Ichabod Squares Dance Club

$ 0 — First class free
$ 6 each additional class
Fun/​Skill/​Learning Factor
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Soooo much fun and really easy to follow. There are open sessions and after those close, the classes start progressing in skills and calls. I imagine that once you learn a fearsome number of calls, the difficulty will be in a little bit of stumbling to remember or as the caller (calls out the steps of the square dance) starts really mixing it up.
Social Factor
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Everyone is really friendly, was approached by the president of the club and his wife, as well as at least four, five other members. Important note, though, is that the age range is… silver. Including myself, there were six under 35 years old. For those running in the silver pack, it seems a great place to get out and be social without any pressure. One member I spoke to met his second wife there, and knew of four other couples that met through square dancing.
They also have a partner system where they just mix names up on a board based on sign-​ins. It’s great for forced mingling and making sure no middle-​school wall hugging business goes on. You can request to stick with a partner (or stay far-​far-​far away from your bring-​along-​buddy)
Treats
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Unsweetened lemonade and coffee for drinks. A variety of sweet cookies for light bites. Dee at sign-​up mentioned soda.
Setting
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1 mile off the 22 (exit Tustin), so near enough to make transport pretty easy. Takes place at the Calvary Chapel, which has a very well placed (and lit) sign which makes it über easy for first-​time goers. The sound of the music and general design of the chapel makes it easy to find the dance room. The only ways to get lost is for the women’s restroom. Plenty of parking in the lot.
Extra!
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— casual wear (it’ll be hard to move in flip-​flops though… and possibly dangerous for your feet)

This is a lot of fun. The people are really nice. A big plus I am getting out of the house meeting new people exercising my brain and my body without trying. I love it.

Ichabod Squares has been around Orange County for years. It’s one of the OC’s hidden gems. The club is super friendly. When I was first learning to square dance 2 yrs ago, I would drive over from Huntington Beach to get in an extra dance class here with excellent caller Dale Hoppers (
).
Like when I was learning to Dance WEST COAST SWING and ARGENTINE TANGO, I found I needed to attend 2 or 3 classes a week for a few months until I’d gotten good at that style of dancing. The Ichabods were always friendly to me. Now I stop by to visit and dance for some refreshment of skills now that I’m just nearby in Orange.
Their dance class is in Orange, but their monthly dances are in GG.
Light refreshments are always served which is nice to keep the energy up while dancing with this fun and enthusiastic club.
If you’re looking for other Square Dance beginners classes in SoCal:
Casual dress is encouraged. I have danced with them in sneakers, ballroom dance shoes (a girl loves her rhinestones!), and sketchers. All have been great. No DIVAs here!
When you go to the classes, you will definitely see more of the older members of this fun and friendly club. Note: the younger dancers in their teens, 20s-​40s are at the dances you can attend starting in MARCH at the Leprechaun Ball.
Oh, and while some romances, engagements, and marriages have started here, it’s not an uncomfortably meat market PUA zone.
See you on the dance floor!