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December 2022
DECEMBER 2022
SQUARE DANCE
Heaven
Founded 65 years ago, Park Rapids Friendly Squares holds monthly dances at the Century School. SHANNON GEISEN/ENTERPRISE
PR Friendly Squares celebrates 65th anniversary By Shannon Geisen Park Rapids Enterprise The caller croons to circle to the left, swing your partner, look ‘em in the eye and promenade. Gleeful “whoohoos” erupt from square dancers, the floor aswirl with smiles, Western-style shirts and flouncy, ruffled skirts. The Park Rapids Friendly Squares celebrated its 65th anniversary this fall. Dancers from Bemidji, Nimrod, Wadena, International Falls – and even Canada – amassed at the Century School cafetorium in October for the event. Karen Van De Venter’s parents – Gerald and Ruth Van De Venter – founded the club with Gerald and Carolyn Tschudi. “They started the club in ‘57, and they never quit. My dad was a farmer. He’d come in and they’d go to a night out dance. He’d get
“I have a sister that VIDEO square dances, but she Watch video hasn’t for the last three, highlights at four years. And I have parkrapidsenterprise.com another brother that never square danced,” Karen said. during the summer. They currently have 12 members. Dwindling clubs, “We used to have members 60-70,” Karen said. “All According to United Square Dancers of America the clubs are hurting. (USDA), “Our square dance Square dancing is going dresses of today can trace down. I don’t know if we their history back to the can build it back up, but elegant ballrooms of France we’re trying to.” A few nearby towns have CONTRIBUTED/PARK RAPIDS FRIENDLY SQUARES and the grand manors of square dance clubs: Bemidji England. In those countries, Gerald and Ruth Van De Venter founded the Park Rapids Friendly Squares in 1957 with Don and Carolyn Tschudi. the minuet, polka, waltz First City Squares, Wadena and quadrille were danced. Whirlaways and Lake Park and dance once in a while.” As people immigrated to Country Twirlers. home at 3, 4 o’clock in the are nowadays.” Gerald passed away in America, they brought their There used to be “night Country Twirlers hold morning, get up and go owl stands, where you’d 2014, Ruth in 2017. Car- customs, dress and dance their dances in Staples, milk cows,” she recalled. while the Whirlaways Her parents lived in Park dance all night til 3,4 olyn died in 2005. with them.” But Karen carries on o’clock in the morning,” Rapids their whole lives. The popularity of meet in Motley. Grand Rapids and “They traveled to Grand she continued. “People the family tradition. Her square dancing surged in Brainerd used to have Rapids. They traveled nowadays can’t stand to brother, Gordy, was also the U.S. after WWII. on hand in October to celall over,” Karen recalled stay up that late.” Park Rapids Friendly clubs, but they folded, Karen remembers square ebrate the club’s longevity. Squares meets the sec- according to Karen. of their square dancing heydays. “There were a dancing at a Sebeka cou- They took square dancing ond Friday of the month lot more clubs than there ple’s barn. “We’d go there lessons together in 1968. at Century School, except SQUARES: Page 2
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