Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Squre dancers have ball

Do-si-do and swing your partner.

This is the first line on the DeGray State Park website for its weekly square dances.

Every summer from June to the first week of August DeGray State Park, in Bismark, devotes Thursday nights to a hay-ride at 7:30 that leads to the "Hoe-Down" at Pavilion 1 at 8 o'clock.

For the past 22 years Tommie Hays, of Arkadelphia, has been calling the square dances.

Hays learned to square dance in 1977. He and his wife, Dorothy, joined a square dance club in Gurdon, the Hoe-Downers Into Western Dance. At the club they learned the traditional and the western styles of square dancing.

Hayes starts his weekly dance with a small monologue which gives a brief history of the dance.

"Many years ago in England, Scotland, Ireland, and throughout the hills and valley of Europe, folk games and folk dances flourished."

Hayes continues to tell the story of when people began to settle into the United States they brought their folk traditions with them.

Hays said, "They carried with them the arts, dancing is a performing art, with the same ethnic impulses that create drama, art objects of stone and wood, metal and clay, created the songs, music, games, and dances."

Hays said as children would play these games it taught them the value of sharing, to be helpful to one another, take turns, and go by another's rules.

Hays tells his audience prior to WWII most of the dancing done in public was of our ancestors from across the sea but in, "The WWII years that followed, square dancing all but died away."

Hays said square dancing, however, was kept alive in the western states, such as Arizona, California, and Colorado.

He said, as a caller, he likes to recognize the Dude Ranches in Colorado because they kept the tradition alive. Hays said the ranches of Colorado would hire a professional caller, who would call all of their gatherings and socials.

According to Hays, these callers called the old time square dance, but as time continued new moves were added to create the now popular western square dance.

"In the late 40's and 50's square dancing moved back across the USA, this time as Western square dance," he said.

Hays then explains to the audience the importance he feels as a caller. " I love the old-time square dancing, especially with young people present."

Hays said there are only two other locations in the United States, he knows of, that calls the old time square dance besides himself.

Hays said he feels it is important to call the old time square dance when young children are around so he can pass on the arts of the ancestors who founded our country.

Hays also explained square dancing is not only fun, but aerobic.

"I would like to plug square dancing, it is one of the best exercises available, it is one of the most enjoyable and beneficial exercise and not only that, but the fun and the fellowship is all set to the music in square dancing."

DeGray Lake State Park Superintendent, Chris Snodgrass, knows how important the square dancing at DeGray Lake is, "It surprises me even in the heat of summer, so many go out to this very family friendly event."

Snodgrass said not only is Hays an excellent caller but he also brings professional dancers out to help him with the show.

"There are very experienced dancers who are able to dance at the level-of beginners-and bring them along step by step," he said.

Snodgrass said there is tons of encouragement for newcomers and no one is laughed at or outcast for lack of experience.

Snodgrass also acknowledges the importance of square dancing for the young children who visit the park, "This might be the only exposure that the young people can get of their past."

Square dancing, faded away, but in 1980 to now, it's been going full-swing, at DeGray Lake State Park.

So grab a partner and promenade on down to Pavilion 1 where Snodgrass says everyone will find, "Good, family fun."