Submitted by Wildsight Invermere
What happens when 150 people who don’t know each other come together and end up laughing, holding hands, hooting and hollering? This is the magic formula for the upcoming Square Dance for the Wild on June 28 at Invermere’s Columbia Valley Centre.
Leslie Gotfrit, a musician herself, will be the dance caller. She has been calling dances for 15 years and currently works with a group of eight musicians from Canmore, Calgary, Invermere, and Golden. The Hip To Be Square Collective includes fiddles, guitars, clawhammer banjos, mandolins and a standup bass.
All dances are taught on the spot and all ages are welcome.
Gotfrit is adamant that if you can walk and count to eight, you can dance. “There is no fancy footwork, no memorizing what comes next and the caller, that’s me, prompts the crowd every step of the way. I’m out to change your mind about square dancing because it is way more fun than in Grade 6 and this is not your grandma’s square dancing.”
The words of one enthusiastic, 20-something guy from a past Canmore event confirm Gotfrit’s statement: “Square dancing was as much fun as fresh powder.” So if you’ve experienced Purcell powder, then you know what to expect.
Bringing the community together in an evening of dancing, live music and good times is the perfect way to launch a July1 long weekend – and to help Wildsight Invermere raise funds for its environmental conservation and education initiatives, including the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Conservation & Biodiversity Program.
You might even think that there’s a wildlife theme naturally happening when the dances have names like Loon Dance, Chase That Rabbit Square, Duck for the Oyster, and The Gnat Mixer.
The evening includes a 50/50 draw, door prizes, food from Smokehouse 93 and a cash bar.
As Gotfrit elaborates, “Why am I supporting Wildsight Invermere? It’s a dynamic organization doing incredible work in the valley where I live. I have a skill I can donate to support their work that also builds community, solidifies friendships, and offers a new experience for people of all ages.”
Doors open with food and cash bar at 6 p.m. Dance begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30. Those under 30 get in for $25.
