Message from the President
Welcome to all new and returning dancers! We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready to begin a fun fall session of friendship and dancing.
For new dancers – what is Social Square Dancing (SSD)?
Social Square Dancing (SSD) is our introductory program on Tuesday evenings for new dancers and those who have been away from dancing for some time. We have two free open houses planned to introduce new dancers to the activity, on Tuesdays, September 2 and 9, at the J.A. Dulude Arena, 941 Clyde Avenue, from 7:00 to 9:00pm. The following Tuesday, September 16, 2024, Wendy VanderMeulen will begin teaching this program. We will have “angels” (experienced dancers) on hand to help introduce new dancers to square dancing. SSD is specifically designed to be easy and fun to learn and to dance.
Dancers will learn the entire program in 13 weeks for a fee of $135 (about $10 a night) and will have opportunities to dance at this level after they complete the program in December. SSD is a stand-alone dance level that will be available at regional dances. Dancers who travel south for the winter can continue to dance the SSD program while away. The first teach session is Tuesday, September 16. Bring comfortable indoor shoes and a water bottle.
For those dancers who have completed the SSD program
Once you have completed the SSD program, you now have two option: (1) If you’re still a bit shaky with all the moves you were taught, you can take the lessons over again, while also helping as angels with the brand new dancers. The second time through is a lot easier, and you’ll appreciate the detailed review! (2) If you’re pretty confident in what you learned, you can work on perfecting all those moves and maybe even expand on them. To help you with this option, every third tip on Tuesday evenings, and for a half hour following the teach session (9:00 to 9:30 pm), there will be “advanced” SSD tips. Dancers who participate in this option can do so as many sessions as they like. There is no requirement to ever move to another level! Besides perfecting your moves, you are helping new dancers learn the moves and helping them, helps you.
The fee for full SSD dancers is $135 for the session, the same as for learners. If you are joining us from another club, the fee is $12 per night. The first night of SSD teach and full SSD dancing is Tuesday, September 16 at 7 pm. But we hope you come to the open houses too.
Want to learn more dance moves? Meri Squares is teaching the Plus program
Once you are really confident with SSD, danced at a faster pace, dancers can learn more moves at the Plus level. Meri Squares will be teaching Plus starting on Thursday, September 11 from 7:15 to 9:15 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 470 Roosevelt Ave. The program will include all Mainstream moves required as well as the full Plus program. The fee is $135 for the session. As with SSD, newcomers to Plus are encouraged to pay for the session as moves are taught every week and build on each other.
Experienced Plus Dancers
Welcome back! Your first evening will be Thursday, September 4 and will be a full evening of review and dusting off the cobwebs. Starting September 11, John will begin teaching Plus to new dancers. Every third tip on Thursdays will be full Plus to keep us on our toes and add some challenge! Because some Mainstream moves will also have to be taught to bring SSD dancers along, the teach portion of this year will likely run into late February, but after that, we will all be full Plus dancers. Come along and be the wonderful angels that Meri Squares dancers always are. The fee for Plus is $135 for the session or $12 per night.
REMEMBER: EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO DANCE WITH US!
You don’t need to be a registered Meri Squares member. Come for an evening or the whole session. We are happy to see you!
Dance schedule
See our Meri Square 2025 Fall and Winter Dance Calendar for special themed dances in addition to regular dance night.
Registration Forms
The SSD and Plus/Plus Teach Registration forms for the 2025-2026 dance season are available online. Please print and bring your completed form and payment to the first night of dancing. We accept e-transfers, cheques and cash.
EOSARDA Welcome Back dance for all experienced dancers
EOSARDA is sponsoring a full-day Welcome Back dance for dancers from full SSD to Advanced 2.
Date: Saturday, September 13
Time: 10:30 to 1:00 and 2 to 4:30
Location: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 425 Church Street, Prescott.
Cost: All day $20 PP or One session: $12 PP
Callers: Dave Hutchinson and Brian Crawford.
Need a ride: Contact Lamar, lamarmason4@gmail.com or 613-221-9188
Dancers bring dancers
Word of mouth is our best way to grow square dancing. Remember to bring a friend on September 2 or 9 to our Open Houses.
See you on the dance floor!
Lamar Mason
President