Editor’s Page

Welcome to the Summer issue of the Promenader—a quarterly publication of the Western NY Federation of Round and Square Dancers Inc. (squaredancingrochester.org)

In this issue

The Photos and Features section highlights recent activities of area clubs and the WNY Federation. Most of our clubs are back to dancing, except those who still lack a caller and/or a venue. You’ll find their dances listed in the Schedule pages, which you can display in whichever format you choose, by clicking the options at the top of any Schedule.

The lead-off article introduces a new idea for promoting square dancing through displays in public spaces. The article describes the first of these, which was in the Webster Historical Society case at Webster’s Pubic Library throughout March and April. The display centered around the Copy Cats, a club tied to Webster through the its roots in Xerox. The display included square dance clothing and other items, plus an array of information on all area clubs.

Other articles in this issue include the 2022 Dance-O-Rama festival, covering the parade of graduates and the Daphne-Norma Leadership award presentation; the Cloverleafs class graduation of thirteen dancers; the Grand Squares’ milestone 60th Anniversary Dance and the story of their club since its first dance in 1961.

There are also articles on WNY Federation initiatives, such as the program of summer dances, a task force to address the special need for promotion of square dancing to recruit new prospective dancers for fall classes, and a dance demonstration to be held at the annual Strawberry Festival held by the Greece Historical Society & Museum on June 20.

We’ve also posted an article received from the Finger Lakes Area Council (FLAC) on the overall status of clubs in their area.

Club News

The COVID virus is still with us. A few clubs have not resumed, and those that are dancing are taking precautions. Before you attend a dance, be sure to check their flyer, or check with their club contact listed under “Clubs” on this website, or check their posting in the “Club News” section. Most are requiring full vaccination and some are requiring that masks be worn at least part of the time.

Virtual Dancing

Virtual dancing is still active with national and international callers, but our local sessions have given way to in-person dancing. A few clubs still gather regularly on Zoom, to keep in touch with those who are not dancing. The ones I know about are the Silver Squares (Mondays at 6:30pm—contact Anne Granger) and the Village Squares (Wednesdays at 7pm—contact Peter Emmel).

Federation Website

Webmaster Sidney Marshall will post flyers and changes to the schedule listings as soon as he can after he receives them. For fastest service, he recommends sending flyers and schedule change notices to him directly (sidneym@frontiernet.net), as well as to the Promenader (promenader@rochester.rr.com).

In addition, for maximum distribution of urgent messages, clubs should send Sidney the text for any “Breaking News” to go on the home page. Clubs should also consider posting their news on the “SquareDancingRochester” group Facebook page.

In Memoriam

In this issue we say farewell to Eunice (“Eunie”) Naulin, beloved wife of Silver Squares co-president Don Naulin.

Editorial Comments

It has been very impressive how well the “square dance community” responded to the COVID pandemic. Considering that square dancing is by definition a contact activity, it is remarkable that our area clubs have navigated through more than two years without any dance becoming a spreader event.

Before most of us were vaccinated, area leaders got together online and adapted to lockdowns—dancing via Zoom and dancing outdoors. Later, when vaccines became widely available they worked out protocols that have kept dancers safe. Positive cases reported by dancers have been very few, and those have remained isolated. They have not spread through dancing. That may change as more people become more relaxed, but with therapeutic medications becoming widely available, the personal risks are dropping toward those of the familiar flu and common cold.

In the post-COVID world, all of us in square dancing will need to redouble our recruitment efforts. That’s what the WNYF’s new “Promotions Task Force” is all about. A small number of leaders from area clubs are focusing efforts to raise public awareness of square dancing—America’s Folk Dance. If you have ideas and/or would like to help out with this crucial effort, please contact Jeff & Debbie Blood. Your help is needed. For a glimpse at what this group is up to, I encourage you to read the article in the “Photos and Features” section.

Even those who aren’t able to volunteer for an organized effort should still be in “recruiting mode” for square dancing. Make sure all your friends know that you square dance. Tell them how much you enjoy it, and about all the friends you have made through square dancing. Make sure they get the message about how good it is for body and soul.

Quarterly Chuckle

I was visiting my son the other night, when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper.

“Dad, this is the 21st century,” he said. “I don’t waste my money on newspapers. But if you like, you can borrow my iPad.”

I can tell you this: That spider never knew what hit him!

Peter Emmel, Editor