Wranglers Encourage All To Have Fun, Get Fit, and Be Square

Posted on November 21, 2011

An American institution, square dancing is alive and well in San Diego County – thanks to the Wranglers.

It all started in 1973 when nine couples completed a square dancing class, and then decided to start a club so that others could join in the fun. “The group first met and danced at the Westwood Club in Rancho Bernardo,” said Don Carnahan, co-president of the The Wranglers Square Dance Club with wife Barbara. “Thus the club is officially chartered as the “Westwood Wranglers.”

Although Square Dancing has been around since the early settlers came to New England, it has changed a lot over the years – with popularity fading out for a time, then revived in the 1930s by Henry Ford.

Today, the Wranglers maintain the tradition, with 45 members from Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos and 4S Ranch. “The Wranglers club is a fun and friendly group of people who regularly host dances, visit other clubs (there are five other square dance organizations in North San Diego County), and sponsor classes,” said Carnahan. “It’s a great, safe place to meet new people and have fun. In fact, we recently had two single club members get engaged at a square dance.”

Carnahan also noted that square dancing is a proven way to reduce high blood pressure and get a good cardio work out.

Wranglers’ regularly offers classes for beginners and for those who want to renew their dancing skills. Although the current class – for both couples and singles – began in September, newcomers with square dancing experience are welcome to begin while the class is in progress. With instruction by accomplished dance “caller” Ray Holmes, each class is 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at Rolling Hills Elementary School, located at 15225 Penasquitos Drive. The dress is casual and the first class is free (and $5 per week thereafter).