It was a sunny day in 1971 when my army buddy, Andy Isaacs and I decided to visit the Saigon Zoo. Just outside the gate to the zoo we could hear music coming from an open door on the second floor of a corner building on the very busy street. Luckily for us there was a wooden stairway leading straight to the music. We climbed up and looked inside and saw Vietnamese square dancing and having a great time. They approached us and invited us to join. A pretty young girl named Giselle took Andy by the hand and he followed to join in the dancing. I didn’t dance! Andy returned many times to dance with the square dancers and today still enjoys a deep friendship with many of the people that he met there.

As for me, I was content spending most of my time with the other guys of the Stak House, home to Company A, smoking from our bamboo water bongs, made by the POW’s. We were waiting to return to the States, our home. Thirty-three years later I found myself again waiting. Now the loss of many friends to Aids and me at home ill too, mostly alone, I was waiting! A local handyman once commented that he sometimes worked for gay artist Dan Smith who recently started square dancing and seemed very excited about it all. I phoned Dan who was only too glad to help. Finally came his call about new classes soon to begin.

The most difficult time was that moment I crossed the street in front of my apartment and headed to the Castro to begin my first lesson. After those first few steps there was no looking back. Just over a year now I have been dancing and meeting wonderful new friends. Waiting, yes, but now for the next time to dance!

The Caller

My window suggests a party at a barn. The design of the barn is from my dad’s farm along the Gila River. The beams of pine lumber were cut by the cowboys from the White Mountains near Morenci, my hometown in eastern Arizona. Bales of yellow straw are easy seating for country-dances. I included a circular turquoise window, which is reminiscent of the copper waters, which flow down Chase Creek near the mines. The red in the microphone and the black, white and blue bunting draped along the back wall represent our gay levi/leather community. The interior is organic, rustic and inviting, combining the contemporary with the traditional. Andy Shore is smiling and giving his usual signal for moving three quarters around the square! The rhythm of the voice of the caller/teacher and the music commands the four couples through a succession of patterns. The caller is sometimes called the ninth member of the group. The basic common language of the caller coordinates the motion and movements of the dancers into endless combinations around the dance floor. Today square dancing can be danced anywhere because of the standardized definitions, styling and timing. However, the best way to become a proficient dancer is by constant floor time.