Area siblings to attend 46th Buckeye Dance Convention in Dayton:When I first saw the headline, I thought it was an article about some old folks who happen to be brother and sister and share a love of square dancing. But no, this brother and sister pair are still teenagers; the brother graduated from high school in 2004. And even better: he's learning to call.
Event will feature western squares, round, contra, clogging and folk dancing
You've seen them on stage or they've been behind the scenes in Richmond Civic Theatre productions.
But the brother-sister duo of Nathaniel and Mary-Beth Arnett is demonstrating another of its talents -- square dancing.
Area residents interested in the art form can attend the 46th Buckeye Dance Convention on May 5-6 at the Dayton Convention Center.
In 2002, their grandmother encouraged Nathaniel and Mary-Beth, plus their parents and brother, to take square dance lessons through Hoosier Corners Square Dancing Club in Richmond.
Their interest grew, and Nathaniel incorporated square dancing into his 2004 high school graduation party. That day, he shared his interest in becoming a caller with the guest caller from Columbus, Ohio.
Nathaniel has since served as an apprentice, traveling to Fairborn, Ohio, each Monday night to teach dance lessons.
Meanwhile, Mary-Beth became acquainted with the National Line Dance Instructors and she began a country western line dance apprenticeship in 2004.
More than 1,000 dancers, callers, cuers and other dance leaders plan to attend the Dayton convention, which will include western squares, round, country-western/line, contra, clogging and folk.