The provincial square and round dance convention in Estevan was a huge success, with 110 people from all over the province attending the event over the weekend at the Royal Canadian Legion.
There were three different types of dancing featured over the weekend and they were square, round and clogging. Each room at the egion was in use featuring one of the three types of dancing.
The weekend square dancing events did not only include dancing but there were many kinds of workshops as well. Saturday and Sunday night were filled with dancing opportunities with a live caller to host the event and music.
Estevan's Marian Huber was glad the convention came to Estevan and she enjoyed great success with the event. “It is a really good fit for us and the community,” said Marian Huber.
The provincial square dance convention has being going on since 1957. In recent years the square and round dancing clubs have been merged into one club due to a slight decline in participants.
“In our club you don’t have to have a partner to come, we do teaching on Monday nights and then we have dances on Wednesday nights, sometimes people think you have to have a partner to come; well you don’t,” said Huber.
Nellie Schafer is the oldest club member at 90 years of age and she is in her 40th year of being apart of the Saskatchewan square and round dancing federation. Schafer is originally from Moose Jaw and she has been all over the country and even into the United States as part of her square dancing adventures.
“The fellowship, fun, exercise and brain power,” said Schafer when asked why she likes square dancing.
Clogging is a newer addition to the Saskatchewan square and round dancing federation and clog dancer Sabrina Empey describes it as percussive tap dancing using the jingle tap. Empey is from Swift Current and it is her 3rd year back, since her return clog dancing has been experiencing a lot of success.
“I am involved to just support clogging, we just love it,” said Empey. The Saskatchewan Square and Round Dance Federation may return to Estevan at some point in the future. For now people are encouraged to check out the federations website and see what is available to them in the area if they would like to square dance.
