Swing your partner
Square dance veteran Walt Sims, 78, of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, enjoys a dance with several others at the Montana State Square and Round Dancers Convention in the West Valley School gymnasium on May 24. Sims has been attending the state convention for the last 24 years. Sandi Seppala, of Sandpoint, Idaho, dances next to Sims.
Square-dance fanatics in town for state convention
The Daily Inter Lake
About 330 dancers from six states as well as Canada spent Memorial Day weekend square and round dancing at West Valley School.
Gary Weller, caller for the Flatheaders Square Dance Club, said people traveled here from across Montana as well as California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming and Canada for the Montana State Square and Round Dancers Convention.
It marked the first time Kalispell has sponsored the state convention since 1994. The highlight of the weekend was the Saturday-night grand march followed by dancing.
"We had 30 squares on the floor Saturday night," Weller said. "Everybody had a ball."
Dances alternated between square and round dancing. As the name implies, round dancers perform in a huge circle as a caller cues the steps such as the foxtrot, waltz, cha-cha and rumba.
"We had quite a few people come out and watch us this year," Weller said. "We were really tickled about that."
A record number of participants continued dancing through Monday morning at the Trails Out Dance. Weller said he was calling for nine to 10 squares until the last minute of the convention.
"That's a fantastic number," Weller said.
He added that the Kalispell convention attracted more participants than any held in the last two to three years. Next year's convention takes place in Hamilton.
But the fun continues in Kalispell this summer with the Flatheaders planning a Father's Day weekend camping trip and cookout with dancing at a campground on the Middle Thompson River.
Weller invites anyone interested in learning more about square dancing to contact him at 752-4964.