It’s a rhythmic request: “Got three couples over there; we need another couple to complete that square….” I’m not normally one that enjoys people telling me my every move, much less, confining me to a box, and forming a square. It seems so elementary; like being controlled by a parent – and the adult in me says that I’m way beyond that now. But life is all about experience, and every now and then there’s value in revisiting a childhood memory through a fresh set of adult eyes.

At the coaxing of a good friend who was having way too much fun on Thursday nights, I proposed the idea to my husband: “Let’s give it a whirl – besides, you and I could use a nice inexpensive night out, and at last, you can’t accuse me of not getting any exercise!”

Growing up in my home town, come Friday night, my family went square dancing at the parish hall of the local church. It was a fun thing to do. There were a lot of families there, and then there were also the die-hards; they really knew and embraced the culture of square dancing – women in their special shoes and poofy skirts, men with their wide belts and string ties.

Let’s just say my husband wasn’t too keen on the idea at first. He lay the ground rules down: no wide belts and string ties for him and no poofy skirt for me. My friend assured me that there would be none of that there. So off we went to Eight Corners School last October – like a step back in time: a visit back to elementary school, a flash back to a childhood memory, and for my husband; the recollection of learning to square dance in his school gym class. What had we gotten ourselves into?

Instantly welcomed, there were plenty of smiles, and lots of laughter. We were invited into a square. A mixture of beginners, and seasoned square dancers alike, the foot tapping music began, and the square was in motion in a very orderly fashion. Thanks to the caller – who knows the moves and the timing of it all so well, the square is like the jockeying of a Rubik’s cube. A series of moves around the square, and miraculously the pieces all fall into place. You end with the partner that you originally started with but you dance with many others along the way.

It’s a fun group, and appropriately named: Mix ‘N Mingle – because that’s what you do. The group was founded in 2000. Scarborough resident and caller, Kip Moulton has been teaching and calling square dancing in the area since 1976. Like everything, it has its ups and downs, but in the last six years, square dancing has grown in popularity.

If you’re feeling up to it, this year’s class season is just beginning. Anyone interested in giving square dancing a whirl may come to Eight Corners School on Thursday nights from 6:30 – 8pm. You need not have a partner to participate – all are welcome. The only requirement is that you know your left hand from your right. If that’s been mastered, you can square dance! For the next two Thursdays, the class is open for anyone to come and discover the joy of square dancing.

It only took one night for my husband and I to get hooked! After the open introductory sessions, the moves advanced. Each week we learned something more, and could get a sneak peak of the possibilities beyond the square. Kip’s wife, Linda gives us a glimpse of round dancing in between square dancing sets each Thursday night. It is bautiful to watch and my thoughts stir: Can we advance beyond the square?

Linda’s round dancing class takes place on Friday nights from 6:30 – 7:30pm at Hillcrest Community Center in Scarborough. For those who wish to step out of the box, round dancing is done in a circle, and you stay with your partner the entire dance. Like the ballroom dance structure, the “cuer” tells dancers what steps to do as the music plays. The rhythms – two step, waltz, foxtrot, rumba, cha, and jive are popular in round dancing. The round dance class begins Friday October 6th – FMI call: 883-2511.

I tossed the idea around with my husband: “Two mini dates a week?” The idea didn’t fly. “We’ll never get to rest between square dance sets”, he replied. So I guess I’m pushing it. But for all those fitness buffs, keep this in mind: A night of square dancing is equivalent to playing two sets of tennis.

Exercising on the dance floor beats the gym in my book any day. And it comes with an added bonus. Aside from making new friends, you spend quality time with your spouse, sharpening both your mind and your body in a relaxing and rhythmic way. Square up and Mix ‘n Mingle; couples, singles, young and old are all welcome! FMI: call Rob Petit, 510-1294.