KICKIN' UP THEIR HEELS: SQUARE DANCERS CONVERGE ON CAPE

When Doyle Collin's daughter wanted to take square dancing lessons, she dragged daddy along even through he dug in both heels.

Ten years later, Collin and his wife Linda are president of the Missouri Federation of Square and Round Dancers.

About 1,000 dancers are expected to promenade across the Show Me Center floor this weekend. Dancers from Missouri and several other states are participating.

"It's an activity families can do," Collin said. "You can take your children. You meet a lot of good people, friendly people.

"Honest people, down-to-earth people," Linda Collin added.

In fact, Missouri boasts more than 7,000 square dancers, 173 clubs and a monthly publication to help the dancers keep track of what's happening.

John and Jean Stewart, publishers of the newsletter, drove to Cape Girardeau from Warsaw, Mo., for this weekend's event.

"People will drive a long way to dance," John Stewart said.

"We do it for the fellowship and the exercise," said Jean Stewart.

One night of dancing is equal to walking five miles. "And it's a lot more fun," John Stewart said.

As the music started, the Show Me Center arena filled with mushroom-like skirts, cowboy shirts and boots. Couples "squared up" and followed directions from the caller.

Dancers must learn over 100 different calls to become proficient.

Rocky Walker, a caller from Charleston, explained that most people take about 20 weeks of lessons to learn those 100 calls.

Walker said he was badgered into square dancing by his sister-in-law. It took three years of badgering to get Walker to his first dance. He was hooked.

"You meet a lot of nice people and it's fun," he said.

Evelyn Nussbaum of rural Cape Girardeau was one of the coordinators of this weekend's event agrees.

"You meet a lot of nice, friendly people," she said. "And it's something you do as a couple. You go together. You dance together. It's good, clean fun."

In addition to traditional square dances, dancers this weekend are also doing round dances. Dancers form a circle, keep the same partner and follow directions as the travel around the floor.

Dancing continues today at the Show Me Center. It is sponsored by clubs in the Southeast and Mineral Area regions including two in Cape Girardeau, two in Jackson, one each in Oran, Puxico, Paducah, Ky., Bonne Terre, Arcadia Valley and Bismark.