Area residents find friendship, fun in square dancing.
By: Ken Weingartner
"Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance."
Martha Graham
When Huey Lewis found a Top 10 hit in the mid-1980s with the pop song "Hip to Be Square," he had it only partially correct.
For a group of Central Jersey residents, it’s hip to be square dancing.
For more than 25 years, the Masquerader’s Square and Round Dance Club has provided a chance for people of all ages to get together and dosido to their heart’s content.
The club gathers at 8 p.m. the first, third and (when applicable) fifth Fridays of each month from September to May at the American-Czechoslovakian Club on Hankins Road in Washington Township. Starting next month, the group on Wednesday nights will offer lessons through Hamilton Township’s Adult and Continuing Education program.
"It’s fun," said Jennifer Floyd, an Allentown resident who is the Masquerader’s president. "You meet people, you learn about people. People come from all over North Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Shore. If you know there’s a dance, you usually go. It’s like a giant family."
Ms. Floyd, 30, is the youngest member of the club. The group’s vice president, Al Gaissert of Kendall Park, is 70. He played competitive volleyball until his knees forced him to the sidelines several years ago. At that point, he put more emphasis on his other passion square dancing.
"It’s a very social thing," said Mr. Gaissert, who has been dancing for 20 years. "It’s a way of expressing your joy of life. It just sort of feeds me. You socialize and chat. It’s made for people who are gregarious or it makes you gregarious."
Ms. Floyd said two couples married as a result of meeting through the square dancing club. The group has about 30 members, with an average age of approximately 55, Mr. Gaissert said.
And for those who think square dancing is just about country music and simply swinging your partner, Ms. Floyd said that’s not true. In fact, the Masquerader’s dance to a wide variety of music, from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley to the Moody Blues to today’s pop hits.
"You can dance to anything with a two-step beat," she said.
In square dancing, four couples line up to form "squares." There might be many squares on the floor at the same time, but each is separate. A "caller" gives instructions for the dancers to follow, requiring some or all of the dancers in the square to perform a predetermined maneuver. After several calls, the dancers are usually shuffled.
Each dance, or tip, lasts about 10 minutes.
There is a variety of proficiency levels to square dancing, but most participants fall into three categories basic, mainstream and plus. The Masquerader’s are a plus-level club. For those who seek greater difficulty, there are "advanced" and "challenge" levels.
"Anybody can learn to do it," said Andrew Petrisin, a 43-year-old East Windsor resident who started dancing in 1989. "Square dancing is standardized in that every move is the same no matter where you are. The difference is the pattern a caller will use. It doesn’t matter what age you are, it just takes a little bit of patience and time. It took me about a year. But the main thing is to just get out there and dance. We welcome visitors anytime."
Mr. Petrisin said he became interested in dancing when someone stuck a flier in his hand as he was leaving church one day.
"I had just moved here from Maryland," he said. "Sitting around the apartment doing nothing gets dull and repetitive. I needed to get out and do something. I have relatives who had done it back in the ’60s. I just figured I’d try it, and I enjoyed it. It’s just fun. It’s a great way of meeting people.
"And it’s a great excuse to wear a western shirt," he added with a laugh.
Mr. Gaissert was introduced to square dancing "through a friend of a friend." He travels around the country and often meets familiar faces on the dance floor, no matter where he is. He just returned from North Carolina, where he met by chance members from his original club in New Jersey.
"They don’t tell you you’re going to become addicted for the rest of your life," he said. "The biggest problem is getting young adults involved because their calendars are so full. But once they get involved, this almost revitalizes their lives."
Ms. Floyd, who started dancing 10 years ago through the 4-H program, said the group hopes to attract new members through the classes it will offer in the fall, plus by giving demonstrations at various events. The club has appeared at Six Flags Great Adventure and on Saturday performed at the Mercer County 4-H Fair.
"We want people to see our members," she said. "We want them to see we’re normal, everyday people. Most are retired, but we have working people, too. This gives you a chance to relax. It’s good for reducing stress.
"It’s a lot to learn, but it’s fun once you learn. Basically, you’re using both sides of your brain . . . and it’s actually very healthy for you, your cardiovascular system and muscles. Anybody can do it. You just have to know your left (foot) from your right, basically. That’s it."
For all the benefits, Mr. Gaissert said the social aspect remains the most appealing aspect of dancing.
"You have to be made of stone to resist a warm handclasp and a smile from people all night long," he said.