In the immediate future, June to be more precise, Oklahoma will be hosting the National Square Dance Convention. This publication as well as others across this country and many other countries have posted and written articles about this great event. The National Square Dance Convention has seen smaller numbers in recent years. The reasons for this are varied. The economy plays a large role. Many of us are not traveling as far as we used to for vacations or special events. The price of air travel, fuel for our autos and campers, hotel, motel and food all add to the equation. Travel today can be costly. May I point out: a National Square Dance is an event that allows you plan an entire vacation. Oklahoma, the center of the country, is an area worth visiting even without a square dance. You can check out the websites or talk to a travel agent or your AAA representative and they can refer you to many tourist attractions worth visiting. For dining, there is Brick Town. Brick Town has about fifty restaurants and nightclubs, you have to experience it to understand. At our last convention in Oklahoma, the people and businesses all welcomed us with open arms and were so friendly I wrote a special editorial just on that topic.

Of course at a National Square Dance Convention, you get to dance with a variety of callers – Local Callers, Club Callers from all over the world, and National Travelling Callers – all for your dancing pleasure. There is always a variety of other forms of dancing (Round Dancing, etc.), teen hall dancing, high energy dancing and much more. I have to mention here, after parties. When discussing after parties at a National Square Dance event, these are dances promoted by record companies, or different groups. They start after the regular scheduled dances are over and continue for a few hours. You are always welcome for this additional fun and it is always free.

Enroute to a National Square Dance Convention, you can always find a Trails End Dance. Clubs, Callers, or other event planners take this as an opportunity to put on special dances for people who are travelling or just arrive early and want to mix in a few special dances while sightseeing.

One of the main reasons many dancers go to a National Square Dance Convention, other than fun, are the friends they see. Many of these friends you will only see once a year – you got it, at a National Square Dance Convention. If you have never attended, you will make new friends, after all, square dancing is “friendship set to music.” People, parties, dancing, music and fun are all of the ingredients for a great time.