April 16, 1970 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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April 16, 1970 |
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THE SALTY SASHAYERS circle the floor in a round dance.
GENEVA AND BERT DEYETTE, president couple of the
Christmas Town Rounders, execute an intricate round dance
routine.
It's gayety! It's laughter! It's
music! It's fun! and what's more,
it's good for you! Where can you
get a bargain like that'? In square
dancing.
The Salty Sashayers, Shelton's
square dance club, and tile
Christmas Town Rounders, the
round dance club. and many
similar groups throughout the
world meet regularly to enjoy this
happy healthful, hilarious
recreation. It's a family affair,
very often, appealing to the
young and old and to everyone m
between; it is not uncommon to
see a pre-teen and a Golden-Ager
as partners.
It is pure, unadulterated,
uncomplicated and unspoiled
human enjoyment. The beauty of
the minuet is blended with the
enthusiasm of modern dancing,
and liberally sprinkled with the
grace of the old fashioned waltz,
the energetic action of the polka,
and the precision of a drill team.
with a steady glow of
concentrated joy making the
whole procedure a wonderful
thing for a spectator and heaven
itself for the participants.
It offers a relaxing respite
from routine chores. The gay,
full-skirted gowns of the women,
bouffant over ruffled petticoats
that swirl wide to reveal matching
pantaloons,-the super-fancy ties
worn by the gentlemen, and the
shirts that are often fashioned of
material identical to that in the
dresses of their wives the
rhythmic and melodious voice of
the caller it all embodies a touch
of the Mardi-Gras with the
wholesome atmosphere of a
family picnic.
A favorite story of the Salty
Sashayers is the tale of the couple
who wandered into the hall when
a dance was in progress, believing
themselves to be at the site of a
meeting for which they were
bound. Each was snatched up by
a partner and they were whirled
away and caught in the maze of a
procedure which was totally
unknown to them and for which
they were, to say the least,
completely unprepared. When the
initial shock had subsided, and
they had extricated themselves
from the surrounding chaos and
sat panting on the sidelines, they
exchanged shy grins, forgot about
the meeting, and two new square
dancers emerged from their
cocoons.
There is also the incident of
the man in the wheel chair, lte
attended dances with his wife but.
confined to his chair, could only
~vatch the activities. There came
the ,evening when the dancers were
lacking one gentleman to make up
a set, and he volunteered to
attempt to "walk through" the
routine, lie has been square
dancing ever since; his wheel chair
is forgotten.
Square dance clubs are open
to membership. It is required only
that one like to dance and be
willing to learn. Periodically,
lesson sessions are held and
beginners become acquainted
with the routines and learn to
followthe instructions of the
caller.
The square dance is
performed in sets of four couples
each, who move through
routines which are made up of
basic steps and maneuvers. In the
round dance, couples execute
identical routines while moving
around the floor in a large circle.
The Clubs hold conventions,
and they travel from one city to
another to host each other at
get-togethers. At certain fairs and
celebrations, they have sometimes
built entire dance floors for the
occasion, often permitting the use
of lhcir structure for other events
as well: the floor is disassembled
and removed upon the conclusion
of the gathering, to be rebuilt at
another time and place.
Square dancing is simple
enough to be within the
capabilities of all, and yet it is
sufficiently challenging to warrant
pride in accomplishment. It is
therapeutic, too. Watching the
waistline'? Square dancing burns
up the calories. Of
the potluck suPPer
but even so one
game. Joints goigg
dancing limbers
sorry for y
and forget it!
SKIRTS WHIRL in a fancy
SQUARE DANCERS#
kRDELLE AND PAT FEENEY celebrated their 25th wedding
ml iversary at the last meeting of the Salty Sashayers, held at
'the fair grounds Saturday evening. Pat served as guest caller.
Bennie Berndson, who has called for the Sashayers for seven
years, is taking a year's leave of absence.
Page 24' Sh'elton-Mason (County Journal- Thursday, A'pril 16, 1970
sQUARE DANCING, The Salty Sashayers meet twice a month
for this sort of recreation.
ELLEN AND RUSSELL STUCK, presiden
Salty Sashayers.