The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS – Recent successful community street dances have prompted a strong “bring back the tradition” sentiment as folks yearn to learn or re-learn dance steps from another time.
In response, popular local disc jockey Willie Smith and Garth Newel have teamed up to offer an affordable series of dance classes to teach the traditional line and square dance moves of an earlier time.
Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 16, and the following five subsequent Wednesdays, join D.J. Willie from 7 to 8 p.m. at Garth Newel’s Herter Hall for square dance lessons.
“I am so excited to be able to offer these classes,” said Willie Smith, local volunteer D.J. and all-around music aficionado. “After each of our recent dances, people have come up and asked if we would offer classes so they could learn these traditional moves, or maybe their kids or grandkids could learn them.
“Heck yeah, we will offer classes, we are so glad to see the tradition continue,” he concluded.
Square dancing has been around for more than a century with early forms of square dancing known as contra dancing. Here in the Alleghany Highlands this uniquely American dance form is known as Appalachian Mountain Square Dancing.
Based on formations of four couples or a large singular circle, a “caller” will call out dance moves such as “bird in the cage” or “chase the rabbit”. These calls direct the dance steps and the dancers move according to the calls.
“For many years, square dancing was a family tradition,” explained Smith. “In fact, the term ‘cutting a rug’ literally meant, cutting the rug in the living room in two and rolling it up to make a dance floor at the house,” he continued. “It is our hope that seasoned dancers will come and help the new students learn these moves. We don’t want to lose this important tradition, we want to bring it back!”
The five-week course is $20, payable the first week. It is not necessary to have a partner to participate and individuals are being encouraged to take part.
“If you have a partner that is fine,” explained Smith, “but really if you want to learn you don’t need to bring anyone to dance with. All the steps are being geared to the individual to learn, not a couple. We do, however, ask that kids be at least 10 to participate.”
Garth Newel is located on Sam Snead Highway between Warm Springs and Hot Springs. Parking is free. For further information please call DJ Willie (540-839-2060 or 540-968-1907.)
You can also logon to: www.facebook.com/WillieSmith for further information.
Willie Smith is well known to local audiences. A favorite volunteer D.J. on local community radio WCHG in Hot Springs, Willie performs locally with his band as well as calls square dancing at the local community dances.
Dancing since the late 80’s Smith credits Tommy Carpenter for teaching him the dance calls.
“He was the best in the area,” noted Smith, “I would listen to him very closely and that’s how I learned, then I would throw in a twist here and there to make the calls my own.”
