European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse A amps photos by Jim Derheim Square dancers come together for a High five clap. Uwe Kramer Avemarie of Darmstadt a caller for several clubs says Quot you have to bring them Back where they started. That is the caller s Kramer Avemarie 26, was first exposed to Square dancing by his parents 15 years ago. A caller soon invited him to try and he has been a professional caller for the past five years working in several european countries and the United states. At a Square dance with 1,000 people in front of you that s fun. I like that Quot he says. Square dancing is not easy. It takes months of lessons to become a proficient dancer Houlihan says. Quot they learn about 70 movements in a 30-week program Quot he says. Quot after the 30 weeks you graduate As a mainstream further instruction takes the dancer up to greater Levels of ability. The More difficult Job is that of the caller which Quot takes lots of practice Quot Houlihan says. The caller declares what movement is to be done and then while the dancers go through it he sings. When the movement is completed he announces another movement and sings until its completion. For example Houlihan says a grand Square movement has 32 beats of music. Quot if i Call grand Square i be got 32 beats to sing in Quot he songs Are As varied As the caller s taste. The spinning onions recently danced to the Rose. Kramer Avemarie says he has Sung Elton John s sad songs and songs from the movie dirty dancing evidence that Square dancing in t just for squares. Quot that s what we want to show people a that times Are changing Quot he says. Quot we want to have fun. Quot the past five or six years a i Don t know what happened a a lot of Young people have come out. It s the Banner of the spinning onions club is adorned with patches and pins from various dances and festivals. Hand in hand two members of the spinning onions Square dancers follow the caller s precise instructions. April 19, 1990 stripes Magazine 5
