The caravan rolled south with one thing on our minds—sand, sun, and squares. The 49th Annual South Carolina Square and Round Dance Convention didn’t disappoint, living up to its theme “Sand & Sun in the Palmettos” with a weekend that felt equal parts beach party and dance marathon.
The Brushy Mountain crew showed up in full character. Big Man brought the presence, Babyface kept things smooth, Queen Pookie ruled the floor (as expected), and Cool Hand made it all look effortless. Joining the fun were our newest inmates—Little Devil (living up to the name), The Twirler (who absolutely did), and Cupcake (sweet until the music starts… then watch out).
We knew the coast was clear for a good time—after all, The Warden (Steve Kopman) had hauled the Caseworker, Nurse Ratched, Snowflake, Mr. Cool, and Crash off to Grand Rapids for the “Load the Boat on the Grand River” fly-in weekend; the Warden even took to the dance floor with internationally known caller Dave Heffron, who was surprisingly home for the fun event. That left us free to cut loose without supervision… and we took full advantage.
The high-energy hall stayed packed, with a caller lineup that just wouldn’t quit. Local talent like Tony Oxendine, Nelson Jarvis, Theresa Rutz, Patty Greene, Joe Arnold, Tony Simmons, and Sam Rowan kept the floor moving and the laughs coming. Then came more heavy hitters—Connie Wise, Charlie Petrea, Dan Clairmont, and Ed Pabst—proving that when it comes to square dancing, mileage just means more stories and sharper calls.
After hearing The Twirler’s (Joshua Ransom) calling, we upgraded his sentence to a life sentence without parole—no appeals, no early release, just more tips and more dancing. Somewhere in the middle of it all, it hit us: who needs a gym membership when you’ve got a hot hash tip rolling? Turns out the best workout plan is just staying on the floor and not missing the next call.
Our very own Cool Hand (Luke Wilson) stepped into the spotlight during the Open Mic session, making multiple appearances for the first time and showing his talent to the world. He drew a crowd each time, with dancers and listeners alike gathering to see what he’d do next—and he did not disappoint. Not to be outdone, Little Devil teamed up with Joe Arnold for a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Sweet Caroline,” turning the hall into one big singalong and adding another unforgettable moment to the weekend.
And somewhere along the way, we realized something… we might be turning into groupies. Three weekends in a row dancing to Tony Oxendine? At this point, we’re not even pretending it’s a coincidence. When the music hits and the energy’s right, you go where the calling takes you.
Between the sunshine vibes, nonstop dancing, and a crew that knows how to have a good time, this convention was one for the books. If this is what “Sand & Sun in the Palmettos” looks like, you can bet Brushy Mountain will be back for more.
Until next time—keep your squares tight and your stories even tighter.
