Try It: Square Dancing

This story is part of The Greenville News' ‘Try It’ series. Reporter Elizabeth LaFleur tries new (to her) things and shares those experiences first-hand. If you have ideas for a ‘Try It’ column, contact Elizabeth LaFleur via email elafleur@greenvillenews.com or on Twitter @eslafleur

I arrived at Taylors’ Landmark Hall fully prepared to embarrass myself on the old wooden dance floor.

I was there to try square dancing with the Legionnaire’s Square Dance Club. The Taylors-based club rents Landmark Hall for square dancing lessons and holds dances every first and third Friday of the month. I, like many my age, learned to square dance in elementary school. Beyond that, I remember square dancing one other time in fourth grade at NC’s Camp Rockmont on a father-daughter trip.

When I arrived, I was met by Anne Becker, a talented square dancer who was wearing a ruffled black top and matching skirt with layers of crinoline stacked underneath. The skirt she was wearing is designed to fly out when she twists and turns on the dance floor, so if you were watching from above, you would see synchronized twirling skirts moving through squares.

The men often coordinate their ties or other shirt embellishments with their female partners.

I was wearing boots, jeans and a sweater and looked sorely out of place.

The Legionnaire’s Square Dance Club practices Modern Western Square Dance, a style that is universally acknowledged as the official square dance. Its rules and calls are agreed upon by an official committee. Modern Western Square Dance is taught internationally, though always in English.

The Legionnaire’s club has been meeting in the modest hall on a back road near Wade Hampton Boulevard for decades. People travel to the hall from as far away as Hendersonville, Asheville and Columbia.

Dancers typically come as a couple. Square dancing is based on a square made of four couples. There are male and female roles and the entire dance is dictated by a caller like LSDC’s Donnie Devore who either speaks calls to the beat of music or, more impressively, sings the calls during a song.

I didn’t bring a partner, so I was danced with several gentlemen whose partners generously shared their time.

My night began with a quick workshop. Tommy Becker, Anne’s husband, offered to be my partner as I learned. Devore walked me and several others through a few dozen commonly used steps, then we danced.

It was easier than I expected. Devore guided every movement and all I had to do was remember what the calls meant. There was the familiar “promenade” and “do-si-doh”, though I learned I’d been pronouncing it wrong (not do-see-doh). There was the big square, made of 32 steps, and several other moves I’d never heard before or didn’t remember. Most calls involve either a partner or a corner (the person on the opposite side of you from your partner).

I admit, my poor corner, a nice man who’d come from Hendersonville, had to put up with most of my mistakes. There was one particular turn that I just couldn’t remember. Yet, every time it was called, he’d gently grab my arm and guide me back to where I needed to be. When we finished, he congratulated me on learning so quickly.

I’ll never know if square dancers are just that graceful or if I actually did a good job, but I’m OK with that.

I didn’t come to square dancing thinking I’d do anything more than embarrass myself, but I left feeling supported, happy and accomplished. I’d learned something mostly new, with total strangers and found it to be something I’d happily do again.

As one friend put it, the best part of square dancing is being unable to remove the smile plastered across your face.

That sums up my experience. The calls went so quickly I didn’t have time to worry about a mistake before I was focused on the next step. Everyone who took my hand across the square or do-si-doh’d with me made me feel like I hadn’t failed, but learned something. They kept a laugh-at-your-mistakes-and-move-on spirit, that made it easy to see why those who do try square dancing keep coming back.

I met dancers who’ve practiced for longer than I’ve been alive and some who started last year. All spoke of the dance with the same passion, describing its health benefits and the kindness of the square dancing community.

The dance is practiced worldwide, but Becker and Devore agree there’s one universal problem with it: it’s just not appealing to young people anymore.

High school students when I was in school a decade ago, and still today, get together for swing dance nights at the very same dance hall, but none of them show up to square dance.

Devore said it’s because young people want instant gratification. They’re not interested in the weeks of training it takes to learn the 100-plus square dance calls, he said.

People of all ages are welcome to join Legionnaire’s for its Friday night dances, though some training is required. They offer courses that cost $5 per week.

Those classes usually start in September, but Becker says if they drum up enough interest they’ll start a new round in January. Learn more on the club's Facebook page: Greenville SC Legionnaire's Square Dancing.