“Armstrong Squares” Compete for Blue Ribbon Tonight

by Jonathan Weaver

Tonight, members of a local elite square dancing club will compete at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

Beginning at 6:45PM, members of the Armstrong Squares 4-H Club will participate in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Square Dance Contest & Exhibition, beginning with the introductory parade.

This year Armstrong team will have two competing squares.

Organization Leader Alaina Biesinger said students aged six to 18 have practiced for four months for this one competition.

“All the dancing leads up to going to the Farm Show and the competition. From Year One, they went to the Farm Show,” Biesinger said. “For our group, that’s the only competition there is.”

Biesinger has four sons part of the two competing groups – Samuel, Noah, Levi and Benjamin. She said a variety of parents shared behind-the-scenes responsibility to organize the group.

While most participants are from Armstrong County, some are from Butler, and used to be as young as five years old. Most students also either show livestock, animals or participate in other 4-H activities during the 10-day show.

She said the groups have been very successful in competition during the past five years, while also having fun.

“Most of the time they get blue ribbons and one time they got a red ribbon. I think last year, both squares got blue ribbons, so they do really well,” Biesinger said. “They seem to enjoy it – they really do. They all really like going out to the Farm Show.

“There are 60 squares of square dancers – so it’s pretty amazing to see all those (groups) when they’re out on the dance floor in the arena.”

Biesinger said one thing students had to work on was learning to smile and dance at the same time.
Laurinda Klingensmith, of Vandergrift, watched as 13-year-old daughter, Aneisa, was twirled around the floor during their last dress rehearsal Thursday at the Belmont Complex in East Franklin Township.

“She looks forward to it – in the summer, she’ll say ‘Have you gotten an e-mail? Are we going to start to practice – when is practice starting?’”

Laurinda substituted in during the first year, but found it “very difficult.”

“I’m proud of them – it’s hard work for them to practice and learn this,” Laurinda said. “But, they look forward to seeing each other when the season starts again.”

Lauren Schamberg, 15 of Templeton, is in her first season with the Squares.

A 10th grader at West Shamokin High School in Rural Valley, Schamberg said it wasn’t easy to learn how to listen and know which moves to make to the different dances. She participates in three of the five dances.

12-year-old Loyal Houston and 13-year-old Levi Biesinger have each been dancing for all five years the group has been competing. Levi knew how to dance at least a year before joining because of helping with his mother.

Some parents and supporters left during the weekend to sample the free food and shows. Judging for many events occurred Friday and Saturday

A professional square dance caller for 37 years throughout the Northeast, Denny Steiner of Cowansville, helped the students get ready for the Farm Show.

“You got to work together as a team,” Steiner told them during their final dress rehearsal. “Help each other, smile (and) have fun with it.”

He was confident the group will succeed tonight.

“I’ll put my money on that they’ll bring home blue (ribbons),” Steiner said.

Before tonight’s competition, students also entertained Kittanning Care Center residents during the Christmas season.

Students hope to be seen by friends and family on The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN).