Maui square dancers put their best foot forward on the dance floor.When Dave and Ruth Fullaway say they are “dancing through life,” they mean it! The Fullaways met at a square dance in 1958 while attending Colorado State University, as members of their College Exhibition Team. After they were married, Ruth said, “We have been dancing together ever since.”
Dave grew up in Hawai‘i and began square dancing during grammar school in the “Kiss Club” (Kailua Institute of Social Squares). Today, he is a caller, instructor and does cueing, or instruction for round and contra dancing. Ruth began square dancing in high school as a member of the Kiwanis Youth Center Square Dance Club and is now president of the High Hopes Square Dancing and Workshop Club on Maui.
The Fullaways both agree, “Our hope and dream is to promote square dancing and to keep it going into the future generations. Square dancing brings people together for fun and fellowship, even while learning how to do it. Most groups meet once a week and it’s a wonderful way to share common interests with other people, while escaping the worry and pressures of today’s busy world.”
The Fullaways are seasonal square dancers and continue to dance at national conventions. The couple recently returned from the National Square Dancing Convention in Wichita, Kan., where 6,000 dancers from all over the world gathered to show off their moves.
Perhaps you think you know square dancing from your school days. Well, think again, because you will hardly recognize modern square dancing. There is new music, from “golden oldies” to current music hits. There are new dance steps, exciting new patterns that keep changing and unique calls to learn. Learning to dance opens a whole new world of opportunities for fun and fellowship.
According to Dave, “Modern square dancing is a mental and physical challenge. It is dancing, it is thinking, it is teamwork… and moving in rhythm to the music keeps you physically fit. Reacting quickly to the square dance caller’s calls keeps you mentally on your toes and your team depends on you to keep those toes moving.” Dave also promised, “If you keep on dancing it will add 10-plus years to your life!”
He went on to say, “Learning the basic steps is easy. Experienced square dance callers teach you the moves and the names of the calls that you dance. You practice those moves until they feel as natural as walking.”
“It’s American folk art, too,” said Ruth. “Modern square dancing has an American heritage. The ancestors of this dance came to America with the earliest settlers. Over the centuries it has changed into what we know today as modern square dancing.” She added, “Square dancing is still on the move, new dance figures are being added, and you never have to worry about being bored with what is sure to become your favorite pastime.”
According to the Fullaways, there is one main reason that square dancing has remained popular for hundreds of years… it is fun! And that may also be the reason it will be here hundreds of years from now.
So, go ahead and do-si-do! Fall square dancing at the High Hopes Square Dancing and Workshop Club begins Monday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Pukalani Community Center. For more information, contact Dave and Ruth Fullaway at 572-0671 or email davefullaway@msn.com.