Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2007)
SEPTEMBER ¿1. ¿22L JUStpyt(41 North Coast Seafood Festival October 6-7 • Indoors at Tillamook Fairgrounds Saturday, 1 lam-6pm • Sunday, 1 lam-5pm • • • • Music and dance from around the world International fcxxl court featuring seafcxxl Oregon microbreweries and wineries Marketplace of select Oregon Coast artists Adults $6 Saturday - $5 Sunday Seniors $4 • Kids (ages 6-12) $4 Call (503) 398-5223 or visit www.northcoastseafoodfestival.com Sponsored in part by Headlight-Herald The gender-diverse club celebrates at Portland Pride. For those who attend the convention every year, it’s like having an extremely large family the forefront nationally in terms of gender equality. Philips, for one, likes that balance: “It’s a reunion, as friends and acquaintances from previ opportunity for men and women to interact ous conventions catch each other up on the devel because normally in gay organizations they don’t. opments of the past year. “That’s half the fun of conventions: You’ve got a whole family of friends scattered around the Philips and Hawes run Heads to the Center, advanced club that sometimes shares venues an< traveled at all before he became involved with callers with the Rosetown Ramblers. It’s no square dancing. uncommon for straight square dancers to atterv gone without the puli of square dancing. This is your chance to experience crush at an urban winery. Come on down and get sticky with the Hip Chicks! Admission is $10 and includes wine tasting, light appetizers, grape juice tasting, punch down the cap and grapes galore! Heads to the Center events. That wasn’t always the case. Tami Hazen, the Rosetown Ramblers’ vice pres “When the club first started, we were certainl ident, feels similarly. She and her partner, Jenni vilified for doing the thing other people did, Bush, attended a convention this summer in IVnver. recalls Burdon. “It’s such an awesome opportunity to go where But the Rosetown Ramblers wanted to dance. you’re going to meet people and make new friends, So if the straight community was having a dance, see a new city,” she says. “1 don’t know that I would sometimes the gay club would bring its own group have seen Denver in my lifetime unless 1 was going to the event, and dance together, off in the corner. there to dance." Saturday, Oct. 13°' 3pm - 8pm gay and straight communities. country and Canada,” says Philips, 67, who barely Now, he’s visited places he never would have Squishfest Harvest Party Square dancing also forms a bridge between the • • Winery and Tasting Room Open Daily nam - 6pm • 4510 SE 23RD AVE. PORTLAND • 503-234-3790 • www.hipchicksdowine.com I (see our website for directions & events) Eventually “they got used to us,” explains Philips. Eor instance, if a straight womans husband got tired, Looking Back, Facing Forward Only about 20 percent of convention attendees she might ask one of the gay dancers to fill in for him. “First, they realize that we’re really are women. That’s because, historically speaking, dancers,” Philips adds. “Then they get to know us gay square dancing was mostly an activity for men. and find out we’re just like them.” Rosetown Ramblers, for example, was founded These days, gay and straight groups share a com by “guys who were tired of doing the bar scene,” as mon problem: a decline in numbers combined with Hawes puts it. Occasionally, women would drop in. aging participants. The average gay square dancer is But when they saw that there were few to no other in his or her 50s or 60s; straight dancers are mostly in women in the club, they wouldn’t come back. their 70s or 80s. Today, the Rosetown Ramblers has a more Philips, who is secretary of the 1AGSDC, specu balanced membership—approximately 40 percent lates that the Internet might be partially to blame for Bob Mensei, Artistic Director • Michael Barnes, Principal Accompanist women to 60 percent men—which puts the group at the decline in membership, because it allows people A Season of Friends to socialize online instead of leaving the house. Square Dance 101 Hawes, 56, sees it as more of a cycle: “Wherever * they [younger people! go, to the bar or whatever, Our 28th Season Why is it called square dancing? there probably will become a time when they’ll get An Evening With Friends The square is the initial dance formation, made up bored with it...and we’ll be ready and willing to Saturday, September 29, 2007 8pm of four couples. bring them in." At age 42, Hazen is bucking the age trend— Why would I want to do something called “main although she did have her doubts before she start stream” dancing? ed taking classes two years ago: “I thought it was It isn’t a comment on the dancers’ lifestyle. Square nerdy and not for me.” dancing is broken down into different skill levels: But she gave it a shot because her 36-year-old basic, mainstream, plus, advanced, challenge 1, partner was having so much fun. Now Hazen can’t challenge 2 and challenge 3a. imagine not dancing: “Gay and lesbian square danc ing is a whole new world that 1 really enjoy.” Who is that person up there hollerin’ like a cross between an auctioneer and an MC? The Rosetown Ramblers present T aste OF SQUARE That’s the “caller," who lets the dancers know D ance featuring a free potluck and introductory which dance formation is coming up next. dance lessons from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 26 and Brass, Bells and Wassail Friday, December 14, 2007 8pm • Saturday, December 15, 2007 8pm Sunday, December 16, 2007 2pm Movie Madness Saturday, March 1, 2008 8pm Legacy Friday, May 2, 2008 8pm • Saturday, May 3, 2008 2pm Festival Wednesday, July 9, 2008 7:30pm For tickets visit www.pdxgmc.org or call 503-226-2588. Our 28th Season Sponsors Oct. 3. No prior square dance experience is Do I have to wear a bolo tie, or a crinoline, to be necessary. For mitre information call 503-236'3272 a square dancer? or visit www.rosetownramblers .com. PortlandTribune No! Gay and lesbian square dance is characterized by its casual style of dress. Shorts, T-shirts or sweat REBECCA R agai N enjoys writing about all kinds of pants are perfectly acceptable, although you are dance for Just Out. Contact her via welcome to dress up if you feel like it. www. rebeccaragain. com. SPIRIT MOUNTAIN ..... M.------: : > R egional A rts 8 c C ulture C ouncil Work Art
