Square Dancing: It's a Metaphor for Life

My husband and I took up square dancing two weeks ago. Well, actually, we are reverts to square dancing. Twenty-five years ago we danced at the plus one level which means you can dance the basic 75 calls (Mainstream) and about twenty-five additional. But we are back to the basics because, while we can remember the names of many calls (Flutter Wheel, Chain Down the Line, Relay the Deucie, Load the Boat, Tea Cup Chain, Do Paso, etc.), we can't remember the several moves that make them up. So we enrolled in square dancing 101 and are lovin' it!

Last night after class I got to thinking that square dancing is a good metaphor for life. The square is a microcosm of society. Your family (the couple) is thrown into a diverse community (the square) made up of people from different backgrounds, different religions, etc. (like neighborhoods, the workplace, etc.). You all have to work together to accomplish a goal (the dance). If somebody goofs up, it affects the entire square (just like sin affects the entire culture). Sometimes the others in the square can pull the person back into line (admonishing the "sinner"), but sometimes the square breaks down completely (societal meltdown).

There are strict rules in square dancing that must be followed at the caller's direction (the creed of square dancing so to speak). You may prefer swing dancing (you do get to "swing your partner"), but you are not free to "do your own thing" in the square because you'll break it down. And you won't be welcome if you refuse to follow the rules. (Remember when society's institutions kept people in line?)

If you obey the caller's directions (the "commandments" of square dancing), you can complete the dance successfully (like the "dance" of life) and have a lot of fun. If you don't follow the caller...well, you'll never enjoy the dance.

Last night was interesting. Some combinations worked well together. Others broke down continuously. We were in one square that completed all the moves with only a few hand grabs to get an out-of-line dancer back on target. Others were one goof up and break down after another. All the couples in those squares could do was "go home" (the couple's position at the beginning of the dance) and start over. (Does this remind you of a sacrament?). Sometimes the caller would give the couples having problems extra guidance during the breaks (words from the wise).

Part of the problem was the individuals who skipped classes. If you miss learning the moves, how can you complete them in the square? The importance of learning and studying the square dancing "creed" got a graphic demonstration.

One other thing that struck me was the importance of virtue, patience especially. Larry and I missed the first three classes, but we had no trouble joining on the fourth night because we already knew the most basic moves. Much of what we learned 25 years ago is coming back. One or two repetitions is enough for us to do the calls pretty fluently. The new couples don't have that advantage. Everything is different and they have to remember moves, sometimes complicated, that they've only just learned. I'm in a hurry to move on and get to the point we can join a club, but the class matches the pace of the slowest learners. That's when it's important to remember that you can be an "angel" (the term used for accomplished dancers who come to help). We aren't officially angels, but can help keep the square from breaking down.

When we danced 25 years ago, square dancing was a youthful activity. There were plenty of older couples, but I would have guessed the average age was somewhere around 30. From my observations these days, it's definitely an older crowd. I doubt if there's anyone in our class younger than 45 (I'm being generous) and many are older than we are. Why, I wonder? Are the young folks doing most of their socializing on Facebook and playing World of Warcraft? Are they too busy to take the time to learn? Is babysitting too expensive? Whatever the reasons, it's too bad because square dancing is a fun, healthy, social activity.

I'll mention one other aspect of my metaphor. A serendipitous conversation led us back to square dancing. I was at the church pancake breakfast and sat down with a couple I didn't know. In passing conversation they mentioned that they square dance and the memory of it brought a smile to my face and a lift to my heart. They gave me information on classes and a week later, we were back on the dance floor. Doesn't that demonstrate the power of witnessing. The husband has called us several times to check up on our progress and encourage us. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more people did that to encourage one another in the faith!

Square dancing seems to me to be a very Catholic activity, part of the true, the good, and the beautiful. It was a family activity for us 25 years ago since, in addition to dancing in a club, we belonged to a square dancing camping group that included all kinds of activities for the children. Our two oldest took lessons and danced for a few years before our life with five children got too busy and complicated and we dropped out. But when I mentioned to our oldest that we were dancing again, she said, "Maybe when we move back to Virginia (They're in the process of trying to sell their house in Texas) we can take lessons and dance too." Nothing would please me more than to share a square with Alice and Chris. And you too if you've a mind to join the square!