Tag: Hot August Nights

After 20 Years: Hot August Nights in the Bag!
Dancing · My Thoughts · square dance

After 20 Years: Hot August Nights in the Bag!

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Hot August Nights Committee celebrating 20 years!
Hot August Nights Committee celebrating 20 years!

Our 20th Annual Hot August Nights Square and Round Dance Festival is over. What a great event! We danced, we saw old friends, and we met new ones.

How It Started

It all started 20 years ago, three couples created this event—Ted Wright & Larada, Lin Miller & Kathi Raver, and Bill & Freddi Franks. Lin and I are the only people left from the original committee. Then we have added these following wonderful people: Mary Jo Smith, Sheri Pastian, Joan Oliver, Jim & Gabrielle Murphy, Earl Quick, Cathy McKenna, Robert & Lisa Miller, and Gloria Schwab.

Hot August Nights Committee - pictures 20th anniversary - Goofy!
Hot August Nights Committee – 20th Anniversary
Hot August Nights Committee - pictures 20th anniversary
Hot August Nights Committee – 20th anniversary – Goofy!

It has become a smashing success in the Southwest square dance world. Our staff this year made it fantastic: Mike Seastrom, caller and his wife, Lisa, and Mitch & Chelsea Thompson, cuer.

Friday

Lin and I flew in from Panama on Thursday after a horrible travel day on Wednesday because of this festival. It started on Friday afternoon with the Welcome Dance. Mike enjoyed sharing the stage with Kris Jensen Friday afternoon.

Friday night has been traditional our “Beach Party” dance with dancers wearing fun beach ware. Beach balls floated around the hall all night. We danced from 8-10:30 and ended the night with our traditional root beer floats.

During the night Mike, Mitch and Chelsea did a Pentatonix song that was amazing.

Mike, Chelsea & Mitchell Singing a Pentatonix Song

Saturday

Saturday morning started with introduction to round dancing session with Mitchell and Chelsea and then a round dance workshop for experienced dancers.

The committee went out to lunch with Mitchell and Chelsea. We talked about square and round dancing in Colorado where they live.

Then the afternoon started with Mike warming us up with High Energy dancing. Then Mike did Singing Calls for an hour. Harue Swift from Arizona joined Mike on one of the songs.The afternoon ended with a Plus workshop.

During the afternoon, Lin and Larada donned their Guerreros shirts from the men’s basketball team in Boquete, Panama they follow. The team was playing in the Championship game Saturday night. So we asked the dancers to help create a video with the cheer, “Uno, dos, tres—Guerreros!” Here’s the video. (Sadly, they lost!)

Our dancers join in on a cheer for the Guerreros team in Panama!

Saturday night everyone wore beautiful square dance attire, if they wanted to! Here’s me doing a round dance with a friend from Colorado!

Larada round dancing with a friend from Colorado

Mitchell and Chelsea entertained us with a beautiful tango demo of round dancing!

Mitchell & Chelsea dancing a tango!

Mike, Mitchell and Chelsesa sang another song together and the harmony was amazing!

What a lovely evening we had. Again, we ended with root beer floats and visiting with friends.

Sunday

Every Sunday morning at Hot August Nights features craziness for sure. We love to do scatter promenade which mixes the squares up.

At one point, Mike sang “Wooly, Bully” and a group in the back of the hall formed a chorus line. We ended with a congo line weaving our way to the front of the hall. Some of the dancers joined us. What fun! Here’s the link to the our fun chorus line:- https://www.facebook.com/larada.horner/

Sadly, Hot August Nights is over for another year! 20 years of fun and dancing! It is the highlight of the year for me!

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Finally,

I have dedicated 20 years of my life to Hot August Nights and I don’t regret it at all. Also, I have dedicated decades to my writing, so I love featuring a book a month. Tell me what you think!

Larada and Lin in our Hot August Nights Outfits - 20
Larada and Lin in our Hot August Nights Outfits!

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Feed Your Soul with the 19th Annual Hot August Nights!
Friends · My Thoughts · square dance

Feed Your Soul with the 19th Annual Hot August Nights!

Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments
The Hot August Nights 2025 flyer - feed your soul

Feed your soul! The 19th annual Hot August Nights Square and Round Festival is in the books and we had another success!

After a four-hour nap this afternoon, I’m revived enough to write this blog post. Here’s how the weekend went.

Preparing on Friday

We met Sheri Pastian, the new treasurer, at the Wells Fargo at 10:15 am to add her to the checking account. From there we went to her house and loaded up the supplies for Hot August Nights. Then we had a jovial lunch at Panda Express and met the rest of the committee at the danc e hall to prepare for the weekend.

This year we had only six of our eleven-man committee, but these six worked smoothly all weekend. It was amazing. We blew up beach balls for the Beach Party we do every Friday night. We did minimal decorating with two clusters of helium balloons on each side of the stage. Also, we put up schedules and other necessary signs. Ready or not, here they came!

Our first event started at 3:00 PM—the Welcome dance. Mike Hogan started the afternoon off, and dancers enjoyed him as usual. Mitchell and Chelsea Thompson cued the rounds and warmed the floor up.

Then we broke for dinner.

Friday Night

Our Beach Party square and round dance party has started Hot August Nights for nineteen years and no one gets tired of it. People came dressed in shorts and beach attire and a laid-back attitude.

What a fun night we had dancing to Mike Hogan and Mitchell Thompson. Because of my nerve damage, I didn’t dance every tip and every round dance, but I did a couple tips and more rounds than I thought I could, but when the music started to a favorite round, it was hard to not jump up!

Dancers greeted us warmly and asked lots of questions about our move to Panama. Their care and concerned warmed my heart.

As usual, we ended the evening with root beer floats. I love this because people sit and visit and make new friendships and rekindled old ones. Laughter and hugs filled the hall.

Saturday—Daytime Fun

Saturday morning started off with a rounds workshop and then an introduction to waltz. I helped at the registration desk and had a fantastic visit with members of our committee. The round dancers dominated the morning, and usually I would have been on the floor learning the level four cha-cha Mitchell and Chelsea taught. Again I had to refrain from overdoing.

During lunch we enjoyed a hearty conversation with our staff about promoting square and round dancing and their future. Mike, Mitchell and Chelsea shared personal experiences and wisdom. I love this time we’ve created each year to sit and talk with professionals in the field about the two activities I love!

After lunch Mike Hogan started the afternoon off with thirty minutes of High Energy square dancing. I couldn’t participate, but what fun it was! As the time went on, he increased the speed of the music, so the dancers ended up dancing at 150 beats per second.

Watch how Mike stood while calling one of the high energy tips: https://youtube.com/shorts/Rh4dVdv-5eA?feature=share

He ended the session with one of my favorite songs, Fisherman’s Luck.

Then we enjoyed an hour of singing calls where we had the pleasure of hearing Mike’s beautiful voice. The afternoon ended with an hour and half of plus workshop. I was able to dance a little and enjoyed the review of different square dance calls and the challenge.

Lin and I ended the afternoon by taking Mike and Denise Hogan out to dinner and talking square dancing more. However, they are close friends of ours, so we enjoyed more conversation about our lives and families.

Saturday Evening

The Hard Working Hot August Nights Committee - feed my soul
The Hard Working Hot August Nights Committee

I love Saturday evening at our Hot August Nights dance because our committee wears our beautiful club outfit made by Mary Jo Smith. I hadn’t worn a square dance outfit for over a year, so it was a pleasure, even though I’ve gained weight and my pettipants fit too tight!

Early in the evening, we celebrated three birthdays with one man celebrating 89 years! I love the tradition of the birthday celebrants standing up and the other dancers lining up and giving them a hug and a kiss! What fun!

Women lined up to give hugs and kisses to the birthday guys - feed my soul
Women lined up to give hugs and kisses to the birthday guys

Most of the dancers dressed up for the evening, so it was a kaleidoscope of colors. What a wonderful evening we had with great dancing and lots of laughter. I didn’t dance as much as Friday night because my leg hurt. I visited with friends and enjoyed the music and the calling.

Later in the evening, I did danced one tip where the men wore our petticoats. Usually I have an extra petticoat for Lin to wear for this traditional craziness, but they’re all packed up, so when we got into the square, I took mine off right there. When the music started, the hilarity started because some of us changed dance positions dancing the opposite one. I have never laughed so hard in my life—good, clean fun!

For one of the tips, Mike did the calls and Chelsea sang the song—an Adele tune—and it was awesome! https://youtube.com/shorts/8s0sAM2YplQ?feature=share

The night again ended with root beer floats. Mike and Denise entertained a group of us with their disastrous story of their time Mike called for us last and their rental car nightmare. Yes, it was funny today, but not then, I’m sure!

Sunday Morning Fun

Traditionally Sunday Morning at Hot August Nights is a blast, and it was this morning. Because everyone is tired yet exhilarated by the weekend, the dancers come ready to have fun for the short hour and half session.

This morning, we did scatter promenades, air raid and much more as people laughed and enjoyed the time left in this magical atmosphere of a weekend festival.

Mike, Chelsea and Mitchell continued to inspire all of us with their talents and friendship.

When the time ended, we all received lots of hugs and well wishes. After we cleaned up, we had our traditional feedback meeting where we listed the Pluses for the weekend, the Deltas (what needs improvements) and then the remedies. Mike and Denise joined in, and we gained from their objective observation.

To celebrate our triumph, we ended up at Fuddruckers for lunch and more friendly conversation. I will never forget my farewell to Denise. She said, “Longtime friend” which I loved. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to them because of our deep relationship.

So, folks who don’t square and round dance—you are missing out on deep friendships built on a love for an activity that feeds your soul!

If you’re interested in learning more about square dancing, here’s the place to go: https://livelivelysquaredance.com/

My Newest Books

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Buy My Audio Books:

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Hot August Nights: Collaboration at Its Best
My Thoughts · square dance

Hot August Nights: Collaboration at Its Best

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Hot August Nights Committee, 2024
Hot August Nights Committee, 2024

The 18th Annual Hot August Nights Square and Round Dance Festival is over for another year and I saw collaboration at its best.

First,

The Hot August Nights event, from its inception, has been a collaboration of dancers who love to promote square and round dancing. The present-day committee for this event spans multi-states: New Mexico, Arizona, Virginia, Utah and Idaho. As the committee morphed and changed, we added this multi-state dimension and it has worked.

Second,

We have hired top-notch staff each year and have collaborated with them on a variety of aspects about the event, including them when their schedule allows to attend our Follow-up meeting on Sunday at the close of the festival. Listening to advice from national callers and cuers, we have changed our schedule, honed in on specific details of a successful festival and even changed the location of the logo on the front of our 10th annual t-shirt.

Third,

This year, we collaborated with a local square dance club, Duke City Square Dance Club, to provide a Recycle Shop for our event. We have done it ourselves for many years but gave it up after last year because it became too much of a time-consumer for the committee. When Duke City’s president asked if they could do a Recycle Shop, we agreed and it worked out smoothly.

Fourth,

Our staff this year (like so many other years) collaborated with us in a variety of ways. I had made a mistake on the schedule so Mitchell Thompson, our cuer, reminded me of some time changes we needed to do, and it worked out fine.

Friday night we made a schedule change for the Saturday afternoon square dance program, moving the “High Energy” from last event of the afternoon to start it. I didn’t change it on the website and we had local dancers who missed this fun activity because of the time change. Tony Oxendine graciously added another “High Energy” tip so those dancers had a test of that energetic dancing.

True collaboration works!

Last but not list,

Committee members collaborating! Hot
Committee members collaborating!

The Hot August Nights committee is one of the best committees I’ve ever worked with, and this year I saw it in full action. Because of the dog attack wound I had, I couldn’t do my usual duties, so each one of the committee members took extra care to cover my duties, especially my husband, Lin. The event in my estimation hummed like a well-oiled machine.

Finally,

Dancers, staff and committee at Hot August Nights
Dancers, staff and committee at Hot August Nights

Because of the many facets of collaboration, our dancers had a great time at this Hot August Nights. What a joy it was to see all the smiles, hear all the laughter and listen to Tony’s beautiful renditions of so many beloved songs and enjoy Mitchell’s cuing and Chelsea’s helpful spirit and beautiful dancing!

Update on My Dog Attack:

I went to the Wound Clinic on Thursday. The nurse specialist took off the scab and cleaned the wound thoroughly—OUCH!!!! Then he put on a compression bandage from my toes to my knee. The good news is—NO SKIN GRAFT!

Elevating my leg - Hot
Elevating My Leg A lot!

I tried to elevate my leg during the weekend festival as much as possible, but my ankle and foot kept swelling up—probably too much activity.


On Saturday night after listening to all the dances I wanted to jump up and do, with Lin on my left side and my cane on my right side, I did do a 30 second small-step version of a cha cha of “Irish Washer Woman” and cried because I couldn’t do very much!

The Wound Clinic nurse said I will see him weekly for five weeks, so I’ll see what I have ahead of me!

Podcasts & My Interviews

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Let Me Tell You a Story 

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We Danced the Weekend Away!
Albuquerque · My Thoughts · square dance

We Danced the Weekend Away!

Larada Horner-Miller4 Comments
Hot August Nights Committee
A light-hearted moment!

We danced the weekend away at the 17th Annual Hot August Nights! Thanks to a fantastic staff who kept our feet moving: Mike & Lisa Seastrom, caller and Mitchell & Chelsea Thompson, cuer.

Friday, August 18, 2023

We started dancing Friday afternoon at 3:00 PM with an hour “Welcome Dance.” People have just arrived from travels far and near and five squares jumped onto the floor to get their feet wet!

Our annual Friday Night Beach Party had beach balls sailing around the dance hall. Instead of traditional square dance attire, dancers wore anything appropriate for the beach. The relaxed but fun-loving atmosphere set the tone for the weekend. Mike’s high energy calling and songs kept the dancers hopping and Mitchell’s cuing had the round dancers enjoying every song. We ended the night with the traditional root beer floats and lots of casual conversation, a time to get acquainted with dancers you met on the dance floor.

Saturday, August 19, 2023

On Saturday morning, the round dancers came out for the round dance workshop to learn a level four cha-cha that kept us moving.

Then Mitchell and Chelsea offered an introduction to rounds, and the dancers learned how to waltz.

For lunch, a group of dancers went to Millie’s Restaurant close by to visit and enjoy their delicious food. We had the pleasure of talking about square and rounding in Colorado with Mitchell & Chelsea—always a treat to hear what’s happening in other areas.

Then Saturday afternoon we featured square dancing: singing calls, a Plus workshop and then high energy. Whew! My feet ached afterwards, but my heart sang!

Saturday night dancers donned traditional square dance outfits. Our committee wore our gorgeous Hot August Nights outfits.

A few women from the Hot August Nights Committee
A few women from the Hot August Nights Committee

The fun continued with great square and round dancing. We added a new feature to our evening: Mitchell and Chelsea danced a beautiful demonstration for the enjoyment of the crowd! What a beautiful job they did!

Sunday, August 20, 2023

On Sunday morning, we ended the event with a Trail Out dance and had five squares again of hardy dancers. Traditional on Sunday, we scatter promenade and lots of shenanigans happen. The tradition continued, and we danced to the end!

When the event ended, I received lots of hugs and farewells and thanks for a great weekend. That always makes it worth all the hard work. The committee quickly cleaned up and then had a feedback meeting with Mike and Lisa Seastrom joining us. We considered what went well, what we need to improve on and how to improve. We so appreciate everyone’s input, especially Mike and Lisa.

The Hot August Nights Committee & Mike & Lisa Seastrom at Fuddruckers.
The Hot August Nights Committee & Mike & Lisa Seastrom at Fuddruckers.

To end the festive weekend, part of committee and Mike and Lisa headed to Fuddruckers for lunch. During lunch, we enjoyed a heady conversation about square dancing and promoting squares. Again, I appreciated the opportunity to talk about our activity with a national caller.

Highlights

As always, one highlight of the weekend is the people who attend. We had dancers/friends from Mississippi and Virginia.

Square Dance Friends from Mississippi! We Danced!
Square Dance Friends from Mississippi!

We had the short and the tall.

The short and the tall! We danced
The short and the tall!

And especially we had Freddie Franks, one of the three original couples who started Hot August Nights in 2007. She lost her husband, Bill, less than a year ago, and it was so good to give her a hug.

Freddi, Lin and Larada! We danced!
Freddi, Lin and Larada!

Tonight, I’m tired but satisfied. After the pandemic, our attendance has gone down. In 2019, we had twenty-two squares on the floor for Saturday night. In 2022, we had about the same as this year. This year we had ten squares that filled the Albuquerque Square Dance Center with energy and laughter.

And what a committee we have! We worked together smooth like silk, according to Mike Seastrom. It is sheer pleasure to work with this group!

What a success we had! We danced the weekend away! It isn’t always about the head count, but about the laughter and joy on the dancers’ faces. We look forward to next year—we will grow and get it back to where it was!

News, News, News!

Pre-order my new book, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming and Humorous Christmas Memoir, ahead of the Christmas rush. To be released in September for your early shopping pleasure!

Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? meme. We Danced
Take a trip & my book with you!

Listen to my twenty-three minute interview on Masterfesto Media Podcast with Isabel Elias about my book Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uRX60sDFWbejTg7rZAiLn

Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo meme. We danced.
Relax outside with Flippo!

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