Christine Hochkeppel

Picture Stories: The Nau-sets

The Nau-sets square dancing club has been on the Cape for over 35 years and still has a devoted following. The group usually meets every Tuesday evening at the Dennis Senior Center for two solid hours of calls, tips and round dancing. 

  • Peggy Kelley of Hyannis ties her dancing shoe before the Nau-sets square dance at Dennis Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2014.
  • Bob Jones of East Dennis reunites with old friends at the Nau-sets square dance at the Dennis Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Jones stopped attending after his wife passed but decided to return this evening.
  • Dave Kelly spins Ruth Tilley while Peggy Kelley  and Jim Tilley promenade during a Nau-sets square dance.
  • Caller Charlie Trapp of Halifax recites the dance steps during the Nau-sets square dance at the Dennis Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2014.
  • Vida Demale of Eastham who is celebrating her 87th birthday waves to a friend during the Nau-sets square dance at the Dennis Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2014.
  • The Nau-sets square dancing club gets three squares moving on a Tuesday night at the Dennis Senior Center. Four couples make a square and dances in patterns designed by the caller.
  • Pat Army of South Dennis wears a red sash indicating that she is a left-sided dancer, which means that she can dance the traditional male role, if needed. Basically, this just allows her to dance more often because usually more women show up than men. {quote}So I can dance all the time,{quote} she said.
  • Ron Brunelle of Yarmouth and his partner Pat Ballo point to finish their round dance during the Nau-sets square dancing night at the Dennis Senior Center. {quote}I always wanted to do it, I just needed to find someone to dance with,{quote} he said.
  • The last square of the night glad hands with each other when the last call is done. Square Dance etiquette is very important to the members. A dancer is not supposed to talk while in a square because it can be distracting for others and it also isn't courteous to leave a square once you have joined. It is also customary to thank everyone in the square after each tip, which is the sequence of calls that makes up a dance to one song.
  • Vida Demale of Eastham hugs the caller Jim Shell of Lakeville as others lineup to thank him and bid him goodnight after an evening to fellowship. According to square dance etiquette, it's important to line up and formally show gratitude to the caller at the end of the night.
  • Intro
  • Portfolio
  • COVID-19 on Cape Cod
  • Helping Haiti Heal
  • Recent Work
  • Corporate
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Portraits
  • Workers Unite
  • Picture Stories
    • Life on the Outside
    • Matthew Starring
    • Nick & Keno
    • Cape Cod After Dark
    • Putting his Mind to the Gloves
    • The Nau-sets
    • Season Ends for Lobstermen
    • Camp Runamuck
  • Works in Progress
    • Worcester Crime
  • Community Musings
  • Cape Cod
  • Carnival
  • Fishermen
  • Home & Garden
  • Real Estate
  • Interiors
  • Private Galleries
  • Multimedia & Video
  • About
  • Contact