Call it the Square Dance

Ever Wednesday night Square Dance Caller and Instructor Ron Brown gives a lesson in Square Dancing to a group of students at Andrews Memorial Church in North Syracuse. The class is one of many that Mr. Brown leads all over New York.

It starts off with the Mainstream class for about 22 weeks. After the students graduate that course they can become members of the North Syracuse Square Group, or they can just continue on to the Plus class to learn more advanced moves.

The point of the lessons is to teach the students the calls that the Caller is singing during the dance. Each call lets the dancers know what moves they will be performing. the dance requires that all eight people know the calls, because partners change at any given moment. All Square Dances are called in English so no matter where the students go they will be able to understand the caller.

Mr. Brown started Square Dancing because of his wife. He didn't want to initially, but he gave it a chance and he really enjoyed it. Another bonus for Mr. Brown is that he gets to sing, which he loves and he doesn't need a band to do it. This class at the church is his smallest class, and his largest class is in Rochester, NY. The biggest reward for him is know the people he sees out of the dance floor are having a good time and he taught them how to do it.

For him its not just about the dance. Mr. Brown wrote an article titled "Square Dance to Better Health." In the article he explains the health benefits of Square Dancing. He says it's good light aerobic exercise and that Square Dancing for about two hours is equivalent to walking five miles.

Not only is it good light aerobic exercise, but it's also a good way to meet people. Most people the take Square Dancing lessons are couples, and the dance requires a lot of teamwork so most people end up bonding over the course of the lessons. Some go on to further that connection with more people by becoming members of the North Syracuse Square Group when they graduate the main course. This helps them branch out to meet more people and dance with others that are at their level.

Square Dancing began in New England, but not many people know that Henry Ford was responsible for Square Dancing's rise in popularity back in the 1940's. This is the same Henry Ford that started the Ford Motor Company. Ford along with dance instructor Benjamin Lovett worked hard to spread the dance around the U.S.