Bucks & Does Square Dance Club
~ story and photos by Chrissy Alspaugh
Thousands of dancers across the nation know it’ s hip to be square. Or dance that way, at least.
Brown County’ s Bucks & Does Square Dance Club, Inc. will celebrate its 50 th anniversary in 2020, and some of their members have been dancing even longer.
“ They say square dancers live at least 10 years longer than average!” said Bucks & Does treasurer Betty Richards, who is nearing 30 years with the club.
A square dance is comprised of groups of eight dancers arranged in a square, all facing the middle. The various square dance movements are based on steps and figures used in traditional folk dances. Dancers learn basic movements, each with its own distinctive call, but do not know in what order they will be called.
Nashville’ s club was launched by a small group who met in 1969 at Brown County State Park. While pondering what to call themselves, deer wandering through the park provided inspiration, and the Bucks & Does were born.
Today, don’ t be fooled into thinking the members’ primarily retirement-aged status suggests anything about the pace of this sport. Most members dance as late as midnight or 1 a. m. at the club’ s dances on Fridays throughout the summer, and many travel to do it all over again with nearby square dance clubs on Saturdays.
Bucks & Does will host dances from 8 to 10 p. m., or likely much later, on Aug. 3 and October 5 at the YMCA, 105 Willow Street, Each dance costs $ 10 per visiting dancing couple, and spectators are invited to enjoy the club’ s potluck dinner and watch the dance for free. The admission charge to dance includes lessons beginning at 8 p. m.
44 Our Brown County • July / August 2018