Lynda Fraley
On May 1, 35 dancers of the SaddleBrooke Line Dance Club (SBLDC) gathered at the SaddleBrooke TWO ballroom to celebrate the arrival of spring with song and dance, food, and fellowship.
Because May 1 is evocative of flowers, May baskets, and preparations for the Kentucky Derby, and because SBLDC leadership declared a Derby Day hat contest, many dancers arrived sporting lovely, creative, and sometimes comic hats, which they had crafted themselves. There were wide-brimmed straw hats in abundance, topped with bright ribbons and bows, flowers, and lace. One elegant design had blue, white, and lavender blossoms on the crown encircled by tiny horses racing around the brim. Some hatmakers took a whimsical approach to the task of creating a Derby Day hat. Minnie Pearl, American comedian of Grand Ole Opry fame whose signature was a straw hat covered in flowers with the price tag dangling from its brim, was the inspiration for Dorthy Wood’s humorous hat. Even the hatless were dressed in outfits suitable for the Derby: Flowing dresses, sun-drenched colors, lace sheaths, and dotted swiss enlivened the ballroom. The hat contest was won by Deb Kresnicka whose pretty bonnet was covered in white, red, and pink rosebuds.
As usual, the Social Committee and the Music Committee did a fabulous, painstaking job of selecting theme-appropriate music and dance pairings for the program. Instead of dancing to the familiar signature songs, there were tunes worthy of any Kentucky Derby dance, including “Rose Garden,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” “Roses and Violets,” and other popular, nostalgic, springtime hits. In addition, the talented dance leaders deserve thanks for reviewing and leading dancers through the myriad of dances in the program.
When dancers took a break for lunch, they dined on delicious turkey breast sandwiches or Cobb salad, washed down with iced tea or lemonade and followed by a decadent selection of cookies. While they dined and chatted, some dancers were coaxed into talking about their springtime memories. One dancer in particular, Julie Kalar, remembered children making and delivering May baskets and elaborated, “Growing up in Minnesota, springtime meant tulips, daffodils, and fragrant lilacs.” Then, when she moved to Washington State, she was surrounded by “beautiful ‘rhodies’ and azaleas.” Now that she resides in SaddleBrooke, she enjoys the “cacti and ocotillo in bloom,” noting, “Each one is beautiful!” It was a lovely and theme-appropriate closing to the SaddleBrooke Line Dance Club’s flower-bedecked Spring Fling.
Line dancing is good for mind and body! If you are interested, there is a new Novice class beginning July 3. Please see our website sbldc.weebly.com for more information. Come on, kick up your heels and try line dancing!