Did you know that the Round Dancers have a toll free phone number that one can call and get information about round dancing anywhere? I just called it (sorry for the expense, Roundalab), expecting maybe an answering machine or maybe a computerized set-up, but getting a real person, who happily gave me information on round dancing in Albuquerque (two teachers, only one of whom is active, as far as I know), and then got a little suspicious when I started asking more questions. I gather the line is paid for by Roundalab, and staffed by volunteers…maybe they have a system where the number can be forwarded to various volunteers’ home phones.

I’ve occasionally wondered how we would handle some kind of national publicity (fantasy alert: what if Oprah Winfrey decided to take up square dancing and plug it on her show…). Who would she tell her audience to call? What URL could she give? The Western Square Dancing page is fine for people who already square dance, but it’s not designed for people just starting out. And we have no national toll-free number, as far as I know.

BTW, the domain learntosquaredance.com is owned by Windsor Music Archives, which also owns windsorrecords.com and windsormusic.com. Actually, Windsor Music Archives contact person is Jeff Ruff, aka Cody Bryant, who’s the son of Bob Ruff, a square dance caller. Wonder what Cody’s plans are? Is he going to go back to his square dance calling roots?