Chrissy Ohlinger / Special to the PVT Hunter Martinez and Bella May do-see-do at the 4-H dance club practice on July 8. Advertisement

Pahrump 4-H leader, Lucile Piper hadn't square danced since she was 12 or 13 years old, but having thought that it was fun when she was a kid, she thought maybe kids would like square dancing now.

In addition to the regular activities of the youth development programs like animal husbandry and community involvement clubs, she decided to offer a new square dancing club this year.

She was right, square dancing is still fun.

Thirteen-year-old Rachel May said, "It's a really fun dance. It's active and fun to twirl your skirts. I've danced the boys' part and it's fun to twirl the girls. Everybody smiles and shows off."

Even though she has square danced before, Piper doesn't claim to be an expert or even remember all of the steps, but with help of videos and the Internet, she can put enough together to have fun with the kids.

Eighteen square dancers are currently part of the club, 11 are girls and seven are boys. The number keeps going up as friends and family find out how much fun the kids are having and want to learn to square dance, too.

Although 4-H is open to children from age 5 and up, square dancing has a minimum age requirement of 8 years old. Even then, "It kind of depends on the 8-year-old," said Piper. "It depends on how focused they can stay on the dance."

Boys wear red shirts and jeans, but only for formal dances. They can wear a regular shirt for practice. The girls like twirling in their skirts, so most of them wear their costumes for practice as well, although it is not required.

Any shoes will do, but preferably tennis shoes or some other kind of closed toe shoe, "something that won't fall of their feet," said Piper.

Many of the girls' skirts come from previous dancers' costumes that have been donated and the 4-H club is altering them to fit the girls.

The club is excited for their first official public performance on July 16 at Preferred RV Park at 10:30 a.m. for the TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) picnic. They will perform two dances to the music of "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Engine Number Nine." Each dance is approximately three to four minutes in length.

The club hopes to practice at least two more routines and add them to their performance at the Wild West Extravaganza and the Fall Festival this year. They may perform at Shoshone Days as well.

The club meets every Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at the 4-H building at the UNR Cooperative Extension office. The activities are free, except for $1, which helps to pay for insurance. It is open to join at any time.