IAGSDC Timeline

Undated

• ??? Foggy City Dancers founded.

1980

• February 3, 1980: Miami Mustangs (later, "South Florida Mustangs" organized for the purpose of reinstituting and perpetuating "the unique art form of Arky( (of the same sex) Square Dancing."
• November: Skip Barrett starts holding square dance classes at Dreamland in San Francisco, CA.

1981

• August ??: Capital City Squares started in Sacramento, CA.
• September: Foggy City Squares starts. (Exact date unavailable.)

1982

• July 30 - August 1, 1982: Reno Gay Rodeo held, at which the concept of a national gay dance organization (including square dancing, clogging, and other forms of C&W dance) is discussed. (program cover at http://gayrodeohistory.org/1982/ProgramReno.htm)

• March 5, 1982: Five dancers run Western Star Dancers' first drop-in square-dance evening in the second-floor rehearsal space above American Conservatory Theatre on Geary Street in San Francisco, CA.

• May 10, 1982: First Western Star Dancers Basic/Mainstream class held, in the 2nd floor lobby of San Francisco's Civic Center YMCA.

• ??? 1982-1983 ??? Puddletown Dancers is founded.

• November 12-14, 1982: Charlie's (Country & Western Bar) in Denver, CO hosts the "First National Gay Square Dance Exhibition". Seven gay clubs throughout the country were invited to attend a weekend of square dancing and workshops. Only five out-of-town dancers show up, all from San Francisco (Alan Hall, Paul Zimmerman, Jack Kendrick, Russ King, and Scott Carey). This constituted the first "fly-in" although that terminology had not yet come into play. Dave "Happy" New Year called the weekend.

• ????, 1982: DC Lambda Squares started in Washington, DC.

1983

• August, 1983: Western Star Dancers hits 100 members.

• February 12-13, 1983: South Florida Mustangs host a weekend of square dancing and touring the local area. (The first Gay Square Dancing fly-in!) Clubs represented by visiting dancers included Puddletown Squares from Seattle, WA, Mile-High Squares from Denver, CO, Western Star Square dancers from San Francisco, CA, and individual dancers from Islip, NY and Prospect, CT.

• August, 1983: At the Reno Gay Rodeo, discussions are held about forming a national association specifically for gay square dance clubs.

• September 10, 1983: First monthly communication from Harlan Kerr, chairman of the newly-formed National Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs (NAGSDC), outlining the proposed bylaws.

• November, 1983: Harlan Kerr sends a letter to clubs all over the country asking them to join the National Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs.

• ??? 1983: Harlan Kerr sends out a letter to the NAGSDC asking to extend membership to the following clubs: (Source: Ten Years IAGSDC)
  • Wilde Bunch—Albuquerque, NM
  • Capital City Squares—Sacramento, CA
  • Midnight Squares—San Francisco, CA
  • Sundancers (New Years’ Resolutions)—Palm Springs
  • Lambda Squares—Washington, DC
  • Rosetown Ramblers—Portland, OR
  • New Year’s Resolutions—Palm Springs
  • John Barley Square Dancers—Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • ...and asking the following clubs to become associate members:
  • Foggy City Squares—San Francisco, CA
  • Fistful of Crinolines—Seattle, WA

• ????, 1983: Emerald City Dancers started in Seattle, WA.

• ????, 1983: Foggy City Dancers started in San Francisco, CA.

1984

• April 6-8, 1984: All Join Hands - The First Gay Square Dance Convention - held at the Madison Hotel in Seattle, WA.

1985

• UNDATED: El Camino Reelers Started by Marilyn Martinyak and Pat Dixon as an alternative to the gay square dance clubs located an hour away in San Francisco.
• May 25-27, 1985: Promenade Along The Rockies - held at The Executive Tower Hotel in Denver, CO.
• ????, 1985: BOQ started in Seattle, WA.
• ????, 1985: Desert Valley Squares started in Phoenix, AZ.
• ????, 1985: Doppler Dancers started in Seattle, WA.
• ????, 1985: Eight Star Squares started in Anchorage, AK.
• ????, 1985: El Camino Reelers started in Palo Alto, CA.
• ????, 1985: Gaslight Squares started in Tacoma, WA.

1986

• Jul. ??, 1986: Hoosier Hoedowners started in Fort Wayne, IN.
• Aug. 22-25, 1986: Star Thru The Golden Gate - held at The Sheraton Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA.
• Dec/ ??, 1986: Hoosier Hoedowners folded.
• ????, 1986: Cheapeake Squares started in Baltimore, MD.
• ????, 1986: Golden State Squares started in Santa Ana, CA.
• ????, 1986: Kansas Korners started in Wichita, KS.

1987

• July 3-5, 1987: Explode The Rose - held at the Hilton Hotel, Downtown in Portland, OR.
• ????, 1987: Charlies Sunburst Squares started in Phoenix, AZ.
• Sep. ??, 1987: Chi-Town Squares started in Chicago, IL.
• ????, 1987: Cleveland City Country Dancers started in Cleveland, OH.
• ????, 1987: Dogwood City Dancers started in Atlanta, GA.
• ????, 1987: Emerald City Dancers rolled into Puddletown Squares.

1988

• May 19-22, 1988: Cross Trails In The Desert - held at the Sheraton Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale (Phoenix), AZ.
• ????, 1988: Grand River Squares started in Grand Rapids, MI.
• ????, 1988: Independence Squares started in Philadelphia, PA.
• ????, 1988: Kansas Korners folded.

1989

• June 30-July 3, 1989: Peel The Apple - held at the Sheraton City Centre in New York, NY.
• ????, 1989: Finest City Squares started in San Diego, CA.
• ????, 1989: Lavender Country and Fold Dancers started in Boston, MA.

1990

• Apr. 12-15, 1990: Northstar Promenade - held at the Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Jun. 16-17, 1990: Alamo City Wranglers started in San Antonio, TX.
• Oct. 5-7, 1990: West Coast A&C "Something New" - held in Seattle, WA.
• ????, 1990: Dogwood City Dancers folded.
• ????, 1990: Doppler Dancers rolled into Puddletown Squares.
• ????, 1990: Heads to the Center started in Portland, OR.

1991

• May 23-26, 1991: Cast A Shadow In The Sun - held at The Fountainebleau Hilton in Miami Beach, FL.
• Oct. 11-13, 1991: West Coast A&C "Make Magic in San Francisco" - held in San Francisco, CA.
• Oct. ??, 1991: Cream City Squares started in Milwaukee, WI.
• ????, 1991: Cotton Pickin' Squares started in Memphis, TN.
• ????, 1991: Chinook City Dance Club started in Calgary, AB.
• ????, 1991: High Desert Stars started in Santa Fe, NM.

1992

• July 3-5, 1992: Diamonds In The Desert - held at Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, 330 Tijeras NW; Albuquerque Convention Center; La Posada Hotel (trail-in dance and overflow), Albuquerque, NM.
• Oct. 2-4, 1992: West Coast A&C "Perk Up in Vancouver" - held in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• ????, 1992: Cadillac Squares started in Detroit, MI.
• ????, 1992: Diablo Dancers started in Walnut Creek, CA.
• ????, 1992: Gaslight Squares folded.

1993

• July 1993: Remake The Circle - held at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.
• Oct. 1-3, 1993: West Coast A&C "Change Lanes to Portland" - held in Portland, OR.
• ????, 1993: Boots in Squares started in Palm Springs, CA.

1994

May ??, 1994: Garden St8s started in Somerset, NJ.

• June 30-July 3, 1994: Stars & Squares Forever - held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.
• Oct. 7-9, 1994: West Coast A&C "Tahoe Tally Ho!" - held in Lake Tahoe, CA.

1995

• May 26-29, 1995: Track II Chicago held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, IL.
• May ??, 1985: GLACD/SC started in Huntington Beach, CA.
• Oct. 13-15, 1995: West Coast A&C "Run Wild" - held in Seattle, WA.
• ????, 1995: Big D Longhorns started in Dallas, TX.
• ????, 1995: Dairyland Rainbow Squares started in Madison, WI.
• ????, 1995: Iron City Squares started in Pittsburgh, PA.

1996

• July 3-6, 1996: Stars, Thars & Cable Cars - held at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in San Francisco, CA.
• Sept. 27-29, 1996: West Coast A&C "Go Half Crazy in Arizona" - held in Tempe, AZ.
• ????, 1996: Bent Squares started in Melbourne, Australia.
• ????, 1996: Dairyland Rainbow Squares folded.
• ????, 1996: Indy Tri Squares started in Indianapolis, IN.

1997

• May 21, 1997: Bloomin' Squares started in Pasadena, CA.
• July 11-13, 1997: Wheel & Deal - held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.
• Oct. 3-5, 1997: West Coast A&C "Shakedown Along The Fault" - held in Redwood City, CA.
• Dec. ??, 1997: High Desert Stars folded.
• ????, 1997: Bent Squares folded.
• ????, 1997: Cuesta Squares started in San Luis Obispo, CA.

1998

• July 2-5, 1998: Weave The Rose - held at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, OR.
• Sept. 18-20, 1998: West Coast A&C "Here Comes The Judge" - held in Denver, CO.
• ????, 1998: Charlies Sunburst Squares folded.
• ????, 1998: Edo 8's started in Tokyo, Japan.
• ????, 1998: Empire Squares started in Riverside, CA.
• ????, 1998: High Desert Squares started in Yucca Valley, CA.

1999

• July 1-4, 1999: Lights, Camera, Linear Action held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.
• Oct. 1-3, 1999: West Coast A&C "Tahoe Rewind" - held in Lake Tahoe, CA.

2000

• Feb. 18-20, 2000: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• June 30-July 3, 2000: Crack The Crab - held at the Hyatt Regency & Sheraton Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.
• Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2000: West Coast A&C "Walk Out 2 A Wave" - held in Costa Mesa, CA.
• ????, 2000: Chinook City Dance Club folded.
• ????, 2000: Garden St8s folded.

2001

• Feb. 9-11, 2001: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• Feb. ??, 2001: Hotlanta Squares started in Atlanta, GA.
• April 12-15, 2001: Make Magic - held at the Westin Bayshore Hotel & Resort in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Sept. 7-9, 2001: West Coast A&C "Pass Out in the Desert" - held in Phoenix, AZ.

2002

• Feb. 15-17, 2002: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• Feb ??, 2002: Boston Uncommons started in Boston, MA.
• July 4-7, 2002: Cloverleafs & Maple Leafs - held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, ON, Canada.
• Oct. 4-6, 2002: West Coast A&C "Tag Back to Portland" - held in Portland, OR.

2003

• Feb. 14-16, 2003: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• July 3-6, 2003: Anchors Aweigh With a Half-Sashay - held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego, CA.
• Sep. ??, 2003: Gateway Squares started in St. Louis, MO.
• Oct. 3-5, 2003: West Coast A&C "A Little More Magic" - held in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

2004

• Feb. 13-15, 2004: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• July 1-5, 2004: Remake The Heatwave - held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, AZ.
• Oct. 1-3, 2004: West Coast A&C "Tahoe Mirror Touch Of Class" held in North Lake Tahoe, CA.
• ????, 2004: Indy Tri Squares became inactive.

2005

• Feb. 18-20, 2005: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• July 1-4, 2005: Star Thru The Silicon Galaxy - held at the Marriott Santa Clara, CA.
• Oct. 7-9, 2005: West Coast A&C "Shake and Rattle in Seattle" - held in Seattle, WA.
• ????, 2005: Anywhere Squares started.
• ????, 2005: Big D Longhorns folded.

2006

• Feb. 17-19, 2006: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• June 30-July 3, 2006: Wish Upon A Thar - held at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, CA.

2007

• Feb. 16-18, 2007: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• May 24-28, 2007: Red Rocks and Purple Mountains - held at the Hyatt Regency at Denver Convention Center in Denver, CO.
• Aug. 17-19, 2007: West Coast A&C "Trip the Sunset" - held in Phoenix, AZ.

2008

• Feb. 15-17, 2008: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• July 3-6, 2008: Touch A Quarter Century - held at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in Cleveland, OH.
• Sept. 19-21, 2008: West Coast A&C "Push Open the Golden Gate" - held in South San Francisco, CA.
• ????, 2008: Champlain Valley Rainbow Squares started in Burlington, VT.
• ????, 2008: Empire Squares folded.

2009

• April 9-12, 2009: DC Diamond Circulate - held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.
• Oct. 16-18, 2009: West Coast A&C "Change Lanes To Route 66" - held in Albuquerque, NM.

2010

• Feb. 12-14, 2010: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• July 1-4, 2010: Chi-Town Shakedown - held at the Hilton Chicago in Chicago, IL.
• Sept. 24-26, 2010: West Coast A&C "Zoom Into Portland" - held in Portland, OR.
• ????, 2010: High Desert Squares folded.
• ????, 2010: Lavender Country and Folk Dancers admitted to IAGSDC as an affiliate member.

2011

• Feb. 18-20, 1011: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• July 1-4, 2011: Gone With The Windmill - held at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA.
• Sept. 16-18, 2011: West Coast A&C "Chase Your Neighbor Thru the Desert" - held in Phoenix, AZ.
• ????, 2011: Cadillac Squares folded.

2012

• Feb. 17-19, 2012: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• June 29-July 2, 2012: Dance Up A Storm - held at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Sept. 14-16, 2012: West Coast A&C "Sock It To Me" - held in Denver, CO.
• ????, 2012: Knot So Squares started in Kansas City, MO.

2013

• Feb. 15-17, 2013: ACDC - held in Washington, DC.
• To be held July 4-7, 2013: Weave Your Heart in San Francisco - San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San Francisco, CA.
• To be held Oct. 11-13, 2013: West Coast A&C "Fiddle Around Puddletown" - Seattle, WA.