The Hey Lollies are committed to having fun square dancing and, more importantly, to developing close friendships. This latter goal is accomplished through various activities such as an annual cookout at a nearby state park, visitation after-parties, a Christmas party, and, of course, the Hey Lollies out-of-town weekend. The Hey Lollies Weekend gives the new class members and current club members time to meet and get to know each other. During the weekend and the weeks leading up to it, through working on skits together and dancing, members bond together in ties of friendship. These special times and the closeness of our members make Hey Lollies a wonderful and unique organization.
Hey Lollies has about 160 members. We dance weekly in Houston, Texas at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street. Our club membership is for married couples only, but we welcome all to dance with us each week.
The Hey Lollies Square Dance Club was organized under the auspices of the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church on April 8, 1965 following completion of a learners’ class for 25 couples from the church. The learners’ class was established by Jack and Betty Smith on January 7, 1965 with Nort Robinson, caller for the Texas Star Square Dance Club, as the instructor. The 25 graduating couples voted to organize a club to perpetuate the fun they were having and to offer other married couples (both church members and non-church-members) the same opportunity.
A number of names were proposed for the club. "Hey Lolly" was the dance tune being used to conclude each evening, so a variation of the tune name, "Hey Lollies," won the vote to become the official club name. Club night was set for every Thursday at 7:30 pm at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.
The next learners’ class started in the spring of 1965 and was taught by Rufus Honea. Other class teachers were Vernon "Red" Donaghe from 1967 to 1972, M.K. Knopp in 1972, Randy Collison in 1973, Otto Warteman from 1974 to 1981, and Bob Baier from 1982 to March, 2020.
Starting in September, new couples are invited to join the Hey Lollies learners’ class and take lessons with our current class instructor, Tim Ploch. After graduation, vetting by the Membership Committee and upon payment of Hey Lollies dues, these couples are welcome to become members of the Hey Lollies.