SQUARE-ROOT

PALMER — Eighties rocker Huey Lewis was right, it’s hip to be square.

At least, it is on Friday nights at the Palmer Salvation Army building. That’s when the local Paws and Taws group gathers to cavort, consume copious amounts of high-octane coffee and square dance like there’s no tomorrow.

Paws and Taws is square-dance lingo for guys and gals, said Larry McGee, president of the Valley Paws and Taws. Along with about 20 of his fellow “squares,” McGee smiles from ear to ear while he promenades and do-si-dos to the direction of caller Gary Feaster.

“Square dancing is as good mental exercise as it is physical exercise,” he said. “You never know what the caller’s going to call out next, and every caller is different, so it keeps you on your toes.”

Each “square,” or group of four partners, will execute four “figures,” or maneuvers, called for by the caller during each dance, or “tip.” Calling the figures is an important undertaking, one Feaster takes seriously. He’s attended three week-long sessions of caller school and enjoys what he says is his “calling.”

“My job is to instruct dancers on how to learn square dancing, but also to let them have fun for the evening,” he said. “That’s the main thing, do a little entertaining and have fun. Once I see they’re starting to have fun, I feed on that, trying to do some calls that aren’t quite normal to them or something to just keep them on their toes.”

Like many in the club, Feaster dresses the part, complete with Western vest and bolo tie. As an entertainer, he likes to dress the part.

“It’s one of those deals like if you go to church,” he said. “Generally, you don’t wear your blue jeans to church. You put on a little something that goes along with the crowd. I like to dress up as a caller because I’m a bit of a showman out there.”

Among others who dress the part are Feaster’s parents, Lois and Charles. As the matriarch of the family, Lois, 81, has been square dancing “since I was 12 years old,” and is still going strong. She may be slowed a little from a pair of replaced knees and a replaced hip, but she still executes a mean tip.

“I do it because it’s a lot of fun and it’s good exercise,” she said.

Lois, a Butte resident for 52 years who can still joke about being a Valley “newcomer,” makes her own square dancing outfits and touts her son’s prowess as a caller. When asked who’s the better dancer, herself or Charles, she takes the high road.

“Oh, I think we’re about the same,” she said.

Charles has a different opinion. “Oh, it’s me, no question.”

The Feasters arrive early to set up before the other dancers arrive. One of the most important duties falls to Charles. He makes the coffee, and said he wouldn’t miss his weekly square dancing for anything.

“We’re here year-round, rain or snow or sleet,” he said. “It don’t matter.”

Without the energy boost from Charles’ coffee, “we’d all just go home,” McGee joked.

Charles Feaster enjoys spending time with his family and participating in a wholesome activity. Also, the other Paws and Taws members share a unique perspective, he said.

“It’s cheap exercise, plus square dancers are a different breed of cat,” Charles said. “We have square dancer friends all over the countryside.”

One of those friends is Renee Rieth, a widow who has a passion for square dancing. She also has no problems with being labeled a “square.”

“It’s very OK to be square,” she said. “I started square dancing in 1964 when I was in college. It was a college PE credit. Now that I’m a solo dancer, and I love square dancing, I’m here every Friday.”

While the club has a strong membership of about 30 dancers, with about 20 showing up most Fridays, the popularity of square dancing with the younger set has waned.

“I hate to say it, but square dancing has really, really fallen off over the years,” Charles Feaster said. “There’s just too many other things going on now for the kids to participate in. They just don’t want to come out and dance much.”

One of the youngest in the room is Gary Feaster, who leads beginner and advanced squares through their tips. He taps his toes and sings many of the classic country tunes while the dancers “promenade on home.”

In a critique of Gary Feaster’s singing delivered much more diplomatically than television talent show judges, McGee said it has a unique quality. “It’s rustic and rural.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.