Scares 'N Squares 2010... The Year We Make Contact!!!
October 29, 2010 - October 31, 2010
Portland, Oregon

Many moons ago, around Halloween, the Rosetown Ramblers Square Dance Club of Portland, Oregon began holding an annual flyin event called "Scares 'N Squares". This year's Scares 'N Squares will give you an out of this world experience!

The Rosetown Ramblers invite you to join us for a weekend of dancing, fun and friendship. Our callers include world famous Saundra Bryant and our beloved Darren Gallina!

Dance Levels:

Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, and Challenge

Callers:

Saundra Bryant: Saundra Bryant was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She first started square dancing when she was eight years old as a Girl Scout with her best friend Alicia. The leader of the troop happened to be Alicia's mother, world famous square dance caller Swersie Norris. Swersie taught square dancing to youth groups and coached boy's basketball and baseball. In fact, that's how Swersie found dance partners for the girls; she would make the boys dance with them before they could play ball!

After going to college, Sandie returned to square dancing in 1978. By this time, Callerlab had established dance levels and calling lists. She went back to a Beginners class Swersie was teaching, but didn't believe she'd remember any of her past training. To everyone's surprise, she wound up directing traffic in the square. So Swersie gave her the entire Mainstream and Plus list to study.

By October, Swersie thought Sandie had lost her mind. Sandie had gone from non-dancer to C4 in one year! By the summer of 1980, Sandie called her first National Convention in Memphis and proceeded to establish herself as one of the premiere callers in the country.

Around 1988, a Times Squares dancer told her about a new year-old club called the Chi-Town Squares, who were looking for a caller. Club cofounder, Ron Goodman, later called her, informing her that Chi-Town Squares was a gay club. Her response was basically, "And I'm a black caller!" So they had a little laugh and it was never an issue from the start. As it turned out, Sandie wasn't available to teach that year on Tuesdays, but she recommended a man by the name of Lindle Jarvis. And the rest is history!

Sandie is internationally known, having called in Japan, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Canada and Mexico.

Sandie still lives on the South Side of Chicago with her husband, Albert and her daughter, Alexandra. We are truly privileged to have Sandie here in Chicago.

Darren Gallina: I began square dancing at the age of thirteen with my younger sister. The local square dance class in Lompoc, California, did not allow children at the time so my sister and I took lessons at the Squaws & Pas Square Dance Club 30 miles away in Santa Maria.

I was immediately drawn to the music and the calling of square dancing. Darryl Hamilton, the caller who taught me to dance, also gave me my first square dance record, "Something About You Baby I Like", and taught me to call.

I called my first full dance for the Valley Whirlers Square Dance Club in Santa Maria at age 15. My parents, who also square dance, had to take me to that first dance because I didn't have a driver's license yet. It wasn't long after that dance that I became the Club Caller for the Valley Whirlers.

For the past 30 years, my calling has taken me to clubs and festivals all over the state of California, and various cities in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and British Columbia, Canada. Also, I have recorded numerous square dance records on several square dance labels, including Coyote Records, Scope/Big Mac Records, and Dance Ranch Records.

Currently, I keep busy calling for many clubs throughout Southern California and call and teach for Cuesta Squares in San Luis Obispo, California.

Fee Schedule:

Please visit the Register section for complete rate schedule

MEALS Included:

• Trail-in Hors d'oeuvres and Snacks (Friday evening);
• Harvest Feast with Turkey buffet (Saturday dinner);
• Featuring Ramblers grown turkeys and Ramblers grown produce
• Rambler's Fabulous Civilized Brunch (Sunday).

Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian choices will also be available.

SPOOKY highlights:

• Halloween Costume Dance on Halloween (Saturday) with prizes, including best Alien-themed costume!
• Silent Auction.
• Scares 'N Squares Hospitality Packet.
• MORE: Watch for further details to come!

To Register for event:

Print out registration form (PDF) from our website or obtain a form by mail or through your local club. Send completed registration to:

Halloween 2010 c/o Rosetown Ramblers
PO Box 5352,
Portland, OR 97228-5352

Or you can register online through the IAGSDC Scares 'N Squares 2010 Website

We look forward to seeing you in October 2010!