>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

THURSDAY NIGHT FEVER: Square dancers practice Thursday nights at Bash Hall in La Grande. (Observer photos/Laura Mackie-HANCOCK).

By Jeff Petersen

Observer Staff Writer

At first it's the men who drag their feet over square dance lessons, said Dale Counsell, a rancher who calls probably 100 dances a year from Redmond and Moses Lake, Wash., to Elgin and Wallowa Lake.

The men remember being fourth-graders with two left feet taking square dance lessons in school. Oh, the trauma.

Within several weeks of beginning lessons with Star Promenaders, though, the men will generally brim with enthusiasm. They'll be twisting the arms of their female partners to go.

The Star Promenaders has been around since the late 1950s and promises good, cheap family entertainment. And not just for old people.

Young people too are discovering that it's hip to be square.

Still, attendance could be better. Although the Star Promenaders have about 55 paid members, it is lucky to get three squares at a dance (eight people per square), Counsell said.

"We need an infusion of new blood," Counsell said, "especially younger people."

Dues are $15 per year, and $5 per couple per dance.

The group runs like a Swiss watch. The Star Promenaders holds workshops each Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bash Hall behind Family Hair and Skin Care, 1009 Adams Ave., and dances at the same venue every other Saturday. The group generally shuts down in summer.

The Star Promenaders also do something called One-Night Stands to recruit new members. A caller and a square — a set of four couples in a four-sided formation — visit local groups for an hour or two to show the basics. Groups interested in signing up can call Counsell at 963-6279.

People often mention several objections to taking up square dancing. A big one is people say they own no fancy petticoats, hoop skirts or other dressy duds. That's all right, Counsell said. Workshops are very casual.

Still other people worry about smoking and drinking. The Star Promenaders, however, offer a smoke- and drink-free environment, "although we're not teetotalers," Counsell said.

Some people say they can't square dance because they have poor hearing. The Star Promenaders can help. The group owns equipment people can use to block out background noise and hear the caller better.

Still other people claim they have no coordination. Square dances can be learned even if a person has two left feet, Counsell said, because he calls where the feet should go. Admittedly, with 72 square dance moves on the mainstream level, square dancing takes some time to learn. In about 18 lessons, people can learn the moves, Counsell said.

Some people worry about needing a partner. That's also not a requirement, said club member Pat Phelps. Just be brave, join in and you'll be made to feel at home, she said.

Phelps was introduced to square dancing in weekend hoedowns as a child growing up in the mining town of Cinnabar, Idaho. The kids got so proficient they once danced live on Boise TV.

Another big obstacle is fear of committing mistakes and making a fool of one's self. Both Counsell and Phelps say making a mistake is not a crime.

"If we do screw up, we laugh and have a blast," Phelps said. "It's not real serious."

Phelps said her passion for square dancing is fueled by the camaraderie of the people and a love for the music.

Among the songs Counsell likes to use include "Desperado," "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Twist and Shout." The music ranges from old-time tunes from Patsy Cline to the latest from Alan Jackson.

Square dancing is great not only for the music but for meeting new people. In fact, over the years Counsell remembers six couples who met and got married in the club by way of square dancing.

For Counsell, square dancing is a family tradition. He first learned to square dance in the mid-1950s as a student at Fruitdale School. His parents, Ed and Lillian, both called square dances back in the 1950s. The younger Counsell took a break from square dancing until 1980, danced for a few years, then sat out until 1992 when he started back as a full-time caller for the Star Promenaders, when Steve Wilson retired.

Most people currently in the club are in their 40s and up, "but we'll take ‘em from 7 years and up," Counsell said.

One great thing about square dancing, Phelps and Counsell agree, is there are groups all over the world. Once you learn the moves you can go anywhere, dance and enjoy the fellowship.

The do-si-do crowd at these gathering is helping preserve traditional values of good fellowship away from the TV, video games and Internet, Counsell said. It's a place of belles and frills, scoots, counters and percolates. This is not your gym class dance but boot scooting with tricky moves, complicated steps and a lot of fun, Counsell and Phelps said.

Counsell, does, however, provide one warning: Square dancing can be not only habit forming but at first painful.

And he doesn't mean pulled leg muscles

"The first couple of lessons they have so much fun they often get charlie horses in their jaws from grinning so much."