A last dance celebrates community sport in a historic Saanich hall switching from swinging your partner to flipping your foe.
The historic social function of the Royal Oak Hall has been an ongoing part of the Saanich community since its construction in 1911. It provided the Royal Oak Women’s Institute, which has operated the building since 1930, the opportunity to work with women, expand their skills, broaden their interests and work together to improve conditions in the home, the community and around the world. Since 1966 the historic building has been a main venue for square dancing in Greater Victoria.
Kenzen Karate purchased the hall from the Women’s Institute in March with karate lessons starting in the fall.
“As the Women’s Institute we are strong community people. The hall was built for the community (and) we’re so happy to hear that Kenzen Karate is taking over … it’s going to be well used as a community hall. We’re very happy with that,” said president Donna Jack.
It does mean a permanent mat going down on the beautiful floors built for square dancing, so the organization hosts one last hurrah on Aug. 28.
“We’re going to have a panel of callers, callers who have not called with us for a long time are coming back to make this a great celebration of the very last dance here at the hall,” Jack said.
If the walls could speak, so many stories could be told of fun and friendship over the years, say longtime dancers.
The hall has provided a dancing home for many of the local square and round clubs including the Mavericks, Country Cousins, Promenaders, Star Twirlers, Squarecrows and Dance A Rounds. Many dancers took lessons at the Royal Oak Hall. On a Wednesday in the summer, it is not uncommon to drive or walk by the hall and hear a caller calling a tip and smiling dancers promenading to the music through the wide-open front doors. Throughout the dancing season, the hall has been transformed by the dance theme of the evening. It has been rolled back to the ’50s for a sock hop or overrun by the British Invasion or taken back to the roaring twenties.
While one venue closes, the dancing doesn’t end. The team hosts two free introduction nights at Cordova Bay United Church, 813 Claremont Ave. on Sept. 8 and 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. Singles or couples, everyone’s welcome to learn with instructor and caller couple Lorne and Barbara Clayton.
Learn more at SaanichSquares.weebly.com.
Similarly, the sale of the building sets up the Women’s Institute to continue its community building, Jack said.
That includes hosting ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) conference next year in Langford, monthly support for Margaret Laurence House that assists women leaving abusive relationships, and currently building backpacks for kids going back to school including food and shoe vouchers.
“We can still continue our work, we have the money now to make more donations to our charities,” she said. “We will continue our work for many, many more years.”
The free Farewell to Royal Oak Hall Dance is Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. at the hall, 4516 West Saanich Rd.
