Anyone interested in Square Dancing has a great opportunity this month.
The Hanger Squares Square Dance Club is having another free Intro Night and invites anyone interested to come.
The date is Saturday, January 28 from 7 to 9 pm at Jones Hangar at 901 Buckingham in Regency Estates subdivision in Friendswood.
Prospective dancers can get a feel for the fun and fellowship that comes with square dancing, according to the club group.
Lessons at the club begin February 11, 2023. The intro nights are timely in that the lessons begin soon for those who enjoy it. Lessons will be from 6:30 to 8 pm and cost for lessons is $20 per person per month. Square and line dancing runs from 8 to 9:30 pm.
Lessons are for singles, couples, teens and adults. Beginners are welcome.
The group has an interesting history that began with their location: Jones Hangar in Friendswood.
Jones Hangar was an airplane hangar on an estate owned by Dr. Bill Jones. The hangar was at the end of his private landing field, and housed his two-engine airplane most of the time. On Saturday evenings, the hangar doors were thrown open, the plane was rolled out and the hangar was turned into a square dance hall for a couple of hours. After the dance, the plane was rolled back in and the hangar reverted back to its original use.
Jones sold his property but donated the hangar and its grounds to the City of Friendswood who use it for recreational use. It is now in the middle of the Regency Estates subdivision.
The Hanger Squares dance club came about through the Family Riders equestrian club. In 1974, the Family Riders began having occasional square dance sessions in the Hangar. These square dance lessons led to the organization of the “Hanger Squares”. The word “Hanger” was originally misspelled and because of a strong sense of tradition among club members over the years, the name was never changed.
Through the years, many club callers have been part of the group. Club Callers for 2023 are Gary Belcik and Gary Sanders. Both will be the dance instructors during the upcoming lessons. Belcik also calls for Strawberry Squares on Monday nights in Pasadena. Sanders is currently club caller for six clubs, the Hip to Be Square Club in Livingston, the Strawberry Squares, the Lake Jackson Promenaders, the Conroe Country Cousins, the Alvin Country Squares, and the Hanger Squares, Friendswood. Sanders became club caller for Hanger Squares August 25, 2018 (alternating Saturdays with Gary Belcik).
Joyce Jackson started dancing with Hanger Squares in 2012 after retiring from US Army with 24-plus years. She had originally taken square dance lessons in 1986.
“I was a little nervous because it had been so long since I had square danced, but I went to Hanger Squares Intro to Square Dance and lessons and they made me feel welcome as if I was an old friend returning,” Jackson said. “They gave me such encouragement, that I joined the club and have danced with them ever since. It has given me the opportunity to meet and make new lasting friendship and the opportunity to travel to different clubs in the Texas area.”
Part of the club’s annual traditions is an Anniversary Dance. This year the dance will be February 4, 2023 at Jones Hangar from 7 to 9 pm.
An Alternate Dance Location is the Friendswood Activity Center (FAC), 416 Morningside Drive where the Hanger Squares dance the second Saturday of every month in 2023.
For more information on the club, go to www.hangersquares.org or follow Hanger Squares Square Dance Club on Facebook.
