Galesville To Host Saturday Square Dance and Potluck Dinner

The last of this season's Galesville Potluck Dinner and Square Dance is happening Saturday at Galesville Memorial Hall. The event is scheduled to run from 5:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.  

Dancing is a great way to burn off some of those extra Thanksgiving calories.

No partner is necessary, according to organizer Allen Calhoun. The dances will start with instructions and slow walk-throughs of the steps for everyone. And by "everyone," Calhoun means dancers from as young as 4 to teens, adults to senior citizens.

When the music starts, the caller reminds everyone what to do.

Before the dance begins, there will be a community potluck supper that starts at 5:45 p.m. Simply bring a covered dish to share. You'll enjoy everything from chicken nuggets and nachos to dips and casseroles.

At 7 p.m. you can help fold up the tables and put the chairs away so that the dancing can begin.

The dancing that starts at 7 p.m. is the time for family dancing, where little (and big) kids can enjoy simple steps with mom or dad or grandma—or each other.

The more challenging dancing begins at around 8:30 p.m.

You don't need lessons or experience for any of the dances.

The dances include square, longways set and circle dances. All dances are called by Janine Smith. She breaks every dance down so that everyone can keep up when the music starts.

Yes, there's music. Live music.

Leah Weiss will be on fiddle and Gary Wright will be on guitar. They're well-known musicians in the Annapolis music scene.

However, at this event, they will be playing traditional Appalachian folk music, which is just the right cadence for square dancing.

Friends, including musical friends they don't yet know, are invited to bring an instrument and play along.

Calhoun started these dances about five years ago. They were on the verge of being cancelled until the Arts Council for Anne Arundel County stepped in last year with a grant.

"The grant paid for the hall, and then the band and the caller split the money from the door," Calhoun said.

Now that the grant has run out, they have to split the door three ways, paying the band, the hall and the caller. The more people that show up, the more likely the band and the caller are to get paid and come back.

Calhoun said that is why they are looking for sponsors in the community.

"We'd like to see some businesses support the event," Calhoun said. "For the band, they could be gigging on a Saturday night, but they're here at this event with us. It's really a community thing."

Calhoun added that as part of a community-run event, volunteers now show up a little early to help set-up. They have about 60 to 80 people at each event, but they're hoping to grow to 80 to 100 each night.

"We try to do three in the fall and three in the spring. We'll announce the dates when we get the hall booked," Calhoun said.

Full disclosure: My family has danced at one of these dances a few years ago and it was indeed great fun. My youngest was 6 then and danced. She got the steps before we did. And even my teen daughter moved away from the wall and smiled when a stranger came up and asked to be her partner. When Allen says it is fun for the whole family, it really is—Mitchelle.

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Galesville Potluck and Square Dance
Saturday
Galesville Memorial Hall, 952 Main St., Galesville
Pay-at-the-door: $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-17 and those under 5 are free.

For information, call Karen, 571-238-1080.