A Short History of the Allemanders Square Dance Club

In 1954 about two squares of folks residing in the A1A Trailer Park in Melbourne Beach learned to square dance from Ray and Mae Cramer. In 1956, thirteen of those dancers formed a club at the old Melbourne Civic Center on the river at Front Street. The first presidents were Dur and Dot Cunningham, and they named the club the Allemanders.

In 1966, ten years after the founding of the Allemanders they moved to their present location at the Satellite Beach Civic Center. The Allemanders dance in the Reg Leonard Auditorium named for former mayor Reg Leonard, who was also a member of the Allemanders. Reg and his wife Olive were active members of the Allemanders serving as presidents and have been associated with the club for 32 years. Reg and Olive are Lifetime Members of the club.

Colin and Peggy Walton took over the calling duties for the Allemanders in 1971 and were with the club for about 20 years. In 1998 John and Linda Saunders were hired as callers upon Colin's retirement. Vince Furtado cued rounds for the Allemanders for more than 20 years. Bev Landwehr also cued for the Allemanders for a number of years.

The Allemanders celebrated their 50th Anniversary as a square dance club in 2006.

In 2010 John Swindle took the reigns as caller for the Allemanders. The Allemanders Square Dance Club dances the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of the month. However, please check our schedule and call for exact information. Occasionally we must adjust our schedules.