Is gav square dancing so campy it's cool . . . or is it just geeky?
How manl'lessons arc there and what are the classhours?
The ansrver to this question, as with beautv, lies in the eve of the beholder. Ga1, square
dancing has for over tuo decades provided a nonsexual atmosphere in rvhich to come
together and associateluith other ga-_vs
and lesbians. It also provides a comrnon erperience
belrveenthe men and u'omen uithin our commurity. Many' organzatrons tend to isolate the
men and \{'omen. gav squaredancrng encouragesfull interaction. Nearh even' square dance
event is open to both men and women.
How long has WESTERN STAR DANCERS existed:
Westent Star Dancers vas lbrmed in 1982 by a group of individuls uho rvanted to square
dance differentlr, lrorn the u'av thel had been. At that time thel uere being laught routines
and not the individual calls. So the llrst ga.vCallerlab club in San Francisco was fonned.
Since that time there havc been many' graduating Maiastream classes. Square dancing is a
vcrr, social activity, iurd lbr ruant it is a pnnran social outiet. \iliren vou join a square
dancing club^ vou join an erlended l-amilr of tiiends. Western Slar Dancers is or.reof the
foutding mcmbers of the lntemational Association of Ga1 Square Dance Clnbs - a gav and
lesbian organization better knorv as the IAGSDC.
Do I automatically become a memlrer of the club when I join the class?
No. fhe club b1-laus retpire the abiiitv to dancethe Mainstreamprogfam to be eligible tbr
lirll membership. Class members can not vote at membership meetings or run tbr a position
on the Board of Directors prior to graduating lrom Mainstrearn. Upon cornpletion ol the
Marnstreamcorlrse, studentsu i1l autornaticallv become tull mernbers ot'the club.
What is Basic anrUor Mainstream?
l:i'orcontinuin' of dancing acrossthe countn. a national organizationof callers has been
lormcd called Callerlab. This organization has developed a number of dillerent sqr-nre
dancing prograursto ensure cailers and dancersare on the sanie page at a dance. There are a
number of dillerent prograins. each building on the previous program. ln order. tirev are
Basic. Mainstream.Plus. Adlanced I & 2, Clullcnge l, 2. 3a. 3b, and 4. Westem Star
l)ancers has traditionallr' been a Maurstream & Plus club as are the majoritr of the other
gar'/lesbianclubs in the greater Bav Arca.
What arc Angcls?
Angels are erpcnenceddiurcersuto havc alreadvcompletedthc prograntler,el o1'theclass.
-fh*,are
here tohelpclassmembersbecomestrong.proticientdancers. llf roul-eelthatan
Augel is heing too pushr. or bossy, le1 the Archangel krtou' immediatelr'. We *ant tour
dar-rcing
expcrienc:eto be au ertiorableone.l
What is an Archangel'l
An Archangel is an erpcrienced club member and danccr uho has volunteered to oversee
the class. l'he Archangelpoints out problemsto thc instructorand makessurethe classrurs
smoothh.'. The Archangc'l sen'cs as a liaison betucen Lhestudents. the instrttctor. and the
Board ol-Dircctors.
Tlre Basic/Mailrstreani program lasts from 26 - 30 ueeks depending on hou' quicklv class
rrremben master the calls. We usualil' begrn the Mainstream class in October and end
sonetime in late Mary'earlv .lune. Classesare held each Monday tion 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at
the Eureka Vailev Recreation Center. Class members are asked to be prompt so that classes
can begin on time.
If I miss a classor two, will I be able to catch up?
A square dance lesson builds on the previous lessons. Missing several consecutive weeks
ntal make catchilg up diflicult. Class rughts generaill' begin with a careful revieu' of the
previous ueek's calls. Make-up u'orkshops ma-vbe held lion time to time. Everv el}brt is
made to prevent studcnts lrorn having to drop out once the conrnritmentto leam is made.
Who gets the money'I pay for the classes?
The class tuition mone\ goes to tlie club's general iund. All club expensesare lmid frotn
tiris account. lhese include instructors, club night callen, lbcilities and callers for club
dances. insurance, supplies, ilyers, etc The tuition does not cover the cost of the class
(unJesstliere are 25 or more ne\\' students). l'lie club subsidizes the classesbecauseof the
importance ofbringing neu.people into thrs wonderful activitv. llosturg dances is another
uav the club generatesrevenue, Westem Star Dartcers currentll' hosts three dances a I'ear:
Aruriversan l)ance in March, Gav Pridc Dance in .Iune (on the night betbre the San
''Leafter
Francisco G/LBT Pride Parade. and the and Lace" dance in Septernber (on the
night betbre the Folsom Street Fair).
What are Club Nights?
We hold one urembership meeting a rnonth aud call it Ciub Night. Ninety-live percent of
the tirne is spent dancing. Club Nights are held the third Wednesdar.'ol the month liom 7:30
'Ihis
to 9:30 at the Eureka Vallev Rec. Ccntcr. is a social occasion lree from the pressures
of class s'here class and club members can colne togethcr to dance and socialize. We hold
tuo special Club Night potlucks a vcar: one to rvelcome the nerv Mainstream class and, the
olher.a Chnstmaspartr.
What is "The Convention"?
Each rear a represcntative club liom the IAGSDC hosts an intenutional square dancing
convention. 1.200 to 1.500 dancers tiom around the world convene lbr a ueekend ol
carnaradeneand lun. You'll get a chanceto dance to 10 or more ditlbrent callers. In 1986
and again in 1996,San FranciscoBar Area clubs hostedthis convention. The conventionis
usuallr held during tire FoLrrthof .hrlv seekend Attendurg a convention is the culn-riration
ol'all vour hard u'ork, so. if at all possible, plan to attend one. If vou $'ant to krorv more
about couventions. l-eelAee to ask anl ciub member uho has bcen 1o one. tle/She uill be
fiill of storiesl
What is a "fl1'-in"?
A flr-in is like a convention on a srnaller scale. Upon completing Mainstreun. 1ou u,ill bc
able to attcnd tlr'-ins. Several West Coast clubs tiom San Iliego to Vancouver host annual
t-lr.ins Flr-urs generallv have txo or tlue€ callers and are held over a uormal r,veekend
(Fndar evening through Sundar allenroon). Western Star Dancers held a ven, successfill
20u'Anniversan Flv-ur in 2002.
Are square dance clubs usually 50/50 men/nomen?
Sadlv. the answer is No. There are more men than \\omen in most Ga1' & Lesbian sqrurre
dance clubs. This is true of Western Star Da:rcers. We are constantlv tn'ing to improve the
ratio.

What are the things I seehanging from name badges?

Upon graduation liom Mainstream. r'ou will recervean othcial nattte badge. The things vou
see hanging lrom name badges are either "dangles" ("suingers" as straight dancers call
them) or llorud Member bars. Dangles are received for attending slxcial dances ard-or
participating in special events.Sometimes a club includes a dangle in the price of admission.
Sometimes dangles are sold at the dance or event. Members of the Board of Directors uear
Board Mernber bars.

Who runs the club'l

IJach year in Septemberthe club clects a Board of Directors (consrsting of between i artd 7
people). The Board then eiecls its oun club ol-llcers: Administrator (or president).
'Ireasurer,
Secretary'.Memberslup Coordinator, Dance Coordinator. While these urdividuals
may be in charge of the da,v-to-davoperations of the club, club mcmbers are encouragedto
assistin u'hatever u'ay thev can. The club belongs to the mernbers.so let the Board krtou' if
vou have something to sar'. If vou rvant to get involved. let a Board Member klorv.
Evervone'shelp is appreciated

Compiled bl Steve Scott for the Diablo I)ancers. Modified for Westent Star l)atrcers br
Felix Fornino and Jim De'lvsnan

ANSWER5TO
NEWDANCERS'
FREQUENTLY
AsKED
WESTERNSTAR DANCERS QUESTTONS
PMB480
584CASTROSTRBET,
SAN FRANCISCO,
CA 941I4.2588