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Square Dancing · Round Dancing · Challenge Dancing Northern California · Around the World |
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GLACD/SC
Gay & Lesbian Advanced and Challenge DancersSouthern CaliforniaAbout GLACD/SCBy Peter BarbourHistoryGay and Lesbian Advanced and Challenge Dancers of Southern California (GLACD/SC) was formed at the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Pride celebration in the summer of 1995. A group of five like-minded advanced and challenge dancers wanted to provide more gay friendly dance opportunities for advanced and challenge dancers in Southern California. These like-minded dancers (Hal Anker, Peter Barbour, Laura Green, Brad Peterson and Kathy Yhip) purposefully did not create a square dance club but formed an unincorporated association. This association was chartered with providing square dance opportunities, information about gay friendly dances and workshops and being an advocate of gay and lesbian issues with existing straight clubs.PhilosophyThe peculiar distinction of not forming a club was due to the organizers' shared belief that Southern California didn't need another square dance club to further divide dancers. The founding directors believed that the gay and lesbian advanced and challenge dancers needed a core group of individuals committed to making gay friendly events happen and identifying and promoting existing gay friendly dances and workshops to dancers throughout Southern California. This philosophy allows dancers to maintain existing ties and commitments to their home clubs while providing the opportunity to enjoy dancing at their current dance level more often. Several of the founding directors already danced regularly in the straight community and kept tabs on dance schedules and last minute changes. This information has been redistributed to the gay and lesbian square dance community via monthly newsletters and e-mail messages. We always enjoy seeing good turnouts for family favorites like Anne Uebelacker or Saundra Bryant when they are in town for local straight dances.ActivitiesGLACD/SC has held Saturday morning workshop sessions for A2, C1, C2 and most recently C3A for one or two squares of dancers on an irregular schedule. We often dance the second and fourth Saturday mornings of the month as this doesn't conflict with the local straight club's schedule of A&C dances often attended by gay and lesbian dancers. We dance at the Orange County Gay and Lesbian Service Center or in private homes in the area. Since our dancers come from as far away as South Orange County or even San Diego to as far North as Canoga Park everyone is driving Saturday morning. We often extend the day with lunch together and then a movie in the afternoon before folks are driving home or to other events.GLACD/SC has also organized several 'Fifth Friday' dances which featured prominent callers calling take no prisoners A2. The first of these was held in September of 1995 and featured Anne Uebelacker calling from a folder of choreography she had labeled 'WFHA2'. The dances were great fun and real brain busters. Due to travel logistics on a Friday night and low interest level, attendance was never quite enough to continue organizing the event and the 'Fifth Friday' dances were shelved in 1998. The directors of GLACD/SC hope that increased interest will resurrect them in the future. Until then, we are glad to be a contact point for visiting dancers to the Southern California area to locate dance opportunities during their visit. In fact a local straight club, Trailblazers, lists our organization as a gay & lesbian contact in their listing found in the Travel Guide edited by Paul Asente to reinforce their gay friendly status. Walk Out 2 A WaveGLACD/SC is currently focused on hosting the 11th annual West Coast Gay and Lesbian Advanced and Challenge Square Dance Weekend. We were invited to host the event during the 7th annual event held in Phoenix, AZ - 'Go Half Crazy in Arizona'. Since then we have continually increased our work at creating the finest A&C weekend we can provide. The event, Walk Out 2 A Wave, is scheduled the weekend of September 29 thru October 1, 2000 and features Anne Uebelacker, Todd Fellegy, Ben Rubright and Vic Ceder with morning sessions called by CJ Smith, Mike Kellogg, Kris Jensen and visiting GCA callers. This annual event has become a tradition among many A&C dancers and we hope that many newer A&C dancers will begin their own traditions and make this year's event their first. These weekends give dancers hours of dancing A2, C1, C2 or C3A thru C4 that may be difficult for many dancers. Even today there are areas of the US and Canada that don't welcome same sex dance partners or require formal square dance attire. For many dancers, this annual event is a particularly special time to enjoy dancing with their extended square dance family and gain hours of floor time in a single weekend. Newer dancers can increase their dance skills tremendously in one single weekend. The next registration deadline is August 31, 2000. Contact GLACD/SC for more information.ContactGLACD/SC recently incorporated in California to further its mission to support gay and lesbian square dancing in Southern California. Its current directors are Peter Barbour, Laura Green, Brad Peterson, Larry Rapp, Diana Wedel and Kathy Yhip. The organization may be reached at PO Box 4176, San Clemente, CA 92674. Other contact points to the organization include www.mixed-up.com/glacd/ and (714) 963-5271. Please contact us when visiting Southern California so we are able to meet you at a local dance!© 2000 Peter Barbour History of the Gay and Lesbian A&C WeekendsWest Coast Gay and Lesbian A&C Weekends
East Coast Gay and Lesbian A&C Weekends
ContactFor more information, please contact us at714-963-5271 or 949-493-3524
GLACD/SC
Last updated Sunday 5 June 2011 |
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