Tehachapi Gandy Dancers host their June Bug Dance

Despite triple-digit temperatures around the surrounding areas, the Tehachapi Gandy Dancers Square Dance Club played host with their June Bug Dance to 33 diehard dancers. People representing the Mountain Squares at Frazier Park, Bakersfield's Joaquin Squares, the Bakersfield Rounders, the Aces & Deuces from Palmdale, and our own Tehachapi Gandy Dancers came up to cooler mountain air to enjoy a night of dancing and camaraderie.

Brent Lively lived up to his name, gracing us with outstanding calls, good humor, and the wearing of a variety of funny hats for square dancing. Of course, each dance was cause for a particular funny hat! Square dancers danced to a variety of music from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Darrell Beck provided a wonderful rendition of cueing waltzes for the round dances to sounds from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s; leading dancers through some smooth footwork and graceful moves.

Robert Bell, President of the Kern County Chapter of the United Square Dancers of America, presented five Gandy Dancers with a Golden Dancer Certificate. Those individuals honored were Frosti Acord, Troy Guinn, Gwladys Peterson, Jean Schwynoch, and Dee Talor. They join two others, Barbara and Lee Stoddard, who received their certificates as Golden Dancers in January. A Golden Dancer is an individual who has reached the tender age of 80 and is still an active dancer. That is quite a feat! Congratulations to each one of them!

The next event hosted by the Tehachapi Gandy Dancers is the August "Dance Under the Stars" at the Tehachapi Skating Rink at 669 Tehachapi Blvd on August, 19 2017. Andy Allemao will be calling; Chuck and Doreene Ball will provide the cues. Come out and join us!

–Brenda S. Johnston is a member of the Tehachapi Gandy Dancers, and works for the United States Air Force as a technical editor.