As the streets of downtown Johnson City glistened from the downpour of evening rain, couples warmed up their dancing feet inside the Down Home for the first free square dance of the semester at the Down Home on Feb. 18.
With the chairs and tables pushed aside, caller Rodney Sutton led the pairs of dancers in several routines throughout the night. Sutton has a long history with dance instructing, including his position as an ETSU adjunct professor, who teaches traditional dance as a spring course.
Two bands of the ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies program accompanied the event, giving music to the steps as Sutton called. Student Emily Dingler recounts this as being one of the best parts.
“My favorite was probably honestly the music,” Dingler said. “The girls and guys you saw get up there on stage are all really talented musicians, and I just love how the sound of the music goes along with the way people are dancing, and it all just comes together and creates something cool.”
For some, this was not their first rodeo at square dancing. Hannah Roper, ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies major, said the night taught her new things, despite attending almost every dance offered.
“There is always lots to learn as far as square dancing goes,” Roper said. “I really enjoyed doing the mixer – the nine-pin. That is not always something you get to do. There are not always extra dancers, so that was kind of a treat.”
Down Home owner Ed Snodderly sees these events as a way to bring new groups of people together.
“It gets into the real world of the community,” Snodderly said. “There is affiliation, but this is the real world here. The other thing is it is an interaction between all demographics of people.”
The next square dance night will take place on March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Down Home. Bluegrass major Santana Bell recommends coming out to anyone who might be interested.
“It is such a great atmosphere to learn and do something new in,” Bell said. “The caller walks you through every dance, and each dance gives you the opportunity to switch partners and meet new people. Even if you end up not dancing, it is still fun to socialize and listen to the band play.”
