National Capital Area Square Dance Leaders Association

 Dance Leadership since 1951


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A Word From The NCASDLA President


Tom Sellner is the president of NCASDLA.

NCASDLA President’s Message
March, 2017
Tom Sellner

This message was originally published in the Mar, 2017 issue of Calls n' Cues.

 

It's March, so let's "dance in the old fashioned way, won't you stay in my arms and we'll discover highs we never knew before if you just stay in my arms and dance around the floor". The first line from Helen Reddy's song "Dance".

I was in the fourth grade in Panama Canal Zone when my family went to a dance sponsored by our church. That night for the first time I saw my Parents dance a waltz. I never realized that my parents even knew how to dance. I decided that night that I wanted to try dancing myself but I was unable to find a partner that night.

When I was in the fifth grade we moved from Ancon Canal Zone to Balboa Canal Zone. In Balboa the American Legion was just two blocks away. One day my mother asked if I wanted to take dance class Saturday mornings at the American Legion. She said the boy next door was planning to go. So I said yes. About 1956 I received about 8 ballroom lessons. I learned jitter bug, waltz and primary fox trot. In sixth grade, I had 8 more lessons including the stroll.

In the seventh grade, we had dances every six weeks, including live music provided by a Panama band. I moved back to the United States before the end of the seventh grade. In the USA, I was able to dance at all my schools when many could not. In the eleventh grade, I was asked to try Square Dancing and then some easy round dancing. I'm forever grateful my mother asked me to take dance lessons!

When I attended my first WASCA festival in 1963, my enthusiasm jumped to a new high. After the youth party in the morning we were allowed to stay and dance in the grand ballroom on the main floor. I'll never forget how great it was to dance with wall to wall dancers. I know in those days there were over 5000 people at the festival.

When you go to the WASCA festival make sure your children get to see you dance in a crowded ballroom. Just maybe your children can receive from you the same gift my mother gave me in 1956: the great gift of "Dance!" Attend as many different festivals throughout the year as you can. All festivals need your attendance to survive!

Tom Sellner, President of NCASDLA
Upcoming Events
June Jamboree
Sunday, Jun 4, 2017 2:00-4:30
Holiday Park Senior Center
3950 Ferrara Drive
Wheaton, Maryland 20906


This page last updated Mar 15, 2017