Club Information
Secretary: Faye Gaskins. Phone: 256-638-8353 or 256-638-7742
1. Be socially clean, courteous and pleasant.
2. Arrive at the club early and be ready to dance the first tip. This pleases the caller, club officers and other dancers.
3. Attend and participate in workshops to learn new calls and to improve your dancing abilities.
4. Know and adhere to your dance level.
5. Accept help from others and be helpful to others.
6. Share dance time - don’t be exclusive – no cliques.
7. Know your leaders and the relationship of your caller to the club.
8. Talk to the caller and the club leaders about your dance problems and desires for the club. They need your input.
9. Volunteer to perform club functions without having to be asked.
10. Serve in positions of responsibility – it’s your duty to help. It is “your” club and surely you want the “best”. Become a club officer or committee member.
11. Recruit and assist new dancers (angels) at class lessons.
12. Stay for the entire dance if possible – dance the first and last tip. This honors your caller, club officers and fellow dancers.
13. Be courteous to speakers, leaders and callers. Be a good listener. Listen attentively to club announcements.
14. Be financially responsible. Pay your club dues in advance without being asked.
15. Assist the leaders in the set up and clean up of the dance hall.
16. Participate in all club visitations, exhibitions, charity activities and other functions.
17. Attend seminars, mini-legacies and other leadership and club operational training programs.
18. Wear your badge and proper square dance attire at all club functions.
19. Form your squares promptly, and welcome anyone who joins the set. Introduce yourself before the caller starts.
20. Be tolerant and polite to new dancers and senior dancers.
21. Dance with visitors, singles, and caller’s taw – allow them the pleasure of your expertise.
22. Never walk through a square or leave a square. Join the nearest square that is forming.
23. Honor your caller and club officers.
24. Introduce yourself to visitors and guests. Make them feel welcome and want to visit your club again.
25. Guide your partner. Do not pull, shove, push or jerk.
26. End each tip with a flourish, applause and thanks to all in the set and the caller – and mean it.
27. Get acquainted with everyone at the dance whom you have never met. An unknown square dancer is a friend you haven’t met yet. It is proper for ladies to introduce themselves.
28. Contribute toward the enjoyment of the dance by expressing friendliness, good humor, cooperation and real desire to have fun.
29. No drinking of alcoholic beverages before or during the dance.
30. Thank everyone who made your evening out a pleasant one: the caller club leaders, guest, fellow dancers, etc... Your “thanks” is their “pay” and their reward.
31. Forget about business, financial, social and family cares and concentrate on enjoying the fun and fellowship at the dance.
32. Be loyal to your club and club officers.
33. Set a good example for other club members to follow.
Duos & Solos Square Dance Club
History & Background bio
The origin of the Duos & Solos goes back to September 1995. The first class was taught by Ronnie Purser and was assembled in Fort Payne, AL., off Highway 11 at the VFW/American Legion Building. This location was in an old house that had been converted to an open-floor building, with a hole almost in the center of the hall. Ronnie called for the club for three years as their caller, was promoted by his company and begin traveling more. The club was organized to welcome single square dancers as well as couples. Several dancers in the club now were members of the first class. There were approximately twelve students in the initial first class taught for the club. Mr. Bob Thacker served as the first president for the club.
In 1998, the club caller was Wendell Longwith from Chattanooga, TN. During this period, square dancing was popular and the club grew, and moved their dance location to the old DeKalb Theater in downtown Fort Payne, AL. The clubs' first Thanksgiving Special Fund Raiser was in 1996 and held at the National Guard Armory in Fort Payne,AL.with close to sixty dancers attending.From this location, the club grew and moved to the ARC Building in downtown Fort Payne, AL. Wendell Longwith left the club in 2004 with health issues and the club hired John Norris of Rome, GA, to be their caller. The club danced there until a year later and moved to the Fort Payne Senior Center.
Ronnie Purser was invited to come back as the caller for the Duos & Solos in 2004. The club was still dancing at the Fort Payne Senior Center until 2009, then moved to the Tom Bevill Center in Rainsville, AL., since there had been huge growth to over 100 members currently. It is said that the club is now one of the largest clubs in the State of Alabama.
The Duos & Solos participate in various activities such as area exhibitions, at K-Mart and Walmart, in parades, nursing homes, a yearly picnic, and a co-meeting dance with other clubs of our caller each year at Joe Wheeler State Park Resort in Rogersville, AL. Our main fund raiser is a special dance in November each year where we sell, serve, and host a Thanksgiving Dinner/ Dance with special out of town callers and cuers. During the year, the Duos & Solos host theme dances for fun and fellowship including a 50's dance, Hawaiian Luau, Mexican Festival, and a Patriotic (Red-White-and Blue) dance to honor our country and servicemen in July each year.
Once a year the Duos & Solos host a new beginner class for growth and assisted by club members called (ANGELS). These lessons proceed for approximately six months,and then the students are encouraged to join the club and begin their journey in FRIENDSHIP set to MUSIC.
Our club also has a maintained web site, wwwduosandsolos.com which was established in 2010 providing information for our club members and dancers around the area to provide current information with our activities on line.You can also find us on Facebook & Youtube or email us at duosandsolos@gmail.com
If you would like more information about our club or would like to submit information, please check our website, contact one of our members or officers, or our caller.
Our caller has called square, round, circle and line dancing for forty-three years and has trained with the American Academy of Professional Dance Callers and member of the American Callers Association. He is also a certified BMI/ASCAP Organization caller. He has two other square dance clubs and a country-wesern line dance group.
