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14 | OHCC LIVING | JUNE 2023 | Village Squares Henry Ford And Square Dance There is an unusual reason why so many of us learned some square dancing in elementary school. There are 28 out of 50 states that have declared square dancing their official dance. This was part of a dancspiracy to make square dancing the official dance of the United States, and it started with Henry Ford! Henry Ford hated jazz; he hated the Charleston. He believed the evil forces of jazz would corrupt his workers, propelling them toward tobacco, alcohol, and all sorts of other sins. Ford and his wife had long had an interest in what he termed "old fashioned dancing." When he bought the Wayside Inn in Massachusetts, he hired Benjamin Lovett to teach him and his wife to square dance and also all the guests at the inn. At this time, square dance was seen as "square," and jazz and swing were taking over. By bringing back square dance, Ford believed he could counteract the unwholesome influence of jazz on America . In order to bring his dream to life, he poured tons of money into square dancing and country music. He published a manual for square dance callers and required his employees to attend the square dance classes he provided. He funded fiddling contests and radio shows promoting "old time dancing music," as well as square dance clubs across the U.S. — where modern square dancing as we now know it was really created. It has evolved from that point to what we enjoy as American Modern Square Dance today. And aren't you glad we no longer do the call depicted in the picture! If that old-time Rock 'N" Roll just soothes YOUR soul, read on. In just a few months we will be looking for nominations for the Board of Directors. Three of our Board members will be making this their last year after a combined service of over 15 years. It's fun being on the Board. What our Club's activity is, is simply to HAVE DANCE PARTIES. That's it. It's a team effort helping to make it happen; no one person has all the work. The face of the party are members who serve as Party Hosts. Behind the scenes have been Board members arranging the date, the party space, the party hosts, music, budget, and lottery. After the party there is processing payments, and paying the bills. Keep the Doo Wop Club going next year. If you want more information on what is involved in serving on the Doo Wop Club Board, please contact us at OHDooWopClub@gmail.com. If you like music, whether to sit and listen, or to shake something on the dance floor, you'd love the Doo Wop Club. If you are not already a Doo Wop and Disco Club member and would like to learn how to reserve a seat at one or more of these parties, print out the membership form under Social Clubs/Doo Wop Club on OceanHillsCountryClub.com; complete the information, and drop it by the Clubhouse's front desk. Include a check for $10 per person for annual dues. Make your check payable to OH Doo Wop Club. We will send you email about all future parties. Hope to see you on the dance floor! Doo Wop & Disco Dance

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