A dozen people gathered at Revelry Arts on Sunday, April 27, to celebrate the inaugural season of the Cariboo Squares.
Founded late last year by husband and wife team Patrick and Lee Aubert, the Cariboo Squares are a new square dancing group based out of the South Cariboo. The Auberts have spent the last several months teaching a dozen-odd people how to square dance, and on Sunday, those dancers graduated at the Social Square Dancing (SSD) level. Patrick, the Cariboo Square's caller, told his students he was proud of all of them before giving them their individual certificates.
"I'm so proud of all you guys, it's been a lot of fun. It's been a lot different for me than I expected it to be," Patrick said. "I did not expect to be able to come back here after going to caller school once and get a whole class together and bring you all to the point where we can graduate you at SSD. We were hoping to get a group of people who would not normally find each other and I think we succeeded in spades."
Both Patrick and Lee have been square dancing for years and last year the two decided to bring square dancing back to the South Cariboo, which has been missing since clubs in both 100 Mile House and Lac La Hache folded. The two believed there would be an appetite for social dancing, a hunch that paid off.
Lee said that several people attended the Cariboo Square's initial free class in September, with about 20 of them staying on as students throughout the year. Over the last few months, Lee explained that the students have all learned the first level of square dancing, meaning they can go and dance anywhere else in the world.
"Square dancing is always called in English, they could dance internationally. We've just had an incredible group of folks who come from really diverse backgrounds. New friendships have been made and this community has been made," Lee said. "It's been an amazing season, this has been a great group of people and we feel so lucky that we've been able to help make this happen."
One of their students this year was Jackie Plant, who said she met the Auberts at a different dancing class where they talked up square dancing. When they founded the Cariboo Squares, Plant said she just had to support it. Plant admitted with a chuckle that she had no prior experience square dancing.
"It's fun and challenging. I find that it's really fun on a social level because you're connecting with people you don't normally connect with. In the dancing, there are little moments of social connection which are really nice, it's a great way to get to know people," Plant remarked. "It's a bit of a brain workout because you have to know the calls and what you're doing."
Plant remarked that while it was a bit challenging to listen to the caller and move her body at the same time, it was a lot of fun. In fact, she said her "smile muscles" hurt the most after a lesson because she was smiling so much. She remarked that when she comes back next year, she might switch roles and learn how to dance as a boy rather than a girl.
In addition to students like Plant, the Auberts also recognized several 'Angels', or experienced square dancers who came to help teach the newcomers. Patrick remarked they're called Angels because "they come down from a higher level". One of these experienced dancers is Bill Rose, who used to dance with the Lac La Hache Square Dancing Club. Rose said he used to dance with his wife Marilyn, who passed away in November last year.
"I find the clubs are really good. There are lots of single people who dance and you can dance with every different person, it's good. It helps when you have a little experience with it. I still make mistakes, like everybody else," Rose remarked.
For Rose, the camaraderie within the group is his favourite part about the club, noting everyone is friendly and wants to learn how to dance. He said he does his best to help teach the newcomers and assist them when they're making mistakes.
"I've got a habit of holding onto their hand when I know they're going the wrong way," Rose chuckled. "I try not to do it too much, but it helps them and then they realize the next time they do it and get it right."
Patrick said a large part of square dancing, which he particularly enjoys, is the socializing that takes place during and after the dancing itself. He echoed Lee's assertion that a community and new friendships have formed within the Cariboo Squares.
"When you come to square dancing, the muscle that is going to hurt the most is your cheeks because you're going to laugh a lot," Lee remarked.
Both Lee and Patrick are already looking forward to the Cariboo Square's second season, with Lee noting they'll be holding another free lesson on Sept. 7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lone Butte Community Hall. All are welcome to attend, with Patrick adding no partner is required.
"All you need to know to be able to square dance is to be able to walk," Lee remarked. "The next season of lessons starts Sept. 14 and we will be at St. Timothy's Anglican Church on Horse Lake Road (every Sunday). Absolutely anybody is welcome."
The Auberts also hope to attend square dancing conventions being hosted in Montreal and Pentiction next year with some of their students. Anyone looking to sign up to join the Cariboo Squares next year can do so by going to cariboosquares.ca or by emailing info@cariboosquares.ca.
