The bolo ties, the cowboy boots, the poofy skirts – they all seem like images from a bygone era. But for square dance lovers, it’s all part of the fun.

Dee and Ken Scott hope to bring some of that fun to Chaska-area residents next Tuesday as they present “Square Dance ABC” at the Chaska Community Center.

Dances are planned for Nov. 11 and 25 to “introduce beginners to square dancing,” said Ken.

“Square Dance ABC is an easy form of square dancing with no experience necessary,” he said.

“We’ll teach a few moves and put those to music along with the singing calls,” said Dee.  

The Scotts, residents of Mound, have been square dancing for years, though they admit it’s hard to put the draw of the dance into words.

“It’s the music, it’s the fun, it’s the people,” said Dee. “If you want an extended family, square dancing is it.”

Five years ago, Dee began producing a square dancing program on cable television.  It was an instant hit among square dancing aficionados and it still is today. So far, they’ve taped 120 episodes and have had dancers travel from all over the state and even Iowa to be on it.

“Before we did the first show, we had all of the [square dancing] clubs in the metro excited about it,” she said.

Dee can’t help but want to share that excitement with those areas, like Chaska, that have long lost their own square dancing clubs.

Addicting

Like the Scotts, Dick Rueter knows how addicting the dancing can be. He started going to square dances with his parents when he was a child. He continued the family tradition in college, eventually becoming a caller – a choreographer of sorts for the dances.

Today, Rueter hosts Dee’s television program with an arsenal of more than 1,300 records and 90 different singing calls he can incorporate into the songs to make the dances interesting and challenging.

“It helps if you can sing,” said Rueter, when asked what qualities a good caller should possess. “And you need a personality that has fun with people.”

Fun is at the core of square dancing, Dee said. “There’s no competition.”

But while there may be no competition, square dancing is an activity that requires a sharp mind.

“I can’t be worrying about today’s problems or tomorrow’s problems when I’m dancing,” said Dee.

Square dancing requires participants to comprehend and carry out the calls Rueter makes during the songs. It is a great coordination of the mind and body. For that reason, the Alzheimer’s Association recently endorsed square dancing as an activity that promotes good health, Dee noted.

Dee credits square dancing with lowering her blood pressure. She often finds that when she stops at a local grocery store after dances to check her blood pressure, it is an average of 20 points lower than normal.

Beyond the physical and mental benefits, square dancing is also a great “date” idea, Dee said. “A lot of people say it’s great because they can do it together as a couple,” she added.

The music they dance to is surprisingly varied from old standbys from artists like Johnny Cash and Don Williams, to more modern tunes with their tempos adapted for square dancing.

“We do some classic rock,” said Rueter. “We even have a rap song.”

The variety attracts people from different backgrounds and a range of ages to the dance floor. “It really is all walks of life at our dances,” said Dee.

She encourages people of all abilities to check them out at the community center.

“Don’t be intimidated by the word ‘dance’ because if you can walk, you can square dance,” she said. “Even people with two left feet and no rhythm can do it.”

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer

Square Dance ABC

What: Introductory square dance

When: 7-8: 30 p.m., Nov. 11 and 25

Where: Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Dr.

Cost: $4 for all ages

More info: (952) 472-0006 or www.friendshipsettomusic.com