Square dancers flock to Sisters for three-day event

Over 200 brightly-attired ladies and gents executed alamand lefts and right hand stars on the dance floor in Sisters last Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. For the fifth year square and round dancers from Washington and Oregon gathered in Sisters for the Central Oregon Round-Up. The event is always held the second weekend in August.

This year the round-up celebrated its 25th anniversary.

"We started out in Redmond (at the old fairgrounds) 20 years ago or so, and then when they built the new fairgrounds ... we couldn't afford to go there anymore, said Dave Cooper of Prineville, a former round-up chairman. "We went to Prineville for three years, and the facility wasn't big enough to hold everybody."

When organizers started their search for a venue with a suitable facility, they wanted a drawing card that was unique enough it would attract people from all over. Sisters was a perfect choice, especially with the commons at Sisters High School.

The ability for the event to utilize the high school's parking lot is an added bonus. Because no water or power is available, all RVs that park in the lot must be self contained. Gazing across the parking lot on Friday night, the space had turned into a sea of RVs.

Sisters facilities bring event organizers back year after year. This year's event chairman Jacque Talbert, who goes only by her first name, Jacque, told The Nugget: "We have a little kick-off dance (at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon) on Thursday night. Everybody knows where it is. People come from all over the state and Washington."

An added attraction to the Sisters venue is the special dance session held at the Dee Wright Observatory east of the summit of McKenzie Pass on Saturday.

After a potluck breakfast in the high school parking lot on Saturday morning, those who make the trek to the summit of McKenzie Pass to dance experience a most memorable event.

"We put four squares (32 dancers) inside that little, tiny rock building (with two squares dancing outside the building)," said Jacque. Also about dozen round dancers enjoyed dancing in the rock house. "It's the first time they've round danced in there," said Jacque.

For Saturday night's 25th anniversary affair, dancers arrived in full dress attire, many wearing the official 25th anniversary colors of red handkerchief and denim. Dancers alternated swinging to the calls of Dan Preedy, of Spokane, Washington, and cues of Tami Helms of Portland.

Some, like Sisters residents Susan and Jim Beyer, sat out from time to time to catch their breaths.

"Everybody from the wet side of the mountain wants to come over and dance in Sisters," said Susan Beyer. "It's so much fun. Somehow dancing is like releasing all inhibitions. Suddenly age has no meaning at all. We love the music. We love the dance, and we love the movement of our bodies

Beyer hopes that more Sisters residents will become interested in square and round dancing and join an area club. For information call Talbert at 388-2408.