By Dakota Parks for Inweekly
When thinking about LGBTQ+ social groups, square dancing might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But for members of Emerald Waves Squares, it’s all about keeping an open mind and open ears.
For founder Tim Thorpe, bringing the first all-inclusive, queer-friendly square dance club to Pensacola was about more than just creating a fun hobby—it was about filling a void in the community. Many queer social spaces revolve around nightlife, but Emerald Waves provides a sober, intergenerational space where members can build friendships and connections while staying active.
“I really wanted our community to have something outside of bars, social media and dating apps—a safe space where people can come together,” Thorpe said. “I hope more people realize this isn’t banjos and hay bales, like they remember from grade school. We dance to modern, upbeat music: classic rock, country, pop and Top 40. After the pandemic, when we lost so many social gatherings, I think it’s more important than ever to get people out socializing again.”
Thorpe has been square dancing since he was a teenager, traveling the country to visit LGBTQ+ square dance clubs in Atlanta and St. Petersburg before deciding to start one of his own.
“I chose Pensacola because I knew it had a larger LGBTQ+ community, the dance hall was available, and the best caller in the tri-state area was willing to teach here,” he said. “Our caller, Nick Hartley, has been instructing and calling square dance for over 50 years. He’s one of the most energetic callers around. Most LGBTQ+ square dance groups tend to be more fun, energetic and diverse, and they typically attract younger crowds compared to other dance halls.”
Now 62, Thorpe makes the two-hour drive from his home in Marianna to dance in Pensacola every Tuesday. He explained that square dancing is one of the few dance forms people can continue well into old age since it doesn’t require memorizing complex choreography or even having a strong sense of rhythm. If you can walk and listen, you can square dance.
“Square dancing is a great social and physical activity. It brings people together through a shared love of music and dance,” he said. “We’re a really friendly group. We check our politics and religion at the door. It’s also great mental exercise; you have to listen to the calls, process them and then perform them in sync with seven other people, like solving a puzzle in motion. ”
Despite the area’s religious and political climate, Emerald Waves has been well received, with many allies and straight members from other square dance groups joining. Only once has Thorpe faced pushback—when he was told he couldn’t hang a flier with “LGBTQ” on it. But within the group, members break down misconceptions and connect at a personal level.
“I think older generations are typically drawn to square dancing because they’re retired and have more free time,” Thorpe said. “It does take commitment—you can’t miss more than three or four weeks in a row without falling behind. But unless we get younger people involved, it will become a heritage dance that disappears. I like to think that by bringing multiple generations together on the dance floor, we’re not only challenging stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community, but also breaking down any preconceived notions younger dancers might have about older generations.”
One of those younger members helping keep square dancing alive is Tyler Morris. One of Emerald Waves’ most active participants. Morris, who joined in October 2024, first discovered the group through a Facebook post.
“I loved the idea of combining this classic style of dance with a younger, more diverse crowd,” she said. “For me, it’s all about the sense of community. Emerald Waves brings together people from different walks of life, and we literally join hands and circle to the left. Pensacola needs more groups like this. It fills a void by creating a space where LGBTQ+ individuals can feel comfortable, accepted and have fun.”
As Thorpe explained, beginners start with a few open house events, where they can try out simple moves in a low-pressure environment before progressing to more structured lessons.
“We just get everyone out on the floor with some simple moves,” he said. “Then we start to add in some calls and get people used to the verbiage. From there, we break them into squares.”
A square consists of four couples arranged in a formation that, when viewed from above, resembles a square—two couples on the front and back, and two on the sides. Each week, dancers build on what they’ve learned, increasing the number and complexity of calls they can follow. With multiple advanced levels, dancers can choose how far they want to progress, eventually reaching a level where they can dance at mainstream events or square dance conventions anywhere in the U.S. or even internationally.
“Learning to square dance has been so much fun, and it’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds,” Morris added. “Right now, we’re focusing on the basics: learning the calls and getting comfortable with the movements. Sometimes we mess up the entire square and just laugh it off and try again. It’s more about following instructions with music than fancy footwork at this stage.”
At its core, square dancing is about movement and teamwork, but for Emerald Waves, it’s also about redefining traditions and creating a space where everyone feels welcome. Traditional square dance roles rely on gendered pairings, but here, those roles are flexible. Members routinely swap positions, and most importantly, have fun in a space where no one pays much attention to who’s dancing with whom.
“In square dancing, there are traditional ‘beau’ and ‘belle’ roles, which essentially mean left and right. But in our group, those roles are fluid. No one bats an eye if two women dance together. Sometimes it gets tricky and you forget who you’re supposed to be, but that’s all part of the fun,” Morris said. “Some women even wear neckties to signify the ‘beau’ role. I’m currently learning the ‘belle’ position, but I’m looking forward to learning the ‘beau’ role when the next season starts.”
Emerald Waves meets every Tuesday evening with beginner and mainstream classes. They also routinely host “Blast Classes” to welcome new dancers into beginner dance groups, and are expecting their next one to happen this fall.
“I would love to see our entire dance hall filled with people dancing,” Thorpe said. “I want to see the Pensacola community fall in love with this activity, to experience its value for our social sanity. It’s a chance to decompress from the news, from politics, from war and the stresses of work. When you’re there, you’re focused on dancing, laughing and having a good time with friends. Everything else just melts away.”
Emerald Waves Squares
WHAT: A square dance club for the LGBTQ+ community and allies
WHEN: 6:30-9 p.m. every Tuesday
WHERE: Ragon Hall, 2600 Stratford Road
COST: $10 per class, but spectators are welcome to come watch for free
DETAILS: emeraldwavessquares.com