Learn America's Folk Dance
Feel like you're not good at dancing? Don't worry -- if you can walk at a quick pace, you can square dance. Our lessons will take care of everything else.
In its most common form, square dancing has more than one hundred different defined "calls", organized into three levels: Basic, Mainstream, and Plus. Some of these calls are very easy ("join hands and circle to your left"), while others are considerably more complex. Arlington Squares, like nearly all other Chicagoland clubs, dances at the "Plus" level. (Check out the sample music on our FAQ page. You will probably be pleasantly surprised at what you hear.)
To teach all of these movements, we will be offering two sets of sixteen-week courses each year. While there's not an exact correspondence, our new dancers will clearly understand all of the Basic and Mainstream calls after the first session and will be dancing at the Plus level after the end of the second.
Don't have a partner? Not to worry -- we usually have 30 to 40 club members at the lessons each week to help fill out the squares. Come and be welcome!
Lessons begin the second Tuesday in September (September 11, 2007) AND again in January at the Congregational United Church of Christ on Kirchoff Road in Arlington Heights. Each of the weekly sessions starts promptly at 7:00pm and lasts until 8:15pm.
At approximately 8:25pm we will be holding a plus workshop until 9:30pm. This schedule will continue until January when another new dancer class will begin and the new dancers from the September session move on to learning the plus calls between 8:25 and 9:30pm.
Come dressed comfortably -- square dance attire is generally not worn during lessons.
Missed the first Tuesday? We'll continue to add members to the class without concern through the end of September. If you've danced before, or if you're a good learner, we might be able to squeeze you in the first part of October -- but after that, it's tough. (Current dancers looking for a "touch-up" are always welcome!)
The cost for lessons is $36/person per session. Where else can you get good exercise, meet wonderful people, and have a great time for a reasonable price?
For more information (or if you'd like to let us know you're coming) talk to Bob and Carol Gutkowski at (773) 637-6981 or send an email to Lessons@Arlingtonsquares.com
Come check us out, and bring a friend! Take the first step......You will be glad you did.
Still not convinced? Check out this short production from the Daily Herald at the lessons over at B&B in Crystal Lake
But what about Round Dancing?
Round dancing is choreographed ballroom-style dancing, again featuring over
a hundred specific movements combined into beautiful figures. Most square
dances feature round dances "between the squares" as a change of pace.
Arlington Squares doesn't directly sponsor round dance lessons. Howard and Anna Hoffman (847-891-2383) offer lessons in the area, and are highly recommended by many of our club members.