Here it is: the archetypal square dancing story. The protagonists are an older couple, retired, fanatical about square dancing. Square dancing is “good, clean fun”. “All kinds of people”. “Everyone is friendly.”

From Wausau – Couple shares love of square dancing:

Couple shares love of square dancing

By Joy Marquardt
For the Wausau Daily Herald
MERRILL – Joseph and Phyllis Kretschmer of Merrill have been do-si-doing with the Lincoln Squares Dance Club for more than 13 years, and they’ve been promoting square dancing as family friendly entertainment wherever they go.

While dancing in parks, garages, schools and barns, the Kretschmers, both retired, also have served as co-presidents of the club, as well as co-presidents of the Central Wisconsin Square Dance Association.

“We’re always trying to talk people into joining us,” said Phyllis, 69. “It’s what we call good, clean fun. There’s no swearing, no drinking, no drugs and we don’t really allow smoking because usually we are at a school.”
The Lincoln Squares dancers typically meet monthly at Scott Elementary School near Merrill, but during the summer they dance wherever they can find space.

“We have our regular square dances, but we also try to make things interesting,” Phyllis said. “When we danced at Riverside Park, I had them all dancing in the river.”
Dancers are awarded special badges or pins for dancing in various venues or attaining increasing levels of proficiency. The main stream, or beginning, level has 72 moves to master and progresses up to the dance plus, advanced and challenger levels.

“If they want to take one of our classes, they are welcome,” Phyllis said. “The best way to learn is by doing it. The first night with the simple calls you can be dancing.”
Square dance lessons are offered throughout the year for a cost of $3.50 per session and range from 16 to 22 weeks.

According to Phyllis, children in the Lincoln Squares learn to square dance at about age 9, although dancers in the club have been as old as 92. And she says you don’t need a partner to join in the fun.

“We try to include everyone,” Phyllis said. She knows of one couple who met at a dance session and eventually got married.

The club averages 25 to 30 members but has had more than 50 dancers in a session. They often plan dances together with their sister club, the Country Corners Square Dance Club of Wausau.

“The dancers are like family,” she said. “You make some really good friends. We have a lot of city people right now and a lot of retired people and teachers. Just all kinds of people.”
The Kretschmers also are delegates to the Wisconsin Square Dance Association’s annual convention to be held in August in Appleton. The convention hosts the state’s six regional square dance associations.

“The most important thing is the camaraderie and the friends you make

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,” Joseph, 59, said. “We’ve got friends all over the state now. Everyone is so friendly.”
The Lincoln Squares members often perform at nursing homes and other facilities and will appear Wednesday at the Customer Appreciation Day at Council Grounds State Park and on July 23 at the Lincoln County Fair.

The club also hopes to organize an old-fashioned barn dance sometime this fall that would be open to the public, although Joseph says its becoming more difficult to find a suitable barn.
“A barn is still my favorite place to dance,” he said. “The sound is so good, and it really puts you in a festive mood.”
Although square dancing was invented by the American pioneers who settled the West, it has become increasingly popular in many other countries, including Japan.
“It’s been around since the pioneering days with the old hoe-downs,” Joseph said. “It’s still a family-oriented activity and we try to keep it that way.”
For more information about the Lincoln Squares Dance Club, call the Kretschmers at…