convention by the Smith Family. With
their "Wagon Train," they were a perfect
picture of three generations of square
dancers. Daniel and Hope Smith and their
four daughters, Zariah (5months old), Zaana
(age 5), Zareka (age 7), and Zahara (age 10)
were there along with David & Karen Smith,
Daniel's mom and dad, who have been active
square dancers since 1962. David has
attended every previous California State
Square Dance Convention. Both David and
Daniel are members of Guys & Dolls
Exhibition Team which put on a terrific show
before the Grand March on Saturday evening.
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
A Shinning Ray of Hope
It is always a great pleasure for me to be
able to talk to some younger-generation
dancers who are active in square dance and
have an ambition to carry out square dance
traditions with a long-term plan. Katey
Endicott, age 14 from Redlands, California,
would like to become a square dance caller
someday and is already learning how. On
Saturday afternoon, she practiced her square
dance calling under the guidance of a
seasoned caller for the Handicapables. Katey
seemed comfortable calling and enjoyed doing
it. She told me that her grandpa used to be
a caller and that she has been going to
square dance events with her grandma on a
regular basis. Katey also wants to be a
pediatrician. She is also very active as a
volunteer in her community. She really is an
amazing young lady.
Story continued
below.
To
hear the music with the slide show, please turn on your
speaker.
Katey and other young dancers like her are a
shinning ray of hope to keep American modern
square dance alive and strong.
Besides the dancing at the California State
Square Dance Convention, there were a
variety of other fun activities such as a
fashion show, sewing clinic, education
panels, exhibitions, an After Party, a
parade, and that grand tradition of square
dance conventions, a Grand March.
Story continued
below.
On the behalf of all of those square dancers
who attended the 50th California State
Square Dance Convention in Fresno, I wish to
express a sincere thanks to John and Jackie
Rowe, General Chairmen, and all of the
members of all committees for their hard
work and effort to make "Fifty
& Fabulous in Fresno"
a great fun-filled event.
A Big Yellow Rock to You All!
(If you don't what this means, ask a square
dancer.)
Your feedback is
welcome. Please
send your comments to
or
Click Here to post on our Facebook Page
Source:
www.ExperienceClovis.com
Copyright © 2010-2011 JoAnne Green
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Have an
Awesome Day and Experience in
Clovis and Central California!
Clovis is what every
small town aspires to be
when it grows up!SM
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Editor &
Publisher
Clovis
resident for 30 years
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