Join us! Come walk to music and learn a few square dance calls.

  Usually Mondays in Mound  7 p.m.--see details below

 The Gillespie Center offers an introduction to the basics of square dancing that is open to everyone from anywhere in the whole world as square dancing is called in English around the world. 

 

Everyone's welcome: solos, couples, and families. Partners provided. Lots of fun for all!  

Low-impact, aerobic exercise.

 

​​​   at The Gillespie Center,   2590 Commerce Blvd., Mound. 

Mondays:​​  Cancelled: ​November 18, 2024

 Hope to see you Mondays: December 9 & 16!

 7-8:15 p.m. No previous experience required.  Ages 8-98 welcome.

Learn a few calls while you laugh a lot and enjoy walking to music.

No charge. Casual attire.

  The Gillespie Center          7-8:15 p.m.

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​​WANT TO BE HEALTHIER? GIVE SQUARE DANCING A WHIRL! 
Get exercise by walking to music; get mental exercise by executing the calls--all the while having fun and more fun! 

We welcome beginners from anywhere who want to learn to square dance, but especially if you live in Mound, Minnetrista, St. Boni, Waconia, Mayer, Wayzata, Maple Plain, Delano, Watertown, Winsted, Spring Park, Navarre, Excelsior, Shorewood, Deephaven, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Orono, Long Lake, Independence, Greenfield, Greenwood, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Medina, Tonka Bay, Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver, Shakopee, Victoria, Mayer, Silver Lake, Norwood, Young America, Hutchinson, Lester Prairie, New Germany, Hollywood, Howard Lake, Waverly, Montrose, Belle Plaine, Plymouth, Golden Valley, or Eden Prairie, we're the group closest to you. Come check us out. Learn modern American square dancing with us. It's easy; best of all: it's fun!

If you are interested in learning to square dance, please contact us. We'll try to work out a plan.




 

Learn to Square Dance

Monday, January 17, 2022, Tom Allen from St. Cloud called a beginners' dance at Grandview Middle School. Almost three squares of beginners and four squares of angels attended!

Welcome, Jamie, to square dancing!

 Saturday, August 14, 2022
 Over seven squares of new and refreshing dancers were introduced to the “basic” calls by Dick Rueter at the BLAST, Sunday, Aug. 14.  

What is FUN about square dancing?

Square dance benefits include such things as physical and mental health. Does your doctor tell you to get more exercise? Try square dancing. Do you not have much to do on the weekends or week nights? Try square dancing. Have you lost touch with old friends or want to make new friends? Try square dancing. Are you young, old, married, single, or divorced and want new excitement? Try square dancing. Square Dancing hits the nail on the head relating to people's social and friendship needs.

Modern square dancing is dancing to a specified set of directions that are called to music. Dances are held in fire-house halls, schools, church or community centers where non-alcoholic refreshments are served. Square dance calls are in English and are standard throughout the world in Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand as well as in all 50 states and Canada.

There are many active clubs throughout the country. Square dancers have found the secret of keeping mentally and physically healthy and alert while having fun. You can dance with different people throughout each evening of dancing and can dance several times a week. Square dancing is "exercise to music" and is an integral part of a weight-maintenance plan and can keep muscles and joints moving, which is a great way to dance away soreness. People can square dance regardless of their health. People with hip and knee replacements, with heart problems, and those missing a limb can still square dance.

Square dancing increases mental alertness because dancers never know the order of the calls and must listen as the callers' commands. Square dancing is eight people working together and having fun to keep the square going. Of utmost importance, square dancing is a fun diversion from the stress of a job or family. Square dancing is for all ages.

Square dancers travel throughout the country and abroad, take square dance cruises, attend weekend camping dances, and entertain residents of assisted living and rest homes. Lastly, square dancing is very inexpensive with the average price of a dance around $5.00 including no-cost refreshments. Square dancing is FUN. Go ahead and get square dancing for the musical FUN and friendships.

by Patrick Demerath          Published in American Square Dance, May, 2016, pgs. 8-9.


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​​​​​​​Altruistic angels and enthusiastic “new" dancers from eight clubs--Westonka Whirlers, Dakota Squares, Ar-Dales, Spares and Pairs, Gospel Plus, County Line Squares, Rockin' Country Dancers, Hotfoot Stompers --participated in the "basic" BLAST Saturday, August 14, 2022.  Fourteen squares danced to the succinct but very entertaining teaching/calling by Dick Rueter. Fifty-eight students and fifty-seven angels enjoyed the fun, the fellowship, the education, and six tables of food! We had fun!

 Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018
 Westonka Whirlers hosted a great day for SDM, a Plus BLAST, for current students,  returnees, and angels who were learning the plus square dance calls.