(From Joplin Western Twirlers Square Dance Club)The Western Twirlers Square Dance Club will host a special Route 66-themed dance in Joplin as part of a nationwide series celebrating the highway’s 100th anniversary in conjunction with the 75th National Square Dance Convention.
The event will be held Saturday, June 6, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Joplin Square Dance Center, 1801 W. 2nd St. The evening will feature square dancing, other dance styles, Route 66 trivia with prizes, refreshments, and more. The public is welcome; admission is $7 per person.
“We have a lot of fun activities to introduce the public to square dancing,” said club president Crystle Swager.
The Western Twirlers were invited to participate in the Route 66 “trail-in” dance series due to their location along the historic route and their active social media presence. The iconic “Mother Road” stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles, passing through cities including St. Louis, Joplin, and Oklahoma City, as noted in the song “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.”
Additional Route 66 dance events are planned in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Winslow, Arizona; and Santa Monica, California, leading up to the national convention in Waco, Texas, June 24–27. For more information about the national convention, see 75nsdctx.com.
The Joplin Route 66 square dance event is registered with the national Route 66 Centennial organization responsible for various year-round events. The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act, Public Law 116-256, was passed by the 116th Congress, and signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020, according to the organization. See www.Route66centennial.org for more details about centennial events and Route 66 general information.
The kickoff of the national celebration of Route 66 was held in Springfield, Mo., April 30-May 3 and gained national interest as NBC’s “Today” show broadcast live from the Birthplace Plaza in Springfield on April 30. The National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration included a concert hosted by actor John Goodman, a Springfield native.
Founded in 1948, the Western Twirlers—originally the American Legion Promenaders—is the oldest club in the Missouri Federation of Square and Round Dance Clubs. The group has a long history of performances and recognition, including a national television appearance broadcast in New York City in 1954 as well as appearances at the National Square Dance Convention.
Additional Route 66 dance events are planned in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Winslow, Arizona; and Santa Monica, California, leading up to the national convention in Waco, Texas, June 24–27. For more information about the national convention, see 75nsdctx.com.
The Joplin Route 66 square dance event is registered with the national Route 66 Centennial organization responsible for various year-round events. The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act, Public Law 116-256, was passed by the 116th Congress, and signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020, according to the organization. See www.Route66centennial.org for more details about centennial events and Route 66 general information.
The kickoff of the national celebration of Route 66 was held in Springfield, Mo., April 30-May 3 and gained national interest as NBC’s “Today” show broadcast live from the Birthplace Plaza in Springfield on April 30. The National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration included a concert hosted by actor John Goodman, a Springfield native.
Founded in 1948, the Western Twirlers—originally the American Legion Promenaders—is the oldest club in the Missouri Federation of Square and Round Dance Clubs. The group has a long history of performances and recognition, including a national television appearance broadcast in New York City in 1954 as well as appearances at the National Square Dance Convention.
Regular dances, led by veteran caller Jay Wright, are held on the first and third Saturdays. Lessons are taught by Wright, who was inducted in the Caller Hall of Fame in 2009.
The Joplin Square Dance Center, on 2nd Street, is located five blocks north of US Highway 66 / US 66/ 7th Street, also known as “Main Street of America.” The building was constructed as a dedicated dance center in the 1980s and is available for rent as an event venue.
Western Twirlers is a member of the Southwest District of Missouri as well as the Northeast Oklahoma Square Dance Association. Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan signed a bill to make square dancing the Official American Folk Dance in Missouri. For more information about square dancing in Missouri, see MissouriSquareDance.com.
For more information, visit Joplin Western Twirlers Square Dance Club on Facebook or contact Swager at 417-540-4743.
No comments:
Post a Comment