SaddleBrooke Line Dance Club dancers gather after lunch.
Lynda Fraley
On July 30 approximately 25 hungry dancers met at the Party Room at Fork & Fire Smoke House & Taproom in Oro Valley to celebrate summer, good food, and one another. The event had been carefully planned by the members of the SaddleBrooke Line Dance Club Social Committee, Julie Kalar, Jeanne Fernandez, and Mary Ann Arrey, who seldom let a month go by without a festive gathering such as this.
Once assembled, members congregated in groupings of various sizes at the array of tables. Savory dishes, conversation, and laughter filled the space. Dancers toasted one another with cool iced tea, frosty mugs of beer, and specialty cocktails such as prickly pear lemon drop martinis. When plates were handed out, the sound of cheerful voices quieted. Dancers munched on appetizers such as deviled eggs, pulled-chicken sandwiches, crunchy salads, and loaded mac and cheese.
Asked to comment on the event, dancers stepped up with humorous rejoinders. Vice President Amy Schwartz offered that it was “a blast,” because it was “about friends, not dancing.” Moreover, she added irreverently, “Day drinking is the best!” Past President Jaci McGeorge quipped, “It’s really good, because my wife is paying for it!”
Newcomer to the club Melanie Einbund remembered that she was first attracted to the club when she attended the SaddleBrooke Talent Show and saw friends of hers performing on stage. As a result, Melanie signed up for the Novice class, which she describes as a “wonderful environment for someone with two left feet.” She particularly appreciates the Novice class’ sponsor Debbie Sullivan and her team for their “friendliness and willingness to repeat instructions” when needed.
When the tables were cleared and the glasses were drained, dancers mobbed the Fork & Fire sign inside the restaurant and smiled warmly for the traditional group photograph. If you would like to see some of these photos and learn about the club, you can visit our new and improved website at saddlebrookelinedance.club. Please join us on the dance floor and at the parties. Membership is just $10 per year. Let’s dance!