NAPPAN, N.S. — Learning how to dosado is fun and easy, and the Cumberland Twirlers love teaching people how to do it.
“It’s a great bunch of people, and they’re very good sports and they’re very supportive,” Clare Christie said.
Christie learned to dosado about eight years ago when she joined the Cumberland Twirlers square dancing club.
“You’re always learning and progressing,” Christie said at their recent open house. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The Cumberland Twirlers is the biggest square dancing club in the Maritimes and attracts about 40 members to the Experimental Farm Pavilion each Tuesday night.
“We have great leadership and great individuals who take on important roles, and we also have real characters who love to carry on and have fun,” Christie said. “We also have such a good caller. Faye is considered one of the best.”
Faye Germon, who is from Moncton, is the caller for the Cumberland Twirlers, and she also calls for a square dancing club in Moncton.
“I was lucky. I started dancing in 1998 and graduated in 99, and went to my first calling class in 2003.”
Germon started calling at the Moncton club in 2003, and with the Twirlers in 2010.
“I was very lucky to get into this club because it’s the largest club in the Maritimes,” Germon said.
She says the Twirlers keep her pumped up.
“This is a really good group. They’re fun, noisy and active, and I like it that way.”
She calls up to 66 moves in the run of an evening, and says they are easy to learn.
“There’s a new couple here tonight who is picking up things quite quickly, and we always have Square Angels, dancers who help the new dancers, so that’s a big help.”
Sid and Eileen Glennie are the presidents of the Cumberland Twirlers. From Springhill, they’ve danced with the Twirlers for 15 years.
“I was at the Cumberland Snowmobile Club in Collingwood, and the president at that time asked if I was interested in square dancing. I said ‘yes.’ This was shortly after I retired,” the 74-year-old said. “My wife was out west in Alberta at the time with our daughter, so I danced with the caller's wife until she came back home.”
He said they quickly learned how to square dance and haven’t stopped since.
“You meet a lot of interesting people, and it’s a fun evening out.”
The 2020 Cumberland Twirlers are celebrating their 46th anniversary this year.
Their square dancing season runs every Tuesday night at the Experimental Farm Pavilion from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and includes a Valentine's Dance, a St. Patrick’s Day Dance, a Maple Fling Dance on Saturday, April 18, in Amherst, and a Closing Dance on May 5.
They are always looking for new members.
For more information call the Glennie's at 902-597-2317 or 902-243-2142.
