Displaced square dance club finds
new home on the West Side

Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer

Dakota Squares, a nonprofit square dance club, has been forced to move its do-si-do-ing from West St. Paul to the West Side. For many years, the Club held its dances at Faith United Methodist Church in West St. Paul but had to move about a month ago after the church was sold to M/I Homes, which plans to demolish the building and create townhomes there. It now hosts its dances at The Recovery Church, 253 State St.

Now in its fifth year, Dakota Squares also offers free beginner square dancing lessons on select Mondays at Wentworth Library, 199 Wentworth Ave. E. in West St. Paul. The lessons usually draw about 20 people of varying experience levels, and it typically takes about four months for newcomers to learn all the terminology and the 68 moves of modern square dancing. Upon completion, they can join any square dance club and attend virtually any square dance event. The next lesson is 6:15-7:45 p.m., September 9.

“Square dancing is a lot of ‘Vitamin F,’ which is fun, fitness and fellowship,” said Dakota Squares vice president John Cook, who noted that each dance includes a potluck. “No matter where you go square dancing, the people are very friendly and more than willing to help new people learn…. We have people coming [for beginner lessons] from Hugo, White Bear, Mound, Bloomington, you name it. Same with our membership, we have them from all over.”

Square dancing keeps you on your toes mentally as much as it does physically. “Callers” instruct dancers which maneuvers to perform on the fly, and it’s not uncommon for people to rack up 4,000-5,000 steps at a dance.

A “square” consists of eight dancers – four groups of two – and music can be classical, country, pop or anything else. Two songs are considered a “tip,” and many Dakota Squares events feature line dancing lessons between tips. People of all ages are welcome to participate.

“We have different themes for every dance and a lot of times we have different callers, too,” said club treasurer Rose Cook. “Some people follow different callers, so you get a fluctuation of who shows up at each dance.” Various callers prefer different genres of music and speeds of dancing, but most read the experience level of the people on the dance floor and adjust accordingly.

The August dance, which honored Veterans, celebrated the club’s fifth anniversary. The September dance will be held 3-5:30 p.m., September 22, and the theme is “School Starting.” Cost is $8 and the caller will be Monte Guenzler. Upcoming themes include Autumn Fest, Giving Thanks, Holiday Dazzle and American Heart. New socks and underwear will be collected at the November dance and donated to The Drawer, an Eagan-based organization.

Dakota Squares has recently seen a surge in membership. The club added 11 members in the past year, bringing the total to 43, which surpasses pre-COVID numbers. The youngest is 14 and the oldest 93. Members pay a combined $19.50 in annual dues to the club and its parent organization Square Dance Minnesota, which oversees about 25 square dancing clubs. The club was founded in August 2019 by former members of Dakota Grand Squares, a different square dance club based in West St. Paul. They chose to break away and form a new group to become a nonprofit. As such, they’re able to accept donations for various causes and offer beginner lessons for free.

“Both clubs continue to dance and enjoy square dancing, and we both promote it,” said John Cook. “Some of their club members come to our dances. Some of our club members go to their dances…. A lot of people are members of more than one club.”

John and Rose Cook are among the founding members of Dakota Squares, and they help schedule performances throughout the year at nursing homes, fairs, parades and other events to help promote square dancing. Coming up August 30-September 2 they will dance at the Western Minnesota Steam Thrashing Reunion in Rollag, Minn. For more information, visit dakotasquares.com.

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