Bows & Beaus Square Dance Club
 

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The Bows and Beaus Singles and Couples Square Dance Club of the Mountain View / Los Altos area of California is a member of the Santa Clara Valley Square Dancers Association (SCVSDA), and is one of the longest operating and most respected square dance clubs in the Santa Clara Valley. Our caller, Tork Clark, has been voted one of the Top Ten callers by members of the SCVSDA. Our round dances are cued by Sandi Kremer. Visit us on Facebook.


Learn to Square Dance!

Square dancing is lots of fun, a great way to meet people, and provides enjoyable exercise for both the mind and body! Once you have learned the basics (which for us means up through the internationally recognized Plus program), you can dance almost every night of the week, if you wish! There are often dances (called Hoedowns) on weekends, with even larger events at various times throughout the year.

The location and time of our next class will be announced as soon as they are known. If you'd like further information, please send a message to class@bowsandbeaus.org telling us how to contact you! Both singles and couples are welcome, and you may attend either with or without a partner!


Where Do We Dance?

Both the class and club dance at:

Loyola Elementary School
770 Berry Avenue
Los Altos, CA
Click for map.

  • See Coming Events, below, for any temporary changes to this location!


Contact Information

Our mailing address is:
Bows and Beaus
PO Box 1107
Mountain View, CA 94042
 
Our e-mail address is:
contact@bowsandbeaus.org

About the Club


The club dances the Plus program of Western Square Dancing on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., with Round Dancing (Easy through Phase III) also included in the evening's program. Partners are NOT required. Please see Club News or Coming Events for more information. The club sponsors a beginning square dance class each year on Monday evenings.

Bows & Beaus began dancing in 1963 at an apartment house in Mountain View, and remained in that city for many years. After a brief time in Palo Alto, we moved to Los Altos in 2006. Today our dancers come from throughout the South San Francisco Bay region: Redwood City, Menlo Park, Stanford, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Fremont, and Milpitas! We've also welcomed visitors from throughout the United States and from other countries!

If you would like more information please email us at contact@bowsandbeaus.org.


The Ice Cream Fling Thing!
51st Annual
John Muir Middle School

Since 1973 local square dancers have welcomed the month of June by attending the Ice Cream Fling Thing, the Anniversary Dance of the Bows & Beaus. Held the first Saturday of June, this year's 51st Annual dance was on June 7 at John Muir Middle School in San Jose and featured the calling of Jay Henderson, rounds by Sandi Kremer, and music by the Ghost Riders Square Dance Band. A special thanks to all those who attended and made this year's 50th Annual dance a success!

The Sweetheart Special
February 14, 2026
John Muir Middle School

Shauna Kaaria, Caller
Sandi Kremer, Rounds

For many decades the Katydids Sweetheart Special dance reminded us that February was the month of Valentine's Day! When Katydids disbanded, Bows & Beaus agreed to keep the tradition alive by sponsoring the dance. The 2026 dance will be February 14 at 7:00 p.m. at John Muir Middle School, 1260 Branham Lane, San Jose, and will include SSD, Plus, and Rounds (see Flyer).

Club News

Dancing on Wednesdays at Loyola School
Bows & Beaus dances at Loyola School on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Our usual Wednesday dance schedule is:
  • 7:00-7:30: Class Review Session
  • 7:30-8:30: Class Level Dancing (with double rounds)
  • 8:30-9:00: Plus Dancing (with double rounds)
  • 9:00-9:45: "Festival Level" Plus (with double rounds)
The above schedule is subject to change as needed.
 
Ice Cream Fling Thing!
Another successful Ice Cream Fling Thing has come and gone! Thanks to everyone for your hard work towards making this dance such a success! Thanks, also, to the many dancers who supported the dance by your attendance. Well done!
 
Saturday, June 14: Strawberry Festival General Dance
The Santa Clara Valley Square Dancers Association presents
   The Strawberry Festival General Dance
   Alternating SSD & Plus tips with Rounds and one A-2 tip.
   Saturday, June 14, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
   St. Andrews Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto.
   Caller: Tim Pepper.
   Rounds: Bev Oren Pepper.
Square Dance Attire Optional!
Solos and Couples Welcome!
New SSD Dancers Welcome!
Info
Flyer
Map

COVID Policies
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, our policies are subject to change at any time. At the time of this writing, these policies are as follows:
  • Anyone experiencing symptoms of Covid must not attend Bows and Beaus events.
  • Vaccination is no longer required, although it remains highly recommended.
  • Masks are optional. However, as a courtesy to others, we request you wear a mask indoors if you have recently had a potential exposure to Covid (e.g., airplane travel, attendance at a crowded event, or direct contact with someone who tested positive for Covid).
     
Members Page
We have a special web page for "Members Only". If you are a Bows & Beaus Member, and have not received a Username and Password, contact the club's Membership Chair. The page contains photos and videos from various club events, and a link for viewing live club dancing.
Members Page

Forms and Information
Obtain forms to Apply for Membership, Request a Leave of Absence (2 to 6 months), Change Information (address, telephone, e-mail, or emergency contact), or Request Reimbursement. A copy of the Bylaws is also available.
Forms and Documents


Class News

The Class dances on Monday evenings
The class dances on Mondays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Loyola School in Los Altos.
 
Additional Practice Opportunity
The class is invited (and encouraged) to gain additional practice by dancing with the club from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday evening. A review session will be held from 7:00 to 7:30, followed by dancing at the class level until 8:30 p.m. At 8:30, class level dancing will end, with the remainder of the eveining being at the club's normal level. Class members will dance free as guests of the club from 7:00 to 8:30 on Wednesdays. Please note that the class will continue on Monday evenings as it moves towards Plus.
 
Saturday, June 14: Strawberry Festival General Dance
The Santa Clara Valley Square Dancers Association presents
   The Strawberry Festival General Dance
   Alternating SSD & Plus tips with Rounds and one A-2 tip.
   Saturday, June 14, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
   St. Andrews Church, 4111 Alma Street, Palo Alto.
   Caller: Tim Pepper.
   Rounds: Bev Oren Pepper.
Square Dance Attire Optional!
Solos and Couples Welcome!
New SSD Dancers Welcome!
Info
Flyer
Map

What's been taught?
The List of Calls Taught page provides links to various online learning resources, including animations, definitions, tutorials, and videos. Just click on the button below to start exploring these resources.
  • Clicking the name of a call links to the TAMinations page for that call, showing both the definition of the call and an animation. Try setting the speed of the animation to "SLOW" when first learning the call. To return to the list of calls, click the month in the left pane.
  • A tutorial on the call, provided by the Santa Clara Valley Square Dancers Association, is available by clicking the S symbol following the name of the call. To return to the list of calls, click the month in the left pane.
  • Videos (from SaddleBrooke Squares) are available by clicking the symbol following the name of the call. To return to the list of calls, use the back button on your browser.
  • Click "Tutorials & Animations" in the left pane of the List of Calls Taught page for links to Quick Tutorials, an interactive practice quiz, additional animations, and other information provided by the Santa Clara Valley Square Dancers Association. (Note: This page can also be reached by clicking the "Quick Tutorials" button, below).
Calls Taught
Quick Tutorials


Coming Events

Club Events Schedule
  • Dances every Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., at Loyola School, except as may be noted below.
  • Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m.: SCVSDA Strawberry Festival (see Club News).
     
Class Events Schedule
  • Dances every Monday, 7:00 p.m. (review about 6:30), at Loyola School, except as may be noted below.
    Also invited to dance with the club Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m.: SCVSDA Strawberry Festival (see Class News).
     

External Links


Here are some links to other square dance related sites.
These links are provided for convenience only and Bows & Beaus cannot be responsible for the accuracy of the information.

Information subject to change!
For questions or suggestions please contact our Webmaster
Last revision: June 8, 2025
Number of times this page has been visited since January 1, 2021: bowsnbeaus1
(Total visits since September 13, 1998: bowsnbeaustot)
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