Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT LIARD (Jul 31/98) - There's a movement or two afoot in Fort Liard as approximately a dozen people get together three times each week to do some square dancing.

Last month, Carl Yellowknee, Liard's by-law officer, and Charlie Hardisty got onto the topic of the "barn" dance and how much they enjoy it. Being from Alberta, Yellowknee was in an environment where he was often watching and participating in square dancing.

"We grew up doing that stuff. It's a lot of fun," he said.

Hardisty and his wife, Florence, began to pick up the dance in 1993 at a fiddle jamboree in Hay River. Since then, they've honed their dancing skills during carnivals and festivals.

The Hardistys and Yellowknee decided to start a club in Fort Liard during the first week of July. Since then, up to 20 people, young and old, have been showing up at the recreation centre on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings to try their hand (and feet) at square dancing. They begin at 7 p.m. and "once they start dancing sometimes it runs until 11," Yellowknee said with a smile.

There is no caller yet, just some cassette tapes but that may change in the future. For now, the Hardistys are just teaching the basic steps. You won't hear any "dosey-dos" in the rec centre, Charlie laughed.

The Hardistys are also teaching some eager students how to jig. Even though it looks like a simple dance, it usually doesn't come easy, according to Charlie.

"Some of them are learning it slowly, but they are learning. They try," he said. "It looks easy but it takes about a year."

When the square-dancing group is feeling confident enough, there may be a demonstration for the rest of the community. In the meantime, there's an open invitation for everyone else to come out and give it a shot.

"Anybody is welcome to come and learn," said Charlie, who started to dance on the way back to his pick-up truck.