Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim and Pam Kidwell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I (Jim) was going through a divorce and a friend invited me to a square dance class in La Mesa. After the first few classes, I was hooked. After finishing my La Mesa square dance class, our Caller announced another class was starting in Balboa Park and suggested we attend the new class as Angels (those with some knowledge of square dancing).
Even though I had no partner, I decided to attend the class in Balboa Park; there I was partnered up with a lady that walked into join the class, Pam (who also was going through a divorce). We hit it off the first night and the relationship grew. We were married in late 2000 at a square dance wedding. Together we attended several other new classes and graduated from each 1999. Our first out of town dance was dancing in Lake Havasu, actually dancing in the lake. Since that time we have attended many local dances and conventions, state conventions, national conventions, and danced on Parliament Lawn in Canada.
We served as officers at the club, local association, and California state level where we are currently presidents of the California Square Dance Council. In addition, we have served on committees from the local to the national level. Square Dancing is the largest all-volunteer activity even at the highest levels.
In 2001 a call was announced for dancers to participate in a California Heritage Dancer performance at the 50th National Square Dance Convention in Anaheim CA. We volunteered and six months later we performed in the Anaheim arena before an audience of 6,000. We were hooked and joined the California Heritage Dancers. The group shows the history of square dancing from the time the U.S. was founded until the 1950s. Our routines use costumes, music, and customs true to the time period.
We worked hard at the routines and gained knowledge of square dancing history and are now Co-Directors of the group. As part of the Heritage Dancers, we have performed all over the United States and in Canada.
Has it been a smooth road?
Jim thinks it was fairly smooth because of his education & training. Jim has a Master’s in Business Administration and is an aerospace engineer. Pam has been in the service industry and had more concerns.
We served as Vice-President of the San Diego Square Dance Association (SDSDA) in this role, we helped organize the monthly dances and participated in the California Council activities. As presidents of SDSDA, the organization was audited by the IRS for our tax exemption category.
We learned a lot about tax exemption categories and requirements of each category as part of this process. We gained a thorough knowledge of the organization at the local level and started to understand the state organization. Later we were convinced to become Presidents of the California Square Dance Council and are dealing with some of the same tax issues.
Several other issues facing the square dance community are:
The biggest concern is the aging of our dancers and the lack of new dancers coming into the activity, causing a decline in the participation in square dancing. We are finding empty nesters are interested in getting out into the social activities.
We are working to modernize the perception of square dancing. Instead of the ‘turkey in the straw’ music, many Callers are using contemporary to modern music. For example, we dance to the Bob Segar, the Beatles, Neal Diamond, Lady Gaga, and many more.
Another issue is communications using modern technology, not all of the square dancers have come into the modern age.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
To understand our organization you need to understand the history of square dance. We live in an age of change, in a country where change is rapid. Yet amid all the rapid change there are some things which remain the same. Since the time of the earliest settlers, dancing has been a primary socializing element in this country. As favorite dances were handed down from one generation to the next, each adding their own variations, certain common threads remained constant.
In spite of regional differences, clothing constraints and varying tastes, these common threads formed the fabric from which today’s modem American square dancing was created over the past 300 years. The present has emerged from the past. American square dancing is no longer confined to the borders of our states. It is now worldwide, with large clubs in many foreign countries. It is interesting to note that square dance calls are always in English in these countries, regardless of the national language. Dance historians generally agree that the dance that we know today as square dancing resulted from a blend of European dances brought to this country by the earliest immigrants.
A national survey of square dancers found there were dancers with all levels of education, economic status, culture, and work experience. Dancers range from pre-teens to over 100 years old. The activity keeps the body moving and the mind alert. There are some clubs and organizations which specialize in dancers with special needs. At some dances you may be in a square with dancers from Europe or Asia where you cannot communicate but when the dancing starts everybody is on the same page, dancing the same formations.
What we are most proud of is no matter your capabilities or needs there is a place for you to square dance.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
While some think of us as a business, we are a volunteer organization. We provide a social activity in which many can participate and a way to exercise in a social setting. We offer classes in square dancing that can be used worldwide which is ideal for military families, students, and world travelers.
San Diego does offer limited benefits to non-profit groups which support the community. Due to budget constraints, we appreciate what is offered but would wish for more benefits.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sdsda.org
- Phone: (619) 235-8151
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/fiestasandiego/
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
