Square dancing is a very social and sociable activity that has lots of politeness rituals associated with it.
For example, at the beginning of the evening, it’s customary for all the dancers to greet each other with handshakes and hugs. Then, at the beginning of a tip (that’s a pair of two individual dances; typically a hoedown or "patter" call, followed by a singing call–and BTW, square dancing is where we get the word "hoedown") it’s customary for all the men in a square to greet everyone in the square. Then at the end of a tip everyone applauds. Then, after applauding, everyone in the square individually thanks everyone else in the square for dancing with them. And at the end of the evening everyone gives the caller a big round of synchronized applause and a "Thank you!" and then shakes his hand.
All this greeting and thanking means that it’s very useful for square dancers to wear name tags–particularly when you have dances where people from more than one club are present.
And so clubs typically have name badges. They usually have the dancer’s name, the club’s name and logo, and they are often given to a dancer at the time he graduates from a mainstream square dance class and is formally invited to join the club. (Till then, student dancers are typically given informal stick-on or pin-on name tags that have their name written in magic marker.)
Over time, name tags tend to get embellished in various ways. For example, it’s common for dancers to drill holes in the bottom of their name tags and then attach small, little dangly things to them. These dangly things are known, appropriately, as "dangles."
Some dangles are given on particular occasions. For example, if you attend a particular club’s anniversary dance, you might be given a dangle that commemorates the event. Or, if you visit a distant square dance club while travelling, you might be given a travel badge commemorating your visit (not all of these are dangles, though; some are pin-ons).
Some dangles don’t commemorate anything special and are just for fun. These are appropriately known as "fun dangles," and you can typically buy them at big square dance events. They often have cute sayings or pictures on them.
Some dangles take the form of bars that stretch across the width of the dancer’s name tag. These are often used to indicate what office a dancer holds or used to hold.
I keep my name tag pinned to the front of my vest, so I don’t forget to wear it when I go dancing (transferring it from one shirt to another would be a sure recipe for me to forget), but I haven’t had any dangles up to now (in part because I don’t have a drill with which to attach anything to my name tag). I haven’t even received travel badges when I’ve visited other clubs travelling.
But at last Friday’s dance I was given my first one.
Congratulations Jimmy….I guess we should address you, Mr. President (hee hee)
It doesn’t look like you have much more room for “thingies”.
Square dancing sounds like a lot of fun!
Saaa-LUTE!
(Okay, I grew up watching Hee-Haw).
In my family and circle of friends we go “HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
Very nice, Jimmy!
Congratulations, Jimmy! I so want to square dance now. I’m off to check for local groups.
(it was the dangles that got me :))
Sounds like a lot of fun. Nice badge dangle too 🙂
Can you elaborate on the ‘Alpine Squares’? I’m having a hard time putting ‘San Diego’ and ‘Alpine’ together in the same sentence.
Nice reveal there at the end, Jimmy.
Oh, almost forgot. Congratulations!
Look at the badge again, Monica. Jimmy’s group is named for Alpine, CA which is east of San Diego.
Alpine, CA in Google Maps
And the Jimmy Akin personality cult was futher affirmed of their leaders greatness…
Thanks, Edward. I guess it pays to read the fine print! (Now I have to find out why they named the city Alpine…) 🙂
JIMMY AKIN:
WATCH MONK THIS FRIDAY — MONK WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A HOEDOWN IN THE UPCOMING EPISODE!!!!
Mr Akin,
Is square dancing akin to contra-dancing?
God bless you.
Check for movie times and even buy your tickets on … “fun dangle.”
Wow — all of us are pretty dorky. I love, however, revealing glimpses of dorkdom’s outer reaches. Today, Jimmy has given me that glimpse.
So when my wife makes fun of me for whatever geekiness I’ve accidentally let slip in front of her, I will always be sure to remind her of this post.
For this reason, I love Jimmy.
Dan Hunter,
Here’s an old post Jimmy did about round and contra dancing: click here
I think it might answer your question in a round-about way.
This reminds me of when SpongeBob couldn’t find his nametag, and ended up rummaging through a dumpster and going a little bananas.
And his nametag didn’t even have a dangle!
Interesting, and the ethical guidelines for a particular ministry including no hugging.
Congrats on the office!
(and ROFL at the Hee-Haw reference, Tim J.)
Jimmy,
You don’t own a drill? How is that even possible? I would suggest a corded 3/8 in. Crafstman (I have a Black & Decker, but B&D longevity is iffy). Battery packs are good for outdoor use and versatility, but the batteries can only be charged so many times, and they go dead just after they stop producing your model. Cords also deliver the same amount of power all day long — batteries go slowly, so you gradually lose torque. Also, the corded options are cheaper — the 3/8 in. Crafstman is only $39.99.
Is there a St Vitus medal you could ‘dangle’ off the bottom, El Presidente?
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv07.htm
Tim, I have to admit that I owe my education about SpongeBob to you. Thanks for your public service 🙂