SQUARE DANCIN’--
In the barn

This rural venue adds an authentic flavor to Western Square Dancing. It’s a near ageless activity, being practiced (above) in dance workshops hosted by the Shelby Cloverleafs at the Audrey and Clint Dotson family barn just outside of town.

For two months this summer newly graduated students of the dance continued to polish their skills while veteran dancers filled the squares with a lively boost of experience.

Audrey was born in a cabin behind the barn built by her great-great-grandfather in 1830. Eight generations of her family have lived there. Then, for some 30 years the farm was owned by outsiders. The Dotson’s bought it back in 1988 and rebuilt the cabin from the ground up, last adding a garage, living room, bath and large master bedroom.

“Now I feel like I’ve come home” Audrey said in an aging newspaper article displayed on the barn wall. In that same article Clint said, “We’re bringing back an old tradition....Something this country needs is more of things like this.”

As a newly minted graduate of Western Square Dance lessons I can only say, Amen!

And, if you are thinking about easing into this marvelous activity, you are just in time. The new season of lessons will begin in September for both the Shelby Cloverleafs and the Johnny Appleseed Squares of Mansfield.

Danny Beck of Norwalk, a popular square dance caller around Ohio, is calling this recent dance workshop in Dotson’s Barn. He also gives the lessons for both the Shelby and Mansfield square dance clubs.
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Here’s the address for the Appleseeds web page: http://www.appleseedsquares.com/ When you arrive on their page click on “Lessons” top left for lots of nifty info. Their lessons start September 24th.

For the Shelby Cloverleafs; their lessons begin Tuesday, September 15th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Dowds Elementary School on Seneca Dr., beside Wendy’s on Mansfield Ave. Contact Dick and Judy Reed (Shelby) 419-347-2965 or Dale and Sandy Sturdevant (Mansfield) 419-756-4778