Square dancing is certainly beneficial for everyone. We all know that it is a healthy pastime. It is good exercise, taxes the mind, calms the nerves, gives laughter and a great social mixer. When we square dance we do not have time to dwell on any worries. It gives us a good workout: the steps we take in a 2-hour square and round dance is equivalent to a 5-mile walk.
It is also good to be a bit competitive. We are all striving to improve ourselves. We strive not to "break up" a square. We desire to go from Mainstream, then aim for Plus, then go farther to A1, A2. We are competing all the time, even if we do not think so. We are even competing in our dress! It's beautiful with all the wonderful colours, designs and crinolines, with matching men at our sides.
This is a casual competition. As Norm and Mary Cox wrote about Games 2009 "Was it worth it? YES! Was it fun? YES! Would we do it again? YES! There were no losers. We were all winners." We showed "the Games" that we are fit, and that we have fun keeping fit. A big part of keeping fit is laughter, moving to the beat, socializing and supporting each other!
Nick and Mary Anne Turner, Past President of BC Federation, wrote so well about the importance of square dancing to be included in the Games: " It is a vital awareness tool. We should make all Regions better aware of the importance of participation - there are still many among the Federation membership to whom the idea of competition in any form is anathema. They just don't get the importance of the many, many fit and active seniors who might well embrace Square Dancing as another part of their exercise plan." I would like the Zones who do not have Coordinators to find someone who is an enthusiastic dancer. I will keep you informed. Please everyone try and get at least one square from each Zone!! We would like to see a lot of square dancers on the Island. It is a beautiful area. I'm sure we will have volunteers from Courtenay Club (Ocean Waves) and Campbell River (Ripple Rockets) who would be proud and happy to guide you or take you to see our sights.
Through the keen efforts of the BC Square and Round Dance Federation, square dancing has been accepted as a competitive sport in the BC Seniors Games for the second year. All of us who attended square dancing at the Games in Richmond last September 2009 had a lot of fun, good fellowship, lots of dancing and we certainly did have some spectators who came to watch our "sport". You must admit there is good exercise in square dancing - the equivalent of a 5-mile walk compares to a 2-hour session of square/round dancing.
Look up "2009 Results" and "Report Senior Games 2009" to read about the event and see pictures. It was a great event! The competition was taken light-heartedly by all the competitors and spectators. It was relaxed and there was laughter. It is a challenge, but we do "as best as we can" which is what we do at every dance. We really are a competitive bunch - we all want to do better! We realize it's all done for exercise and pleasure, which is what all the sports in the Games are attempting. Get the seniors out and active!!
By involvement in the Games, The B.C. Federation's intent is to raise the profile of our recreation within the 3,500 able-bodied, mature participants in the Games. Our wonderful recreation will also be spotlighted to those who spectate at the Games & our very presence at the Games will gain the attention of the general public who are exposed to the extensive media coverage of The Games.
Under The B.C. Seniors Games design, there are 12 Zones around the province. Out of these 12 Zones, there are now 6 Zones (as of March 11) that have now identified volunteer Zone Coordinators for Square Dancing. Those are the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Northern Vancouver Island, Okanagan Valley, the Cariboo & South Central Interior (Kamloops/Shuswap Region.) The Seniors Games requires that a minimum of 6 Zones participate in the square dance category and we have accomplished that, otherwise our recreation would be dropped from the Games. You need to be a permanent resident of the zone in which you register for the Games. All interested square dancers are hereby invited to form their competitive squares (including a couple of spare dancers for each team) practice up, & enter the square dance competition within their appropriate Zone. Dancers must be aged 55 & up. Casual dress will be accepted. Each dancer will be required to become a member of the B.C. Seniors Games Society for a fee of $15 plus a participant fee of $50. Many Zones are planning fund-raisers to support their teams. Contact your Zone Coordinator for all these important details.
The competition categories are for teams both at the "Plus (Experienced) Level" & at the "Mainstream (Experienced) Levels." It's also planned to have noncompetitive events for experienced square & round dancers as well as an introductory level event for non-dancers. Recreational square dancing will be offered to those in attendance during the time when there are no competitions. The fee for non-competitive participants, spectators and supporters is $35. This fee includes many "perks" & your Zone Coordinator can elaborate on this.
The judging process will involve 3 timed sessions. The timer will start when the caller begins the first command. When a dance team makes an error, the stopwatch will be stopped & then re-started when every dancer in the team is once again correctly dancing the call. Each of the 3 sessions will become increasingly more challenging, with the third session incorporating all dance positions. The team with the longest time danced wins the Gold, the second longest time danced wins the Silver, and third longest the Bronze.
For more information on the web, see www.bcseniorsgames2010.ca or surf on into www.squaredance.bc.ca and look for the "Senior Games" link.
For more information: your Provincial Coordinator is Karin Sorger at 250-898- 8949 or k.g.sorger@shaw.ca