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Hootenanny draws big crowd

September 30, 2015

By Jim Eadie

“Doctors say that line dancing is one of the healthiest activities you can do,” claimed Yvette Hastrop, dance teacher for the local Shamrock line dancers club. “You have to use both sides of your brain: the left side to learn the patterns and steps, and the right side to put them to the music.” More than that, it provides memory practice, appropriate low impact physical and cardio-vascular exercise, with companionship and camaraderie.
“And it is a lot of fun,” interjected Marg Wallace, who at 90 is the clubs oldest member. “I don’t have a partner to bring, and I don’t need one!” The club members routinely give her a big ovation when she takes to the dance floor.
There must be something to this. Over 125 dancers gathered for the club’s 12th annual hootenanny at the Bancroft Legion hall on Sep. 19 for 4 hours of dancing, fun and a lunch.
Dancers, men and women, younger and older, along with their instructors came Peterborough, Ennismore, Coboconk, Apsley, Cardiff, and Aurora to try out each other’s dances and dancing stories.
According to Pebbles Boumhour, there are different styles of line dancing including modern, country and traditional styles. The gathering gives everyone the chance to try out different dancing styles, or similar dancing styles to different music.
Hastrop conducts 4 classes a week: 2 in L’Amable, and one each in Faraday and McArthurs Mills. In addition, a group of Shamrock club members regularly dance at the Manor and Riverstone Retirement residence.
A hootenanny is defined by the Urban Dictionary as “celebratory dance and music event, often featuring home-brewed hootch, and tends to be somewhat wild and uninhibited.” Except possibly for the hootch part, this may be a spot on description.
“We always welcome new members,” said Hastrop. “You will make really good friends here.”
For further information, Hastrop can be contacted at: 613-332-0714