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Thu Feb 23,2012
The Western Dance Club of Utah Inc. Pleasant Grove Utah Country Dance
Quietly becoming one of the best.
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Club History Links
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The Western Dance Club of Utah, Inc. was originally founded in 1988.
The club started as student organization on the Utah Valley Community Campus now Utah Valley Unviersity. With good support from the College the group meet weekly for social dance.
Unique in the community. All of the proceeds from the weekly dance went to the annual sub for santa christmas projects for the largest and most needy families.
The club had growing pains however. Originally meeting in the small rooms, work rooms, storage rooms, the cafeteria they out grew the buildings offered. When it was possible the club organized its dance on the Provo campus at the old ball room for a monthly dance until the campus was closed. Finally running out of room and a place to go the club separated. The club president set enough funds in place to keep the club growing and moved to Provo national guard armory.
The new home and was a great success. The club continue to grow entirely filling the armory.
So successful and greatful for the new home the club quickly began thanking the veterans who had supported them. The soldiers dinner for veterans, and the families of the men and women who where deployed became a tradition. These nights including dinner, movies, and pop corn for the Vets and their families who had offered the building. They continued the tradition of charity and contributions to needy families every year. Giving all of the proceeds from the dance that were not needed to cover costs to those families in need.
After many years of success, the president was approached by the Primary Childrens Hospital in Salt Lake City for help. The discussion centered around giving temporary gifts of toys, and food lasting a few days or months. Or the club could give a life time gifts such as surgical needs, patient care and a better life. The decision was clear and the club turned over proceeds to Primary Childrens from that point on.
After a few years and the close of the Palace. The members and dancers from the Palace moved to Provo to the Armory as well. For several years both groups enjoyed the success of both a Thursday and Saturday night in Provo. The Nation Guard had other planse however. After many months of planning, and work a new facility was purchased and the building sold to Provo city. With further growing pains and running out of room the decision was made to move the dance once again. Pleasant Grove became the venue for the Saturday night dance for years to come.
After negotiating with the city in 1994 the Pleasant Grove recreation center was chosen to continue the tradition of the Saturday night dance. The cities disused recreation center once home to the cities roller skating night quickly became the best dance in the valley. Groups from the dance and from all across the state began coming for a night of dance. Some driving from Logan and other parts of the state for a night out.
The dance became know for is dance and it's safety. Held next door to the cities firestation, police department, and library the dance once again grew.
The clubs official home has been in Pleasant Grove for more than 15 years. Providing the best place to dance in the valley. But from time to time it has been asked why not move from the old rec center. The undertaking was started many years ago after moving and moving, and moving once again. To find a permanent places for the club to have it's home. After searching the club purchased acreage for a new home and began peparing to move. After after some time and discussion however there was a decision to sell the property. The club needed a home but it was determined that running a nightly dance was not in the clubs best interest. Having a club and owning the property and operating, staffing and insuring a nightly dance was more than could be managed.
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The clubs president is Mark Robbins. The club originated as a result of Marks interest in dance from highschool, and on into college. Mark attended Utah Valley Community College, and Brigham Young University attaining a degree in Electrical engineering.
Dance has always been an intimate part of Marks life. Having successfully started and run the organization Mark began branching out into the community regularly teaching at many venus. Originally at the Armory in Provo Mark was asked to instruct the thursday night dance lessons at The Bay for several years until becoming a private club. Mark continued his passion by teaching at Ricks College, Snow College, BYU, and several organized business events taking place at the Salt Palace, and other locations.
Running the club the Mark has continued to bring home town values to the dance. Each member in attendance is an part of his life. He gets to know and is friends with nearly everyone who enters the dance. Greeting people at the door and sitting to visit with them. After many years the club has become a place where people know your name and ask how your doing when you get to the dance. All because of the care of the club president.
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Charitable Work and Giving Back!
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The clubs roots in charitable work began at it's inception. Originally starting as a campus organization the proceeds of the dance were saved yearly for the annual sub for Santa drive. The club took on the largest and most needy families the campus was asked to help. Providing food, clothing, and toys for familes that were doing without
The change from a campus club to a public ogranization made no difference in the already strong community involvement. Upon moving to the National Guard Armory the club began its work again. Providing dinner and movie nights to the veterans, and families, of those that were deployed.
After a special request from the Primary Childrens hospital in Salt Lake. The club turned over all proceeds not needed to keep the dance running to Primary Childrens as a way to give a life time gift. The club continues this tradition by giving at the annual telethon and by serving when needed.
Where did all that money go. We from time to time get asked. The club has given generously to the community. The club has donated annually during good years more than $10,000 dollars to Primary Childrens and other organizations. Although an accurate estimate has never been completely done the group easily donated in excess of $60,000.
Charitable groups include Primary Children's medical Center, Special Olympics, Transplant victims, Cancer patient support groups, and many more.
The club currently holds dances every Saturday night at the Pleasant
Grove City recreation Center located on the corner of 100 East 200 South
in Pleasant Grove. The dance club is a non alcoholic, no smoking, dance
club for those who love to dance. Membership is NOT required and the
public is encouraged to attend. Dance lessons are provided one hour
prior to the dance for those who have an interest to learn. For more
Info. Please e-mail
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The club regularly dances in City parades all along the Wasatch front. These city parades in club members home towns. In recent years these have included parades in Brigham City, Orem, Santaquin, Pason, and others. The purpose of parades within the organization is dance and dance performance. We work routines, partner dance, and line dances in to the parade. This also helps us promote the club
In most cases a semi tractor, and trailer are obtained and time donated to the club. The truck is decorated the day of the parade with banners, skirt, flags, and sound equipment. The club meets at the parade route 1 hour prior to the parade beginning. The music is preselected, some routine practice is done. Parade rules, and safety are addressed. Members wishing to participate have a prayer, and the parade is begun.
Parade routes vary largely. As cities grow these can last some 30 minutes or longer. It is recommended that you come prepared for a long day and invite enough people to participate to ease the wear on dancers. In general 20 couples are needed to meet a parade requirement. These couples spent time on and off the trailer. Dancing is done both on the trailer and on street level. During street level dances members are encouraged to select members from the audience to dance with. This is as little as one song or a few minutes. Young our old this becomes a great way to participate in the community. The club has a reputation of getting the croud tapping toes, clapping hands and waiving excitedly.
Members can request attendance at their city parades through the club president. Those the club cannot participate in all parades we will attempt to attend when ever possible.
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Santaquin Days
The Western Dance Club of Utah Inc. was founded by club president Mark Robbins. Mark's home town is Santaquin,UT and Mark has fostered great support from the community. The result of which has been the clubs annual Santaquin Days celebration and Fireworks Party .
This event is special to everyone in the club. The event is kicked off with a pot luck dinner & BBQ, games, movie night, and rodeo. For many years this has included an outdoor movie this is great fun. Members can choose from the home town rodeo, and/or movie depending on the night, and schedule. Friends, camp chairs, sleeping bags, grass, and stars in the sky. Members visit, through out the night catching up on time past. Some nights there is very little sleep to be had.
The Saturday morning of the parade is a buzz. The day is electric. Breakfast is provided by the club bright and early in anticipation of the parade and the days activities. There is a bussle as showers, changes, dress, and prep is made by all members. The truck arrives, banners, flags, and drapes are all added to the trailer. The sound gear is loaded and the day is begun. The parade route is a little less than a mile long but hundreds turn out every year. The basic safety, and security is covered in a short message. Members visit with friends from in town, joke, and play for the time leading to the parade. As the truck pulls onto main street and the sound from the PA is brought up the excitement grows.
The club has been heard on stage from one end of main street to the other. Dancers are hard at work and the croud excited with anticipation. Members are on and off the truck mingling. Ariels some 20 feet over head are done. Teams perform hard fought for routines. Some twenty or thirty minutes later it's all over.
The club continues to be a favorite amoung residents and the city is always greatful. But the best is yet to come.
The annual water fight has been a favorite for many. Two houses 5 lawns, water baloons, hoses, buckets, and what ever any one can find to soak an opponent is at hand. There is no warning it's just expected that if your standing still your want to be wet. There are nevery any sissy squirt guns. Just good old fashioned fun. For more than an hour every form of attack is plaied out in the melay. The quiet subtle sneak up and poor. The quick dash and splash. The fight for the hose. Everything that can be though of or done. The house doors are locked and there is no room to escape. Unless you go to the craft fair and hide:)
Exhausted and laughing everyone teases, and laughs about the best hit, or douse. Each takes leasure time to sun, dry out, and ready for the rest of the day.
The car show has been a popular draw for many years. All types of autos can be found. From Model T's to muscle cars. The city park becomes a wonderland for music, entertainment, cars, food, and nick nacks. In recent years talented indivduals from all over the valley come to sing, dance and play for the crowd. Texas BBQ, burgers, and treats of all kinds can be found just a few steps away.
The afternoon draws on, and the excitement builds as the first engine fires up and comes to life. It's the annual HotRod BURN OUT. The city main street is alive with horse power, the smell of rubber, and burnt fuel. For more than an hour the car show takes to the street for a drive, and burn out. It's not to be missed.
But the end of the day is no where in site. The mud bogs, derby, and are still a few minutes away.
Think it's all over.. NOT EVEN. The afternoon spills over into the city ball park and arena for the rodeo. The royalty take the arena for a parade, and raide. The smell of horse flesh, bulls, and people fill the air. For some three hourse the contest of man and animal is played out. Times and score cards posted. The best and the worst of rodeo clown humor, and did we mention the mutton bustin?
But what is all that compared to FIREWORKS!!!!!
Santaquin Days FIREWORKS!!!
Many of you know about the parade but did you know The Western Dance Club of Utah is also into fireworks?
Due in large part to Mark Robbins the club has been the cities group, to enable them to have a fireworks show. The history came following a year when the club president helped Santaquin get their first show off the ground. Gathering community support, getting gear, and finding pyros for the show. The show was so successful it was officially turned over to Mark after the very first year.
The annual event has become much loved among the club. Members are selected from the trusted friends of the club. The annual traning class gets everyone ready for the summer event season. The group prepares and selects shells from all varieties.
For many years the show was fired electronically. Music was selected and days of effort put getting the score cut, timing shells, preparing the show, and setting up. Santaquin has had the rare and awesome opportunity to have such a unique display in the entire state. The shows fully choreographed and timed to music normally costing tens of thousands of dollars has been present every year because of the interest of Mark Robbins.
Many have expressed interest in becoming part of "THE Dancing Pyros." We invite you to become part of the club and visit with us. You may be selected to continue the tradition of fireworks and fun within the clubs fireworks crew.
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