They’re young, they are talented and they are a bunch of squares. Square dance enthusiasts that is. YOMADA connects old-time traditional dance music with those who have a spring in their step… those folks who like to kick up their heels, take life less seriously and have a whole lot of fun.
YOMADA has been to Sooke before. First they gave students from the elementary schools’ a quick lesson in square dancing, then they gave them tickets to the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival, taking place at the Sooke Flats. And, they are doing it again. This year they are bringing their fiddles, banjos, bass, guitars, dancing shoes and caller to Saseenos elementary school, on June 17, for an old-timey square dance lesson. They are also offering the same to other schools in Sooke. (Contact them at: http://www.yomada.ca/contact.html ).
YOMADA’s house band, Damian Ritchie, Brad Decker, Alan Law, and Lisa Feeney, plus dance caller Craig Marcuk always bring the whole crowd together for a memorable dance you won’t want to miss.
“They are easy dances taught on the spot, it’s not traditional, it’s a lot looser,” said Phil Shaver, from the Young Old Time Music and Dance Association.
Get it…? Y.O.M.A.D.A.
YOMADA is a non-profit group from Victoria that just wants to teach people to get up and dance to old-time music. Square or not, people are responding to the group. It’s all about fun, kicking up your heels and enjoying yourself.
YOMADA will give Saseenos students tickets to the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival (June 19-21) in the hopes they will bring their parents and have a family day of it, listening to music and later on dancing under the big top tent.
“We want people to get involved in the festival,” said Shaver.
The ticket giveaway is not limited to school students though. The Sooke News Mirror is giving away three pairs of tickets to our readers. All they have to do is send an e-mail to: editor@sookenewsmirror.com with the correct answer to a skill testing question about the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival. The question is: “What happens at the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival at 9 p.m. on Saturday night, June 20?”
Hint: go to the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival’s website (sookebluegrass.com)