Doris Kreiter of Lititz is not happy that her husband, Dave, is retiring - even though Dave is 83. "I hate to see him retire because we have a good time," said Doris, referring to her husband giving up calling square dances, which he has been doing since the mid-1970s. The pair founded the Swing Thru Square Dance Club in 1974. Doris is still looking forward to the last two fun nights of calling that Dave has on his schedule.
Although Dave is retiring, the club he and Doris founded is still going strong, and members are excited to teach square dancing to the next generation. In fact, the club will offer two free introductory nights for those who are interested in learning a bit about this form of dance. The club invites singles, couples, groups, and families to Luther Acres Wellness Center, 600 E. Main St., Lititz, on Thursdays, Sept. 12 and 19, at 7 p.m. Classes will begin on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.
The Kreiters first experienced square dancing at a Lancaster establishment called Worh's Play Barn, which was located behind the stockyards in Lancaster. "We enjoyed it," commented Doris. "We decided we wanted to take lessons." The couple headed to Bob Lintner's home in Lampeter for lessons, which they took for at least a year. "During class I was fascinated with (Bob's) calling, and I wanted to get into it," said Dave. "Toward the end of class, he would let me do a singing call."
After the couple finished taking lessons and founded the club, they held a dance class for teenagers at the old Lititz Rec Center, which was located in Lititz Springs Park. "We finally advertised the class and a couple of the guys and girls got together, and we discussed what to name the group and came up with the Swing Thru," said Dave. They were also involved in dances in the area and around the state. "We went to a lot of square dances and to the convention at State College," recalled Doris.
By 1976, Dave was ready to crank things up a notch. "I went to callers school in Harrisonburg, Va.," said Dave. "There were four callers that ran the school, and (students) got up early and went to class morning, afternoon, and evening." Dave explained that calling came naturally to him, but he sometimes heard other students practicing calls as late as 2 a.m.
"There are different types of calling," Dave noted. Singing calls are done to familiar songs. Dave used "Me and My Shadow" often.
Dave also likes to do calling that is referred to as "hash" or "patter." "That is when I put the needle down (on the record) and the dancers do whatever I call. I tear them apart and put them back together."
Dave is licensed to call through Callerlab, the International Association of Square Dance Callers, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
Square dances are divided into Mainstream, which are the most basic; Plus, which are a bit beyond basic; and Advanced, for those who wish to go beyond Plus. Dave, who noted that he once called at events for 27 consecutive evenings, said that most dances are in the Plus category. Dave noted that he has called for groups that danced in swimming pools, on lawns, and on the beach. More than once, a group of dancers would go to a restaurant after a dance and ask if they could dance there. "After a while they would push tables back," recalled Dave. "There was no music."
"They would just dance what he was calling," finished Doris.
Dave judged the square dancing at the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg for about 20 years. "We judged on dancing skills, timing, execution of calls," he said. Doris remembers when the couple attended a national square dancing convention in Atlantic City in 1976 with about 27,000 other dancers.
Although the pair has not danced in a while, they highly recommend dancing for coordination and exercise. "It's good for your brain," said Doris.
"It's good for your (heart)," added Dave.
Readers who would like to know more about the free lessons may call or text 717-314-7570.
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