Future of Square Dancing?
Does the future of square dancing lie in barn dances in London?
How ’bout a “burlesque barn dance”? Or a monthly barn dance hailed as “the new rave” for London clubbers?
Check out Ride ’em cow girls:
As soon as we’d got the hang of the basic steps, the music picked up and so did the dancing. The fact that I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing didn’t seem to matter and I soon found myself being whirled from cowboy to cowboy in a complicated tangle of “do-si-dos” and “promenades”. It was all wildly exciting
, and judging by the sheen of sweat covering my hide, pretty good exercise too. “I’m having so much fun!” I squawked
, catching sight of Caroline as I was swung into the air by one of the more enthusiastic participants.
I’d heard from friends about Cut A Shine’s Valentine’s barn dance back in February , when it was packed to the rafters with cool, fun, up-for-it singletons. They told me that spinning around energetically with strangers was a brilliant way to meet new people — and had the dates to prove it.
Veterans who knew the moves were quick to help the inept (Dolly had the patience of a saint with me). “Yee-haw!” could be heard all across the room. The sense of exuberant camaraderie was mighty refreshing: jumping into a dance few of you know is a fab ice-breaker.
To my joy
, a strapping young man in cowboy boots and open shirt, complete with manly chest hair, grabbed me by the hand.
“Come on!” he winked, “I need a partner for this one.” It was like a Western romcom. We introduced
ourselves to another group and began a frantic team effort to “strip the willow”. The final chord signalled a round of high-fives among this group of former strangers, and my new friend Andy and I went to the bar.
So, square dancing (barn dancing) provides a structured way for young people to meet each other and interact. What a surprise!