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Square dancing has captivated generations with its rhythmic steps, vibrant music, and sense of unity. Deeply rooted in American culture, it is significant in Southern states like Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Let us explore the origins, evolution, and cultural importance of square dancing in America and ‘the West’! The Origins of Square Dancing Square dancing originated from various European folk dances, like the English Morris dance, French quadrille, and Scottish reel, brought to America by European immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries. Over time, these styles blended into the American square dance we know today. The quadrille, involving four couples in a square, greatly influenced square dancing's development. After the American Revolution, it became a popular social activity in the new nation. By the 19th century, square dancing had spread widely in America, especially in rural areas, becoming a fixture at social gatherings. African-American communities played a key role, often serving as musicians and introducing the practice of "calling"—announcing dance steps. This innovation is now a defining feature of square dancing. Square Dancing in the Southern States Square dancing, cherished across the nation, holds a special significance in the cultural fabric of Southern states like Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. This vibrant tradition flourishes in the Southwest, with each state infusing the dance with its unique flair. In Texas, square dancing is more than just a pastime—it’s a way of life. Numerous clubs and large-scale events attract enthusiasts nationwide, underscoring its role as a cultural cornerstone that celebrates community and tradition. In Arizona and New Mexico, square dancing is enriched by the Southwest's cultural diversity, blending Native American and Mexican folk traditions. This fusion acts as a cultural bridge, fostering mutual appreciation and understanding. Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, the dance is intertwined with the state's cowboy culture, embodying a rugged, independent spirit that makes it a beloved local pastime. Together, these states form a dynamic hub for square dancing, honoring its historical roots while celebrating its enduring cultural significance. Key Milestones in Square Dance History In the early 20th century, square dancing faced a decline as other forms of entertainment gained popularity. Henry Ford, the famous industrialist, played a pivotal role in reviving the dance. He sponsored square dance clubs and events, ensuring the tradition's survival and inspiring a new generation of enthusiasts. Educator Lloyd Shaw was instrumental in transforming square dance from a regional folk activity into a national phenomenon. After World War II, Shaw integrated square dancing into high school physical education programs across the country, helping to standardize calls and choreography. Today, square dancing has evolved into two primary forms: Traditional Square Dance, known for its regional varieties and simpler, pre-determined calls, and Modern Western Square Dance, which evolved in the 1970s and features more complex calls, improvisation by callers, and a broader range of music. The Spirit of Square Dancing and Americana Square dancing stands as a testament to America's cultural diversity and spirit of innovation. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply someone looking to try something new, square dancing offers a delightful way to connect with others and celebrate our shared heritage. Ready to step into the enchanting world of square dancing? Put on your dancing shoes, find a partner, and join the community that keeps this timeless tradition alive. Much like square dancing, cars are a central part of the American way of life. Visit Casa Kia of El Paso and keep the American dream alive with all the cars and SUVs you could ever wish for! Whether you’re going to the honky tonk, need something that can tow for work, or simply want to cruise in style, we have what you need. We look forward to seeing you at Casa Kia!

May has arrived, meaning tassels are waiting to be turned and caps are about to get tossed. Whether your loved one is completing high school or college, graduation is a time for emotional farewells and invigorating new chapters alike. But to get to where they want to be next, the graduate in your life needs a dependable vehicle. If you’re looking to gift your graduate with a new car or SUV, there are several important factors to consider, including: fuel economy, storage space, technology features, and – most importantly – safety. Whether they’re leaving for college or setting off for post-graduate adventures, you’ll want to do everything in your power to prepare them for what lies ahead. Fortunately, we have suggestions. These two Kelly Blue Book-approved Kias will provide you with the peace of mind you need right now – without breaking the bank. You’ll find them in stock at Casa Kia: your headquarters for new graduates. The 2024 Kia Seltos Whether your graduate recently received their degree from UTEP or it preparing for their first taste of campus life, the 2024 Kia Seltos will keep you connected. Bluetooth with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all supported. It’s also surprisingly spacious for a subcompact SUV, with class-leading cargo space and a large second row that will surely endear your graduate to classmates who need a lift. Safety is undoubtedly is your primary concern, and the Seltos is the answer to your prayers. An IIHS Top Safety Pick, every version of the 2024 Kia Seltos offers a full suite of ultramodern safety features, including: Forward collision warning with emergency braking Driver attention warning Lane-departure warning Lane keeping assist Lane centering High-beam assist Blind-spot monitoring & rear cross-traffic alert (available with S Grade) The 2024 Kia Soul Always a solid choice for the budget-conscious shopper, the 2024 Kia Sou l is a boxier, more affordable alternative to the Seltos. Despite its compact, toaster-conjuring design, the Soul provides an abundance of interior space. It even has a slight edge on the Seltos when it comes to fuel economy, delivering up to 31 miles per gallon in combined driving (35 on the highway). Connectivity features are the same as the Seltos, minus Bluetooth voice recognition. Its list of safety features is extremely comprehensive despite its lower price tag, and includes forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention warning. By adding the LX Technology Package, you also gain access to lane-departure warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, automatic high beams, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance (all standard with the S Grade). Send Them Off in Style Change your tassels. Frame your diploma. Get that terrible Vitamin C song out of your system. Then, begin your post-graduate car buying experience at Casa Kia. If you’re looking for a new or pre-owned Kia for your graduate, you’ve come to the right place. We won't let them drive off in any vehicle unless it exceeds your safety standards. Sleep easier knowing your son or daughter is driving a tried-and-true vehicle by visiting El Paso's number one dealership for safety and security, Casa Kia.

Warrants aren’t just for hardcore criminals. Everyday citizens of El Paso have warrants issued for their arrest. You may know someone who has or you yourself may be one of them. If you have a warrant out for your arrest, or you think you might, we can help you better understand the process. Find out about warrants in El Paso, TX. When To Expect a Warrant A warrant may be issued for your arrest if you don’t appear before a judge on a scheduled date listed on your citation. The judge may also issue a warrant if you do not comply with the stipulations of a ruling, such as taking a required class, paying fines and fees, or completing community service. If you fall behind on paying warrant fees and warrant commitments, the city will send you to a collections agency. Once that happens, the collection agency will contact you and report the collections to the credit bureau agencies. Can I Drive with a Warrant? There are a few things you should know about driving with a warrant. If you have a warrant out for your arrest, and an officer pulls you over, you will be arrested and the vehicle you are driving will be impounded. If you have a warrant out for your arrest and you want you to a driver’s license, you will not be able to get one. If you fail to show up for a scheduled court appearance or pay the required fees by the date issued by the courts, you will not be allowed to renew your license or your registration until you have satisfied the orders handed down by the court. How Can I Check for a Warrant? If you think you might have a warrant out for your arrest, you can call the Court Warrant Office and provide your name(s) and date of birth. Do not pay a third party to get information that you can find for free

We have all heard the stories. Our families have told them around the campfire and there are some places our friends flat won’t visit. I am sure you can recall a story your parents told you to get you to behave or to keep you out of certain areas around El Paso. What is your favorite urban legend about El Paso? Juarez Cathedral Have you heard about the bell tower in the cathedral? According to legend, if you visit the cathedral on a certain day and at a special time, the person standing in the bell tower will illuminate a lost entrance to the Lost Padre Mine. Ghosts guarding the gold mine in the Franklins There is a story about a hidden waterfall in a cave in the Franklins. According to some, that is where you will find a hidden gold mine. However, accessing the gold mine is impossible because the ghosts of the Jumano Indians. Ghost in El Paso High El Paso High’s scary claim to fame is a number of ghosts. Don’t visit the fourth floor, because that is where the most famous ghost is said to roam. The legend says a cheerleader took her own life and jumped off the balcony at the end of the haunted hallway. If you are alone in the auditorium, you will hear ghosts flipping the seats, and the football field is where you can see the ghost of a player who lost his life on the field. Traveling monk on Transmountain Rd. If you hike near Transmountain Rd or drive on it at night, there is a good chance you will see a traveling monk and his donkey on an eternal journey through the hills. There are many more. What are your favorite tales?

As a parent it is important to keep your eyes peeled for fun and exciting things to do with your kids. This especially holds true during their breaks from school. El Paso, Texas has quite a few options for you. Check out some family favorites. El Paso Exploreum (300 W San Antonio Ave) The El Paso Exploreum is an interactive children’s museum that is fun for the whole family. They offer over 60 exhibits in a 14,000 square foot space. These exhibits include everything from technology to science to engineering to art to math to science. The goal is to encourage ideas and learning while sparking creativity. Explore real life airplane stuff, and hop aboard an interactive shuttle to the stars. Jungle Jaks (1700 N Zaragoza Rd) Jungle Jaks is a big and bright indoor playground where your kids can climb, go down slides, and do lots of fun crafts and activities. Some of these fun experiences include go karts, bumper boats, ladders, tree climbing, and kiddie rides. The Foam Factory includes foam balls, tunnels, and slides. Fun activity stations include a modeling studio and face painting. Bob-O’s Family Fun Center (3851 Constitution Dr) Bob-O’s is a children’s entertainment venue that offers an arcade, laser tag, go karts, bumper boats, batting cages, and miniature golf. There is a variety of fun for your entire family. Find out how Bob-O’s can help you with your fundraising needs as well.

Sometimes you just get a craving for some good Italian food. No worries because El Paso, Texas has got you covered. They have some of the best Italian restaurants around. Check out some of the most popular options. Mi Piaci (5411 N Mesa St) Mi Piaci is an upscale Italian restaurant located in Pepper Tree Square. They offer authentic homemade dishes, including pastas, steaks, and seafood. You will get the best of the best when it comes to service and cuisines. The owner is from Calabria, Italy, where he learned his cooking skills Trattoria Bella Sera (9449 Montana Ave) Trattoria Bella Sera offers delectable recipes that have been passed down generation after generation in the owner’s family. Her dishes are traditional to the region of Verona, Italy. The restaurant offers a beautiful atmosphere with beautiful surroundings, amazing scents, and fun Italian music. They offer a delicious menu filled with pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, chicken, and fish. Ardovino’s Pizza (206 Cincinnati Ave) If you’re looking for a little bit more of a casual Italian restaurant, Ardovino’s makes a tasty choice. They offer a nice variety of foods, including pizza, lasagna, and sandwiches. It has a laid back and traditional setting. They have been around for over 50 years, starting out as an Italian gourmet food mart and evolving into a restaurant and delicatessen. They offer an impressive array of wine as well. Get ready to be treated like family at this comfortable and elegant establishment.

If you're looking for something different to do this fall, El Paso is the place to be. There are plenty of events going on in and around the city to keep everyone busy. Check out these awesome upcoming November events in El Paso and you'll never have a chance to be bored! “ A Christmas Fair” Nov 6-8 El Paso Convention Center The Junior League of El Paso, Inc has been holding “A Christmas Fair” since 1973. The event features more than 150 merchants from across the US that offer one-stop shopping for all your holiday needs. Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the 2015 Fair, with events for those of all ages. Before “A Christmas Fair” begins, there will be the return of “Girls' Night Out”, which includes a fashion show featuring items from some of the merchants. There will be a silent auction, complimentary cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, preview shopping, music and contests. Money raised through “A Christmas Fair” allows the Junior League of El Paso, Inc to donate millions of dollars to the local community. The League's mission is to promote volunteerism, develop the capabilities of women and make the community better through the leadership of trained volunteers. Taste of El Paso November 12 El Paso Convention Center The fun event, Taste of El Paso, features 13 of the best restaurants in the area, coming together for one evening. Sample a unique dish prepared by each restaurant that comes with a craft beer or wine sample. The meal is followed up by dessert. The night starts with cocktail hour and each guest gets a goodie back with a name plate and the official Taste of El Paso program inside. Reserve your seat and make you way through the samples from each restaurant. Be sure to bring your appetite. These are just two of the many exciting events going on in El Paso this November.

On Thursday, November 26, 2015, get ready to kick off Thanksgiving with the Sun Bowl Parade in El Paso. The 2.7 mile parade starts at 10 am on Montana Avenue, starting at Ochoa and concluding at Copia. If you can't make it in person, catch live coverage on NBC KTSM Channel 9. Highlights of the Sun Bowl Parade The Sun Bowl Parade will be made up of 100 units. Attractions of the event include giant helium balloons, floats, clowns, equestrian units, Mexican drum and bugle corps, marching bands, dignitaries, royalty and a celebrity Grand Marshal. There will be an array of specialty highlights that are made up of Indian and Mexican dancers, as well as military ceremonial participants. There is a large crowd anticipated, which will line the street to view the biggest community celebration in the Southwest United States. Parade History The Sun Bowl Parade has been active for 80 years. In 1935, the first parade was organized by the Downtown Lions Club. From 1936-1977, the parade took place on New Year's Day. In 1978, it was rescheduled to take place on Thanksgiving morning. Volunteers organize the holiday pageant, which attracts more than 250,000 spectators. Throughout West Texas, New Mexico and parts of Mexico, the Sun Bowl Parade is considered the biggest community event. The parade unites civic organizations, service clubs and sectors of industries and business in the community. Purchase Sun Bowl Parade Review Stands Tickets Tickets for the event review stands will be available for purchase at all Circle K Stores, the Sun Bowl Association Office and FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches. The cost is $5. The review stand is located at the First Baptist Church at 805 Montana Avenue. Don't miss this wonderful Thanksgiving tradition in El Paso!

El Paso takes Día de Los Muertos seriously, and organizes a fabulous celebration of honoring those loved-ones who have passed. The event features fortune tellers, ghost tours and exhibits along with a special Día de Los Muertos alter. Join us on November 1 at the Concordia Cemetery for the 2015 Día de Los Muertos celebration. About the Día de Los Muertos Celebration in El Paso From 2 pm-8 pm on November 1, visitors can come to the Concordia Cemetery in El Paso to take part in the annual Día de Los Muertos celebration. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for kids. The funds received support the Preservation and Restoration of Concordia Cemetery. The non profit organization, Concordia Heritage Association, runs the event. What Will I See at the Day of the Dead Celebration? Relatives have the chance to decorate and prepare the graves of their loved ones in the cemetery. There will be many people in costumes for the event, dressed as skeletons, ghosts and in black clothes. Vintage Mexican clothing is commonly worn by those who attend the festival. Relatives will be sharing stories of their loved-ones who are no longer with us, and you'll simply have the chance to socialize with one another. The Gunfighter John Wesely Hardins grave is a popular attraction in the cemetery. Other highlights of the event include the 10-foot dancing skeleton puppets, called “mojigangas”. Take part in ceremonial offerings or their scavenger hunt. Additional highlights of the festival include live music, arts and crafts, poetry reading and dancers. The featured musical act returning for 2015 is Echoes in the Park, as well as live performances of Mariachi Leyenda Azteca. Keep the spirit of Halloween alive a little longer by taking part in the 2015 Día de Los Muertos celebration in El Paso!

Art is not limited to paintings hanging on walls. Art takes many forms and expressions, so there is something for all personalities to enjoy. Be sure to catch these museum exhibits in El Paso this October: Victoria Sambunaris: Taxonomy of a Landscape August 20-October 24 Rubin Center Photography enthusiasts will love the Taxonomy of a Landscape exhibit. For over ten years, Victoria Sambunaris has traveled the United States with a 5X7 wooden camera and sheets of color negative film. The artist has discussed her curiosity to understand the landscape of America and our place within it as inhabitants. The first monograph on the work of Sambunaris is made up of two beautiful hardback volumes. Included in this amazing array of documents are images of books on history and geology, maps, artifacts like mineral specimens, road logs and journals along with her small photographic sketches. Tell Me Something and Take It Back: An Exhibition of Contemporary Drawing August 20-October 24 Rubin Center Tell Me Something and Take it Back is a collection of works by three contemporary artists who use mark making and drawing to make thought-provoking and precise pieces. Subject matter and imagery are drawn from everyday situations, then dissected, put into layers, isolated and rescaled to create detailed works that suggest meanings, stories and states of mind as they resist easy narratives. Poland's Heroes of the Holocaust September 1- November 1 El Paso Holocaust Museum “ Poland's Heroes of the Holocaust” is a presentation of two traveling exhibits. The exhibits tell true accounts of those who risked their own lives and those of their families to save Jewish men, children and women during the Holocaust. The exhibit is based on more than 400 interviews done with Poles who rescued Jews. Another part of these exhibits involve a deeper look at Jan Karski, who secretly risked his life to enter the Warsaw Ghetto, gather information and return to the US and Great Britain to advocate on behalf of the Jews. Enjoy an educational and informational exhibit in El Paso this October.

Maybe you don't think of mountains when you think of Texas, but we've certainly got them! What better way to experience the mountains of Texas than to run through them in a friendly road race? The Franklin Mountains Trail Run on November 14 th offers a 5K, 10K, ½ marathon and 50K race that are part of the Trail Racing Cup Over Texas. About the Race Course The races are True Texas Mountain races over and through the Franklin Mountains. The 50K will climb to 7700 feet. The majority of the low trails are desert trails that have terrain which is easy to run on and simple technical trails. When you climb the North Franklin Peak there will be a combination of switchbacks and straight climbing. The start and finish will be at the pavilion area circle within the Franklin Mountains State Park. More race details include: One loop of 32 miles for the 50K 13.1 mile ½ marathon will be 2 loops. 1 loop of 9.3 miles and one of 3.8 miles. Total elevation for 13.1 is 2477 feet up and 2697 feet down. 10K is 1 loop of 3.8 miles and 1 loop of 2.6 miles. Total elevation for 10K is 1221 feet up and 1371 feet down. 5K is 1 loop of 3.1 miles Total elevation for the 5K is 417 feet up and 505 feet down. Specifics About the 50K Race All runners need to be aware of the risks involved in this mountain ultra marathon. Runners need to be prepared to carry enough water to get them through 6-7 miles, which could be 2-3 hours if you are hiking. Dropping out of the race must only happen at an aid station. Sign up now for one of these exciting races through the Franklin Mountains!

If you're looking for the perfect date night, why not watch a live performance. El Paso has many musical events taking place in the month of October to suit everyone's tastes. Check out one of these live performances in El Paso this October. Big Brothers Big Sisters: Dance for Kids' Sake October 10 Plaza Theater This performance features El Paso native Mayo Alanen, who is a professional ballroom choreographer and performer based in NYC and has been featured on “Dancing with the Stars”. Dance for Kids' Sake is the 8 th annual local spin on “Dancing with the Stars”, where locals become the dancers and judges to raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. All proceeds stay in El Paso and help support and create matches of mentors for the over 100 children on the waiting list for Big Brother Big Sisters. This program is important because the mentors keep children in school, away from gangs, off drugs and help them deal with real issues like bullying, depression and low self esteem. El Paso Symphony Orchestra Presents Akyal October 23 Plaza Theater In 1959, Ferit Tuzun became conductor of the Ankara State Opera after his early training in Turkey and four years of study in Munich. His compositions illustrate the influence of Richard Strauss and Paul Hindemith and they include piano music, opera, orchestral works and chamber music. Akyal will show how his work as a conductor brings to his music the capability to use the orchestra skillfully. Akyal translates to “conversations”, and the individual sections of the orchestra appear to be conversing with each other throughout the performance. Make El Paso the place to watch a live performance this October!