The Amalgam-Eighters are squaring up, as the Nanaimo club reaches 60 years of dancing, from country to radio hits.
"We square dance to anything, it can be gospel music, it can be country western – as creative as the caller can be…" explained Bonnie Haapala, club president. "The old adage that it's country western twang has gone by the wayside."
Haapala has been with the Amalgam-Eighters the last 18 years, and in that time, she has seen an evolution of square dancing on Vancouver Island. During the past two decades, she witnessed more than half of the clubs on mid and north Island fold, but following the COVID-19 pandemic social distancing, she's observed a "resurgence."
"We look at the benefits of square dancing, and the three main benefits is you're using your mind, because you have to remember the calls, you have physical activity, and the greatest gift we have taken away from it is the social aspect."
Age is also varied, Haapala said, with one of their youngest being a 16-year-old who attends when he isn't working, and the eldest being a 93-year-old who dances four times a week.
"One of the things that this club has always done and has been known for is the theme dances. When we do a theme dance it's usually once a month, the music is appropriate for the theme. When we do the St. Patrick's dance, a lot of the music is Irish. If we do a Sweetheart Dance, the music will be along those lines. One of the themes recently was a Beatles night."
As a result of all the theme nights, the callers, who are the ones who instruct and lead the dances, are forced to get creative.
"One night it was a sports theme so they had to find sports songs – Take Me Out to the Ball Game and those kinds of things, and make it appropriate for round dancing and square dancing."
Dances are held on the first and third Fridays of each month at 7 p.m. in Lantzville's Costin Hall. All dances are open to the public, and dancers are welcome to attend without a partner. Classes are held Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. from Jan. 7 to March 25 at Nanaimo's Wellington Hall. Those interested in the classes are asked to contact the club by e-mail at amalgam-eighters@squaredance.bc.ca. The first two lessons are free.
For Valentine's Day, a special Sweetheart Dance is being held on Feb. 21, at which point the Amalgam-Eighters will be honouring their 'sweetheart couple of the year.' It's a tradition that a couple who has contributed to the club significantly over the past season gets rewarded with a dangle they can wear for future dances.
To celebrate the 60th anniversary, an event is being planned for March 30 at Nanoose Place. Dignitaries have been invited and a guest caller will be leading the dance.
