Club News

2025 NEWS FROM WHITE ROSE SQUARES

Like many clubs we have been looking at keeping and increasing our current membershipand doing lots of planning ahead for events to attract new dancers.  Our club dances SSD, Mainstream and Plus, including teaching the various levels as well. For this, our Caller Gene Turner produces a flexible dance programme that, depending on where we are with each learning group, aims to keep each group of dancers satisfied and challenged.  Gene has encouraged our two trainee Callers Nick Tillotson and Heather Innes to follow his lead, adapting material to suit those learning SSD, or those learning Plus, and this is proving to be quite effective.  Occasionally we are treated to Calling by Cliff Anderton, often in duet with Gene. 

We started a new Beginners’ Class in January 2024.  Because of the variety of dancers in our club we hold one every 2 years to try to keep the standard of dancing for everybody both enjoyable and progressing.  Not having run Plus teaching for a number of years we were determined to get that off the ground, and our Plus learners are now working through that program.  I am hopeful that by the start of our next Beginners’ Class in January 2026 our Plus Learners will be nearly there and as a result our Plus dancing group will grow.

So, no doubt as with many other clubs, our Committee and Caller have the challenge of keeping keep the more experienced dancers happy as well as developing the skills of the newer dancers! We’re aware that new dancers are our future, and their own experiences in our clubs will be what hopefully promotes square dancing to their acquaintances.

Two of our learners, Jane and Rita, from the 2024 class have now Graduated at Mainstream. Jane was also going to Hamony Squares, Gene’s own club, so we decided as she had made quick progress that she would Graduate there.  Rita Graduated in May and we held a memorable evening with a traditional Candle Ceremony to welcome her to the world of Square Dancing, and a little fun and games.  Cliff Anderton was the Graduation Caller for the evening. Ritahad worked hard and really deserved the club badge that was presented to her by Nick Tillotson, Chair.

We are now planning ahead to attract more new dancers.  We have a free Hoedown for absolute novices linked to the “Let’s Dance” project 2025 in November and are using that as a lead-in to our next Beginners’ Class in January 2026.  The proceeds from the raffle at the Hoedown will go to our Club Charity.  Then the club will take part in the 2026 “Let’s Dance” project, using an Open Club Night to introduce Square Dancing to anybody who has missed the last two promotions.  Just time for any keen ones to catch up if they want to take it further and join White Rose Squares. (We can only try!!)

In February 2025 our 47th Birthday Dance in February was Called by Emma Horsfieldwho entertained us with an excellent Dance for SSD, Mainstream and Plus dancers alike.  We had great attendance, a lovely atmosphere and ran at a profit too! – always pleasing for our Treasurer.

July 19, 2pm - 5pm, sees Leah Tinsdeall return to Call a Mainstream & Plus Dance at Clifford Village Hall, LS23 6HY.  It is on the theme of “Hawaiian Holidays!”

On October 25, 2pm – 5pm, newer Callers Carol Holman, Heather Innes and Nick Tillotson will Call the Yorkshire Federation “Northern Lights” SSD Dance, sponsored by White Rose Squares, at Clifford Village Hall, LS23 6HY.

And our 2026 Dances are all being planned – see the Events Section of the BAASDC Web page for posters. Hot off the press: 31 October 2026, 2pm – 5pm, Trevor Day Calling the Yorkshire Federation SSD Dance “Halloween!”, sponsored by White Rose Squares atClifford Village Hall, LS23 6HY.

We’d Love to See You There!

Ann Tillotson

Secretary, White Rose Squares.

If you are interested in learning to dance please contact us.

Please telephone Ann Tillotson 01943 878066