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Northern Twisters seeking new dancers

An old local group is calling on new members to kick up its heels. The Northern Twisters Square Dance Club has been operational in Prince George for almost 60 years. Every September the group starts anew.

An old local group is calling on new members to kick up its heels. The Northern Twisters Square Dance Club has been operational in Prince George for almost 60 years. Every September the group starts anew.

"Seniors are especially attracted to the club because square dancing is a fun, low-impact way to keep active, both physically and mentally," said Neil Hunter, a club member alongside his wife Susan since 2011. "Learning and listening to the calls is a terrific way to keep your mind sharp, and it's also great exercise, and more fun than jogging."

Doreen Arnott said, "I wish we'd joined sooner, right when we retired. We'd have had 10 more years of fun." She and husband Norman consider it a part of their social lives as well as a physical fitness activity. "It's the fun we've had and the people we've met that keep us interested in square dancing. You can travel all over North America and dance all over the place. You meet all kinds of people."

The group's caller, Gys Koops, said all the do-si-do action isn't just for retirees.

"The club has a number of younger dancers, and welcomes couples and individuals of all ages to learn this traditional and social form of dance," he said. "No special clothes are required and new dancers are invited to try their first lesson free."

The 2014-15 season starts on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Knox United Church (1448 5th Ave. at Brunswick St.).

Dances for beginners and mainstream are held each Monday, along with a number of special dances throughout the year, culminating in the Spring Jamboree in June.

For more information, contact Koops at 250-563-4228, or visit www.northerntwisters.ca.