Square dance lessons underway in Oklahoma City metro-area

Square dancers are hoping to capitalize on interest kicked up by last year's National Square Dance Convention in Oklahoma City by introducing more people to the official state folk dance.

Beginning square dance lessons sponsored by several of the 17 clubs that make up Oklahoma's Central District Square Dance Association are underway throughout the metro.

Mary Reznicek, publicity director for the association, said officers wanted to get the word out about lessons early this year in hopes of attracting more participants.

Reznicek said lessons are designed to introduce newcomers to the basics of square dancing, spur interest in the activity and boost club membership.

“You meet the nicest people square dancing,” said Reznicek, who has been a dancer since 2006.

“Square dancing is a wholesome, family-oriented hobby that provides a fun way to exercise, meet new friends, fellowship with people from all over the world, and is appropriate for all ages,” Reznicek said. “The whole family can dance.”

Myron Brown, president of the Teacup Chains square dance club in Edmond, said the National Square Dance Convention held at the Cox Convention Center last summer helped create a new level of interest in square dancing.

“People have been asking when we were going to have lessons,” he said.

“That was the ultimate,” said Brown of the convention that drew more than 4,000 people, including him and his wife, Shirley. The Browns have been square dancers since the 1970s.

Brown said the Teacup Chains club will hold an open house at its next dance on Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church, 2600 E Danforth Road in Edmond.

The club is also sponsoring square dance lessons that begin Jan. 23 at the Edmond Multi-Activity Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive.

The Teacup Chains club holds its dances on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

“Our open house dance is for those who have seen it and heard about it and want to try it out,” Brown said.

“They can come and watch. Hopefully we can get them out on the floor and teach them some basic moves, and get them to sign up for lessons. We like to teach new people to square dance,” he said.

Ben White, assistant program coordinator at the Edmond Multi-Activity Center, said square dance classes in past years have filled up quickly and have included as many as 40 students.

Sharon Taylor and her husband, Roy, dance at the Warr Acres Community Center with the Swinging Rebels. She has been dancing about 10 years.

“There are a lot of benefits to square dancing,” Sharon Taylor said. “You can walk the equivalent of five miles in one night of dancing. It's wonderful for de-stressing your brain, but it makes you think. We absolutely love it.”

Reznicek, a member of the Aristocrats Plus square dance club in Del City, urged anyone considering taking lessons to enroll soon, as classes fill up quickly and introductory material is only repeated for a short time.

Square dancing became Oklahoma's official folk dance in 1988 under a bill signed into law by then-Gov. Henry Bellmon.

Reznicek said many people remember square dancing as something their grandparents did or they learned in elementary school.

“Square dancing has evolved a great deal over the years,” Reznicek said.

“Callers now use modern country, rock and pop music when calling dances appealing to younger individuals. Dancers are also not required to wear the traditional dress with a petticoat, although many still do.”