Sunday, December 4, 2011 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 This dance troupe has literally Tail-wagging performances combine music, costumes, .- and lots of love. : By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com A familiar dance pattern has never looked so frisky. Instead of the usual heel-toe footsteps, Helen Gilbertson and her Siberian Husky, Indy, regular- ly practice heel-paw moves at the Wilkes-Barre Dog Training Club in Hanover Township. Gilbertson, of Sweet Valley, kicks out her right foot as 8-year- old Indy taps it with his left paw, and the pair continue the pattern while walking backwards to the beat of “Do You Believe In Mag- ic?” by The Lovin’ Spoonful. Gilbertson and Indy are part of the Doghouse Dancers Freestyle Club in which pups and their han- dlers combine music, costumes, props and chorography to create “tail-wagging” performances. The group, based in the Back Mountain, performs for nursing homes and civic club meetings and competes in dog dancing competitions all over the country. Founding member Eileen Hoy- son, of Shavertown, said she’ll never forget the first time she saw a freestyle performance at a dog show years ago, remembering a ightly group of dog show per- ‘formers who brought tears to her eyes. “I was completely mesmer- ized,” she said. “You could just see the great bond between the owners and their dogs.” Hoyson said most of the club members have experience in dog BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Doghouse Dancers leader Eileen Hoyson, of Shavertown, practices her routine with her dog Munch at the Wilkes-Barre Dog Training Club in Hanover Township. “Obedience is alot more rigid,” As Hoyson and her 6-year-old training, and the dancing allows said Hoyson. “There’s no room Golden Retriever, Munch, take handlers and dogs to express for creativity. Freestyle opens up the floor, a dizzying array of fancy belt through the training center. their creative sides. the creative parts of your brain.” foot and paw work commence once the first beats of “Pencil- Thin Mustache” by Jimmy Buffet With a few quiet commands from Hoyson, who always has a tempting treat in her hand, Munch is weaving in and out of Hoyson’s legs, circling his owner gone to the dogs For more information about the Doghouse Dancers Freestyle Club, including information about join- ing the club or scheduling a per- formance, contact Eileen Hoyson at 696-4925. The group meets without their furry partners at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Kingston Township Municipal Building. Anyone in- terested in the club is welcome to attend meetings. as she lifts her arms and walking backwards in step with Hoyson and the beat. Munch is relentless in his ener- gy, swooping and stepping and dancing right on cue. “They call it the tail-wagging sport, because those dogs who have tails are constantly wagging and having a wonderful time,” said Hoyson. Betty Gower’s Beagle-Weim- ramer mix, Jingles, is new to freestyle, and needs to be leashed during her performance. Despite the extra restraint, Jingles seems just as excited to have that extra interaction with her owner. “I think she’s smarter than I am,” laughed Gower, of Forty Fort. Una Valanski, of Dallas, said she can’t walk a straight line, so the freedom that freestyle offers to those usually involved in strict dog shows can be liberating. She danced to “Redneck Wom- an” by Gretchen Wilson with her two dancing dogs - 8year-old Spencer, a Papillon, and 6-year- old Chadwick, a Pomeranian-Chi- huahua mix. The toy dogs rolled on their backs between Valanski’s legs, See DOGS, Page 11 HOLIDAY CONCERT AT NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH Pr A holiday concert will be presented at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 4 at the New Life Community Church, Twin Stacks Center, 100 N. Memorial Hwy., Dallas. Pastor Gideon Gaitano, tenor, will be joined by singers and readers spanning a wide range of ages to present songs that will touch the heart. Call 333-4567 for more information. From left, first row, are Avaree Gaitano, Jonathan Allen, Rachel Madeira, Lee Lauver, Lucille Madeira, Dennis Madeira. Second row, Diane Czajkowski, April Ros- kos. Third row, Pastor Gaitano, Mike Czajkowski and Ed Kowalski. Memorial books remember loved ones The following memorial/hon- or books have been added to the shelves of the Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Rd., Dallas, for the month of No- vember 2011: In memory of James Durkin, “Ultimate Food Journeys,” pre- sented by Jack and Alice Sallada In memory of Charles D. ‘Rus- ty” Flack, “Sail: A Photographic Celebration of Sail Power,” pre- sented by Alice and Jack Sallada In memory of Robert L. Flem- ing, “Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012” (reference), presented by Bladwen H. Otto d Otto Family In memory of Clara Miller Brown, “Beginnings” by Anne Geddes, presented by her daugh- ter, Barbara In memory of Aileen Dymond, “Death at Christy Burkes” by Anne Emery, presented by Barba- ra J. Eyet In memory of Elin Northrup and J. Bawden Northrup, “Talk- ing about Detective Fiction” by P.D. James, presented by Sara Londa In memory of Lucy Sabatura, “Inferno: The World at War, 1939- 1945” by Max Hastings, present- ed by Karen Adams and Family In memory of William Cragle, “Black Bear Hunting” by Gary Lewis, presented by David and Joan Roskos In memory of Donald Frank King, “Getting Smart” by Tom Vander Ark, presented by Mrs. Dorothy King Wadas In memory of Elizabeth R. Mo- ran, “Eyewitness Travel Spain,” presented by The Meadows So- cial Club In memory of my aunt, Eliza- beth “Betty” Moran, “Auroras” by Dan Bortolotti, presented by Ju- dy and Dave Petro In memory of Wanda Baseski, “Making Spirits Bright” by Fern Michaels (large print), presented by Linda and John The following books are in memory of William Poepperling and are presented by Pat Zikor and children: “Goodnight, Good- night, Construction Site” by Sherri Duskey and Tom Litchen- held, “Drawing from Memory” by Allen Say The following books are in memory of Mabel Meehan and are presented by Pat Zikor and children: “Treasury of Greek My- thology” by Donna Jo Napoli, “If You Give a Dog a Donut” by Lau- ra Numeroff, “Toys Come Home” by Emily Jenkins The following books are in memory of Robert Fleming and are presented by John, Beth and Henry Puchalsky: “The Gilded Stage” by Daniel Snowman, “The National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife” The following books are in memory of Frank E. Wadas and are presented by Mrs. Dorothy K. Wadas: “Basic Fishing: A Begin- ner’s Guide” by Wade Bourne, “The Complete Fishing Manual” by Henry Gilbey The following books are in memory of Elizabeth R. Moran and are presented by The Renais- sance Center Age of Innocence and co-workers: “Country Cook- ing of Ireland” by Colman An- drews, “Martha Stewart’s Ency- clopedia of Crafts,” “Decorating with Evergreens” by Robert Waite The following books are in memory of Harold Fritzges and See BOOKS, Page 1 Members of the Praise Ringers of the Shavertown United Methodist Church are, from left, first row, Michele Butts, Courtney McCarthy, Taylor Hodle. Second row, Beckie Kimpel, Cara Farina, Bethany Dennis, Kate Jenkins, Barbara Mark. Third row, John Bunney, Thomas Ketchner, Chris Biesecker, Cindy Biesecker, Bryan Biesecker. SUMC bell ringers plan concert The Shavertown United Methodist Church Fine Arts Concert Series will present Carols by Candlelight at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 4 at the church, 163 N. Pioneer Ave., Shavertown. The annual Christmas con- cert will be an evening of carol singing accompanied by The Anthracite Brass, hand bells, piano and organ. The chancel choir, guest singers and three of the oth- er choirs from the church will also sing and play spe- cial arrangements of favorite Christmas and Advent car- ols. A reception will follow the concert and a free will offer- ing will be received. For more information, call 675- 3616. CHURCH BRIEFS Church members sell coupon books Members of the Shavertown United Methodist Church are selling Save Around Coupon Books for $30. Each book has over $3,000 worth of coupons to be used locally. To place your order, call the church office at 675-3616. Mark Pall offers concert today Mark Pall will offer an organ Advent/Christmas concert at 3 p.m. today, Dec. 4 at the Dal- las United Methodist Church, 4 Parsonage St., Dallas. This will be Pall’s fifth Ad- vent/Christmas organ concert. At 14, he is the youngest mem- ber of the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists. A free will offering will be received to benefit the Amer- ican Red Cross Flood Relief. Refreshments will be served Chi Rho Singers will appear at TUMC The Chi Rho Singers will present an evening of music at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Trucksville United Metho- dist Church, 40 Knob Hill Rd. This choir of the Susquehan- na Conference of the United Methodist Church includes approximately 40 pastors un- der the direction of the Rever- end John Dromazos, retired and living in Lewisburg. Various styles of music will be presented, which may in- clude classical, traditional, contemporary, folk and folk 696-1128. rock selections. Several in- struments are used to accom- pany the choir. At times, the audience is invited. to join the choir in a few selections. A free will offering will be received. ‘The Gift’ returns for 18th year Back Mountain Harvest Assembly, Carverton Road, Trucksville presents its 18th annual presentation of the “The Gift” at 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 and at 6 p.m. on Sun- day, Dec. 11. “The Gift” is a musical dra- ma recreating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem where over 100 actors and live ani- mals perform in an outdoor setting. For more information, call
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