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The Villages
Friday, March 29, 2024

It’s cool to be square, at least on the dance floor

Cindy and Buddy Johnson of Orange Blossom Square Dance Club.
Cindy and Buddy Johnson of Orange Blossom Square Dance Club.

It’s cool to be square – at least on the dance floor.
So says Buddy Johnson and his wife, Cindy. They happen to be the leaders of the Orange Blossom Square Dance Club in The Villages.
The couple has been doing allemandes, promenades, sashays and Do-Si-Dos since they came to The Villages about six years ago. For those not hip, that’s square dance lingo for moving on the dance floor.
“It takes time to learn but it’s a lot of fun,” said Buddy, who with his wife, acts as president of the club, which has been around for nearly three decades.
“There’s a lot going on out there on the floor,” Buddy said. “In square dancing, you’ve got about 125 to 130 moves.”

You can see a clip of the square dancers at the Villages-News.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagesNews

The club has 154 members and practices throughout the week. Dances and instruction are held Tuesday nights from 7 until 9 at the Saddlebrook Recreation Center. The new season there will start on Oct. 6. Cost is $8 per couple per lesson and Villages IDs are required.
The club entertains at senior citizen homes, charity events and at functions throughout the villages.
“It brings people together and we enjoy dancing with our friends,” Cindy Johnson said. “The most important thing is to have fun with our friends.”

Orange Blossom Specials square dancers
The Orange Blossom Specials square dancers

Despite the strange sounding words and tricky dance moves, Cindy believes square dancing is easy to learn. “It’s very easy, all you have to do is kick your feet and be able to count to 4 – you know 1-2-3-4.”
The other important factor is listening to the caller.
He’s the guy who makes everything and everyone work.
“The caller is extremely important and you’ve got to know what you’re doing,” said Duane Rodgers, who calls the shots for a group of dancers known as the Orange Blossom Specials. “It takes a lot of work to be a caller. You have to go to calling college.”
Rodgers must have been an A student, because when he calls the 24 dancers on the floor come together in syncopated fashion. They whirl, twirl and swing around each other on cue.
“It takes a lot of practice and a lot of study, but when it all comes together, it’s great,” Rodgers said. He added the club will be accepting new members through Oct. 20. For more information call him at 352-267-4887.

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