Arlington Square Dance Club celebrates its 75th year
Arlington Squares was founded in 1948, has been continuously dancing for 75 years and is the oldest square dance club in Illinois. Eighty-one enthusiastic dancers belong to the club, from newly graduated dancers to those who have called Arlington Squares their square dance home for over 30 years. On April 21, the club is holding its “Dancing Diamonds” anniversary dance to celebrate this milestone. The dance features internationally renowned square dance caller Jet Roberts from Alabama and round dance cuer Natalie Sprosty from Iowa.
Arlington Squares is an active and welcoming club holding dances on the second, fourth, and fifth Fridays of the month from September through May. Modern square dancers step out to an eclectic mix of music, from country to rock, pop, jazz and hits from Broadway musicals. Most dancers simply wear street attire, while some women twirl in a full, fluffy skirt. Our members are an equal mix of couples and singles, so bringing a partner is not required. the club strives to make its dances special for guests and members with creative dance themes and stellar callers from the Chicago area and surrounding states.
Modern square dancing has many health benefits and goes well beyond those simple do-sa-do and allemande left calls you may have learned in gym class. There are 50 basic calls to master to become a good dancer at the primary level of square dancing. While it doesn’t require a great level of exertion, a dancer can burn between 200-400 calories every 30 minutes and can clock up to 10,000 steps during a dance. So, with call memorization, physical activity and social interaction, dancing reaps a trifecta of benefits.
Introductory dance samplers and in-depth lessons are offered in both Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights. New Dancer Dances are sponsored twice each year to celebrate and support new area dancers. Experienced dancers sharpen their skills at structured workshops. The club hosts various special member events including a festive holiday party and a summer picnic.
Check out the club’s Facebook page to see all the exciting things it does, Visit facebook.com/ArlingtonSquares.
Link to a September 2023 dance video can be found at youtube.com/watch?v=wz7bn6RsLi0&t=65s.
For information, contact Susie at recyclesusie@gmail.com or Denise at denisewtcg@gmail.com.