The History and Function of EOSARDA

History

EOSARDA was incorporated as an association on 22 June, 1979 in the Province of Ontario (Ontario Corporation Number 417231) and represents approximately 36 independent clubs in the Eastern Ontario area.

EOSARDA was 25 years old - Silver Anniversary in June, 2004. In actual fact, this association began in 1954 as OVSDA (Ottawa Valley Square Dance Association). In 1958 it had a name-change, becoming OSDA (Ottawa Square Dance Association). In 1969 it expanded its boundaries and had a third name-change, becoming OSARDA (Ottawa Square and Round Dance Association.) In 1979, it had yet another name change in order to include the clubs outside Ottawa proper, as well as Round Dancing, and became EOSARDA (Eastern Ontario Square and Round Dance Association). In fact, as of June 2004 this Association was actually 50 years old – Golden Anniversary!

EOSARDA is an Association of dance Clubs - square dance, round dance, and line dancing - in Eastern Ontario. The geographic area of lies east of a line from Belleville to Deep River, to Ottawa, to Cornwall, to Kingston and back to Belleville. Within this area there are about 36 clubs registered with the Association.

EOSARDA is the first level of organization above the individual Club level, and together with the Toronto and District S&RD Association, the South-Western Ontario S&RD Association, Lakehead S&RD Association, and the clubs across Northern Ontario, form the Ontario Square and Round Dance Federation.

The Canadian Square and Round Dance Society (CSRDS) is made up of members, consisting of dancers, callers, leaders, Clubs, Associations, and Federations. The Society is organized on a national basis, with its Board of Directors consisting of a representative from each Province and Territory.

All three levels maintain web sites to inform dancers and other interested parties about the business and pleasure of square and round dancing, and other forms of dancing such as clogging.

What Does EOSARDA Do?

• organizes and runs four open dances yearly. These are:
  • Frosty Fling in January/February as an official welcome to dancers who have begun their basic course in September
    
  • Jamboree in early May as a year-end fling for all dancers
    
  • August Affair which is an open summer dance
    
  • Fall Fest in October as a welcome back to dancers returning for the new season
    
    These dances bring together dancers from all EOSARDA area clubs to meet new friends, to learn to dance to callers/cuers outside of their own club, and to experience some of the broader enjoyments of the square and round dance movement.
    
    
• publishes Square Time four times a year, to inform dancers of activities of the different area clubs, upcoming open and Club dances as well as meetings of interest. There are also articles of local, national, and international interest. Advertisers let us know about goods and services related to our activity. There is also a Letters to the Editor' section where dancers (and others) can comment, suggest, critique, offer new ideas, or just "blow off steam" - your chance to have your say!
  
  
• makes available to member clubs, their dancers, callers/cuers/leaders, the benefits of Third Party Liability insurance. The insurance policy is held by the Canadian S&RD society. Additional liability insurance, through the Federation, covers the executive of each Club.
  
  
• receives and approves proposals, from time to time, for initiatives such as providing financial assistance: for training of Callers, Cuers, and Leaders who plan to take courses to update or improve their skills; advertising and promoting community activities with an object to increasing the number of square and round dancers in the area; and other causes related to our activity.
  
  
• owns some equipment (turntable, speakers, mike, etc.) which can be used by callers, cuers, and leaders as back-up, or in the event of an emergency, or for other special occasions.
  
  
• tries to respond to many requests for music and dancers at a variety of demonstrations, whether official functions, festivals, demonstrations in nursing or senior citizen homes, or in shopping malls, throughout the year. These provide good exposure and publicity to the dance movement, provide excellent entertainment for those confined to homes, and can be a stimulus to encouraging new dancers into the movement.
  
  
• is aggressive in supporting the cause of members of the Association who have given exceptional service or long service at a sustained high level to the dance community, and who are proposed for recognition by their peers to the Ontario Federation or the Canadian Society.
  
  
• believes that 'dancing in all its forms' is indeed fun and friendship set to music.