SULTAN – Elsie Bartling wondered how the town could celebrate its centennial birthday this year.
With others, Bartling brainstormed ideas and came up with a plan: How about a square dance club?
It’s old-fashioned and brings the community together, said Bartling, a retiree who moved four years ago to Sultan from Portland, Ore.
It turned out the community welcomed the idea.
Now the club has about 10 experienced dancers – including Bartling, a club member with 20 years as a square-dancer – and 50 beginners. The club meets every Thursday at the Fern Bluff Grange Hall in town and plans to demonstrate dancing at some of the town’s centennial events this year.
The club is the only one in the Sky Valley area, said Bartling, who used to go to a square dance club in Woodinville.
“We didn’t have access to a club here,” she said.
Jack Lobdell, of Gold Bar, said he joined the club about eight weeks ago. Lobdell, 77, who had been doing partner dancing, said he used to think square dancing, a group dance, is too old-fashioned for him.
But it turned out the dancing is very active and enjoyable, Lobdell said.
“The group is very welcoming, and they are very interested in new dancers,” he said.
The club will accept new dancers by Jan. 27 and gear up for a demonstration on Feb. 5, Bartling said.
“All you are required to do is stand up, be able to walk and smile,” she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
Swing your partner
The Sultan square dance club meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Fern Bluff Grange Hall at U.S. 2 and Cascade Drive. The cost is $4 per lesson. For more information, call Elsie Bartling at 360-793-0946.
Swing your partner
The Sultan square dance club meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Fern Bluff Grange Hall at U.S. 2 and Cascade Drive. The cost is $4 per lesson. For more information, call Elsie Bartling at 360-793-0946.
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