The Colorado Rocky Mountain Dancers (CRMD) is a group whose membership is comprised of primarily "teens and twenties."
As a group which enjoys intergenerational dancing, there are also some dancers that participate outside of this age range.
Like virtually all current square dancers, CRMD can trace their training back to someone taught by Dr.
Lloyd "Pappy" Shaw. In the 1940's, Dr. Lloyd "Pappy" Shaw, the Superintendent of the Cheyenne
Mountain School near Colorado Springs, coached his boys to the Colorado State Football championship.
Not pleased with their superior attitudes following the win, he abolished the football program and
instituted a physical activity that would involve male and female students equally. That activity was
square dancing. Having spent some time in researching the aspects of the activity which had
disappeared over time, Dr. Shaw set out to begin a resurgence of square dancing as recreational
activity. Toward this end, he took the best 8 couples of his high school square dancers on national
tours, demonstrating the many forms of the American folk dance to audiences from rec centers to
Carnegie Hall. He also hosted summer classes where physical education teachers from around the
country were taught how to teach square dancing to their students.
CRMD was formed to represent this group of Cheyenne Mountain Dancers at the historical pageant
at the 2001 National Square Dance Convention. Although the pageant was eventually cancelled,
the dancers (and their hard-working parents) decided to attend the convention anyway.
They have since performed at 7 National Conventions in California, Minnesota, Oklahoma,
Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Kansas.
While CRMD still has in its repertoire a traditional Pappy Shaw exhibition square dance, we have
branched out into other aspects of the activity in which the membership is interested. We have
choreographed exhibition material utilizing aerial figures with modern mainstream and plus level
figures, true "hex" formations, and other "innovations" as ideas come up. We can prepare shows
using these materials as well as traditional and modern round dances, contras, 5 couple dances,
and many others. Unlike some performance groups, our members know how to square dance and enjoy
dancing with other dancers at the club, regional and national levels. We have dancers able to
participate at all levels, from mainstream to advanced and challenge levels. We also have round
dancers who can dance at all phase levels of the round dance activity.
CRMD supports its members in moving beyond the usual roles of membership by encouraging them to
grow their skills in areas of personal interest. We have round cuers and callers who have moved
beyond being simply "members" into positions of responsibility -- some even have contracts
with outside groups to teach and lead dances in the larger square dance world. Several of our
members are also members of Callerlab and Roundalab.
CRMD is a proud member of the National Folk Organization, and CIOFF.
We have had the honor or representing the United
States at 3 international dance festivals:
We are currently planning a 2011 trip to France to represent the US at festivals there.
For information on joining us as dancers or band members, on sponsoring our trip, or on
hosting a fundraiser, contact Peggy Pingel at 303-829-5202 or use our Contact Information page.
