European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 5, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A dance mystique it All starts with serious stuff dallies t one Ito nol a Square dancer make. By Lisa Belkin new York times ours from now there would to 6,000 people in the myriad convention Center in Oklahoma City okla the women s skirts round As mushroom Caps the dancers Bobbing to the beat As they responded to orbits to swing your partner and  Bui that would be the fun part at Tho 42nd annual Central District Square dance Jamboree. First there was business to be done. So a few Hundred die hards spent the afternoon a Londing seminars practice classes and a Lashin show o the newest in Square dance styles this Square dancing is serious Stul Pilic ulary in places like Oklahoma where even lhe4-h clubs give badges it Ine sport ii is More than just a Bunch of people looking like they Are dressing up for a Little chm s birthday party said Mary Kayc Vasseur. Who has been dancing Lor four years and who is extraordinarily pleased that next year s National Square dance convention expected to draw 35,000 people was awarded of Oklahoma cily. That is rat to say that c othes arc not an important part of the Square Danso life of Aind Vas sour who  45 or twi meat indeed \ Gucci tank adorable on a 6-year old there is a so i of Square dance mystique that canters Square dancing Tafiti Onedara say is not Lull a part Txie Hobby but Gay of Ali on is Littly starchy underskirt called a can can. The most timid Wear from 20 to 50 Yards of fabric to make their skirts flounce. The More confident dancers Wear to 100. Even 120 Yards making their skirts stand almost perpendicular to their sides. Clothes alone however do nol a Square dancer make. It is also a Mailer of a i Ude they Are not called squares of Naif no hey say. Alcohol is riot allowed at club meetings and conventions. A Man is required to Wear Long sleeves so thai his pain of need not rest her hand on his sweaty Arm. Friendliness seems to be a requirement for membership. For reasons no one seems quite sure of. They Call beat hugs yellow rocks and dispense them freely to absolute strangers. Square dancing they say is not a pact time Hobby but a Way of life. Bob and Lou no hem tire earned thai this past january. We looked Tutund. Saw that All our children were grown and gone and said what Are we going to do or oursewes7 " he Marco said. They have taken 18 lessons and have one Mote session logo and they have attended Lour actual dances. Whenever he dances Hen three carries a highlighted copy of Tho illustrated movements of Square dancing in his Poco Cal and looks up Calls he Doos not understand. The couple has joined a Ufuti one of 70 in the Oklahoma City area called Lamats and lace which meets weekly at the Oklahoma City War acres senior citizens censer. Coloro i stalled dancing i did t own a pair of boots now i own five said Hembree who was wearing one o1 those pan in Black elephant skin to was Aho Weong Black pants a fed Western style Shtil embroidered with Black and Whito roses a string Bolo lie closed with 8 Silver and Turquoise tool and a Belt Decora led Wmk swinging Square dancers. If you re going to Tio this yen have to do it All lha Way said mrs he maroc wearing a White Coilton dress with Silver trim in the ruffles that she Tiou Ghl for $39 95 at a Hall Price Sale. Her while can can was the 50-Yard size. But she has ordered a 60-Yard version in shades of purple. Doing ii All tha Way meant More than jus teaming the 54 Basic Steps that Quality a dancer As a beginner. Ii also meant learning to Square trance language in which your Taw is your partner a tip is a single Square dance segment and clogging is a form of Square dance Best described As country Western Lap. Slowly lha hem tees say. They Are absorbing the Tine Points of Square dance culture including the meanings of the badges Dan Coss buy at conventions All aching them to their name lag by a single link Chain so thai they Dangle All the Way Down choir Chest. Each of the Liny tags indicates Trtat the dancer has accomplished a Parlie far Leat. A pizza Means they have danced in a pizza Pabloi a Duck Means they have danced in the rain and a Bod indicates they have danced in a hotel room or in their bedroom on Tho red. A dancer wearing a Pickle badge has Square danced while eating a sour Dill proof of a Leal is nol req Jiroud to buy a badge said Dave yield. An englishman who Learned to Square Danco to London s South end and Mcl his oklahoman Viln at a Danco during a visit to Hei Hometown Thiea years ago. The taps Are purchased on the Honor method he explained and Square dancers Ato nothing not honorable the a embraces were particularly Tahen with the applique on dons Holloway s homemade dress. It was a Liny Square dancer whose skin t could to idled to reveal a Petticoat and Pett pants Page 14 the stars and stripes sunday