Hip Hop Dance Outfit

Square dancers celebrate one last whirl at historic hall

It's the final Labor Day weekend dance at the Longview Square Dance Hall, the home of the Longview Area Square Dance Association since October 1978. 

Friday night about 75 brightly dressed dancers twirled and swirled on the floating oak floor. On Saturday more than 100 dancers are expected from around Washington and Oregon.

The 32nd annual Fall Roundup is the last major LASDA event in the hall, which the city declared surplus property in expectation of selling it. After making arrangements to move to other halls, the square dance clubs recently learned that the plans to sell the property fell through. The clubs have no choice but to move out as planned, LASDA president Marge Martin said. The free farewell dance is Oct. 15.

"Some of us have a lot of emotional attachment to (the building) because we were there from the beginning," Martin said.

On Friday, round dances of varying levels of difficulty alternated with square dances. In a round dance, pairs move around the floor in a circle while a cuer tells them their steps. Round dances include two-step, waltz, tango, cha-cha, rumba, foxtrot, salsa, mambo, paso doble and jive, said Georgina Woolcock of Olympia.

"I always say, ‘Our ballroom dancing's the same as ‘Dancing With the Stars' only we have more clothes on,' " she said.

In square dancing, four pairs form a square and a caller announces the moves.

Although square dancing is often thought of as western dancing, "we're not stuck with old country fiddle tunes," Woolcock said. "We use hiphop, classical - any good piece of dance music."

As she spoke, dancers stepped lively to "Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love."

Square and round dances use the same steps all over the world and are always called or cued in English, said Dave Martin, Marge's husband.

The Martins have been dancing since 1961. Local square and round dance clubs used to dance in the hayloft in Swanson's barn off Pacific Way, Marge Martin said. When neighbors complained of the noise, the dancers looked for another place to meet.

Unik Fit: Hip Hop Dance Style | Unik Apparel

With the popularity of so many dance shows such as America’s Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars why not see what all the fuss is about yourself?! The top reasons why you should include dance into your workout routine.

1. Flexibility: You will find yourself using muslces that you may not use on a regular basis which in return will create more flexibility. As an end result you will be performing at an optimal level in other areas of your fitness regimes.

2. Strength: The reason why dancers have such an amazing body is because the amount of strength it takes to be a dancer. You are building a tremendous amount of strength in your abs, legs and back. You will also see a change in your posture, can’t get much better than that!

3. Endurance: With each class your endurance level will improve. Hip Hop infused dance incorporates many different styles including jazz and ballet. All the jumping, leaping and sexy moves will make you feel like a cast member in Step Up.

4. Increased Confidence: Letting go of all your inhibitions is one of the most amazing advantages of dance. This will also trickle into other parts of your life.

5. Did I mention it’s Fun!!!!!