'Dancing has never died': Music lovers hope to save Danceland - Action News
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'Dancing has never died': Music lovers hope to save Danceland

Danceland is a Saskatchewan icon perched next to the Dead Sea of Canada. But, as salty waters rise, so do costs. Will it be around for another 90 years? A new generation of music lovers hopes so.

New generation of music lovers hopes people will be dancing on rare floor for another 90 years

Saskatchewan artist David Thauberger, a member of the Order of Canada, painted Danceland in 1979. (David Thauberger/DavidThauberger.com)

This piece was originally published July 20, 2018.

MillieStrueby'seyes light up when she talks aboutDanceland.

She and her husband Arnie got some unexpected inspirationto buy the distinctive dance hall 18 years ago, in 2001.Millie and Arniewere playing inDanceland'shouse band, The Decades, at the time.

Millie and Arnie Strueby (middle row, centre and right) were a married couple, playing in Danceland's house band, The Decades, when they made the decision to buy the dance hall. (Millie Strueby/Submitted to CBC)

"My husband had this dream and he woke up one morning and he said 'we're buying Danceland,' " Millie said. "I said, 'What?!' and he said 'Yes, we're going to buy Danceland and operate it.' And that's exactly what happened."

Since then the couple have invested a lot of effort into the iconicSaskatchewan spot, which sits perched beside LittleManitouLakenear Watrous, Sask., a small town between Saskatoon and Regina.

Millie's best memoriesof the place are busy.

This photo was taken at a Danceland Polkafest on Sept. 17, 2011. (Gary Bergen/Submitted by Watrous Manitou Beach Heritage Centre)

"We had polkafestswhere we had people at the back of the stage, sitting on carpets, because we didn't have anymore chairs," she said.

"It was more like a carnival atmosphere and everybody's happy. Dancing makes people happy. They come happy, they go home happy."

A happy place

A busy day at Manitou Beach. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)

The promise of good times has drawn people to the resort village ofManitouBeach for decades.

In the1920sand '30s, thousands of peoplefrom all over the countryflocked to the little beachin the middle of the Prairies.

They came by car, bus and train to swim in LittleManitouLake's salty water, renowned for its healing powers and often called the Dead Sea of Canada.

Even though the '30s were the time of the depression, people were still coming here to have fun.- Sue Alcock

The Prairie lake's water is five times more concentrated with salt than an ocean. It is one of only five lakes in the world where dissolved salt precipitates in deep water, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Business boomed inManitouBeachduring those years. Hotels, rooming houses, cafes and restaurants buzzed with tourists. There were twohuge salt water pools on either side of the village and several dance halls.

On July 29, 1939, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation added CBK Radio 540. Watrous was chosen as the ideal location for its transmitter, according to the Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)
Sue Alcock, a historian with Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre, said there was a time when boat rides up and down Little Manitou Beach were offered to visitors, as well as beach towels and bathing suits for rent. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)
A busy day at the beach. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)

Local historianSueAlcocksaid it was common for people to dance into the night and then go for a swim at the pool after.

"It was grand, party central. Even though the '30swere the time of the depression, people were still coming here to have fun" saidAlcock,who doesher research through theManitouBeach Heritage Centre Committee.

The Britishtransplant has delved into little-known chapters of localhistory. She said she's currently learning about the significant influx of Jewish peoplefrom Winnipeg and the strong presence they had in the local economy.

Music lovers hope to save a Saskatchewan landmark

6 years ago
Duration 5:41
Music lovers hope to save a Saskatchewan landmark

Danceland'sdawn

Wellington White, owner of White's Pool, bought this structure in the late 20s and knocked it down to build a dance hall twice its size. It kept the name Danceland. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)

According toAlcock, a smaller version of Dancelandonce stoodin the same spot. Entrepreneur Wellington White shipped in 84,000 feet of lumber and ordered train cars brimming with horse hair to builda new, bigger venue.

Wellington'sDanceland, more than twice the original's size, opened for itsfirst dance in June 1930.

Today, the dance hall is the last one from the erastill standing inManitouBeach.

In June of 1930, Wellington White opened the new Danceland for its first dance. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)
Throughout the years, Danceland has had seven different owners. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)

The floating oak floorstill sits on the same layers of softhorse hair. Each step is cushioned, as the rare floor sinks and springs.

It's perfect for dancing.

"Jitney dances were on the go at that point. Men paid 25 cents to go dancing and the ladies were free. They had monster dances," Alcocksaid.

As far as MillieStruebyknows, it is the last dance hall in the province with a horse hair floor.

Layers of horse tail and mane hair sit under Danceland's rare "floating" floor. (Al Mierau/Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre)

Dancelandhas had many iterations and seven different owners over the last 88 years.

Lionel Sproule's family owned the Chalet pool, on the west end of the beach. TheManitouBeach local was part of a group that ownedDancelandin the late '70s.

To get around liquor legislation at the time, Sproule's group ran it as a dance club. At each dancemembers would sign in all of the attendees as guests. Hot food had to be available in order keep the liquor license.

Lionel Sproule's family owned Manitou Beach's Chalet Pool. (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre/Submitted to CBC)

Sproule said there were challenges like finicky talent that came with running the place, butwhat stands out for him is the romance people found on the dance floor.

"We had a lot of people who came and would tell us, 'Well, I met my husband here. My husband asked me to dance here, the first time, and that's how we met.' Or, 'My wife chased me around the floor,' " Sproule said.

"Lots of marriages started here."

For the love ofDanceland

This 2017 photo pictures the Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre Committee (L-R Ruth Kornelsen, Ron Frey, Robert Cannon, Herb Kornelsen, Lyle Emmons, Kathy Bergen, Brandon Bertram, Karen Schroeder Mark, Gary Bergen, Lionel Sproule, Glenda McArthur, Al Mosewich, Darlene Kornelsen, Jean Margetts, Leah Ullyott, Janice Siegfried, Sue Alcock). (Watrous-Manitou Beach Heritage Centre Committee/Facebook)

Dancing brought Deanne and Vince Armstrong together.

Their flirty encounters at weddings led them out onto the dance floor and into 34 years of marriage.

After celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary atDanceland, they fell in love withManitouBeach and decided to move to the village and build a home.

Deanne and Vince Armstrong moved to Manitou Beach after celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary at Danceland. (Madeline Kotzer/CBC News)

Deanne said people come to the town from all over the world.

"We've met people from Japan, Russia, China," she said.

Over the years, the couple has been involved with fundraising through Friends ofDanceland. The group hopes to save the historic building from LittleManitouLake's rising waters.

A large berm now sits along the waterline metres away fromDanceland'sback door, holding back the lake from spilling into the village.

In some areas, the berm sits higher than roof lines.

A berm separates Little Manitou Lake's salty water from the community of Manitou Beach, running along the shoreline. (Madeline Kotzer/CBC News)
Bruce Rawling underneath Danceland. Two pumps run 24-7 to remove water from underneath the structure. Its pilings need to be replaced soon or the building will not last. (CBC News)

Pumps are constantly running at businesses along the shore and For Sale signs dot lake front properties.

AtDanceland, two pumps run at all times. The equipment funnels a would-be lake of water away from the building's foundation and back into the lake.

The building' pilings are sinking and need to be replaced. According to Millie, an inspection found that If this work is not done, the building will be beyond saving within two or three years. That's when they decided to start fundraising.

"We don't have that kind of money," she said."We have enough to maintain, but we're looking at a big sum of money to make sure thanDancelandis here for the next 90 years, for the next generation."

Millie and the Friends ofDancelandare hoping to raise at least $175,000 to do the job.

A call to come toDanceland

Millie and Arnie have dealtwith theconstant struggleagainst flooding and need for repairs often over the years.Then, six years ago, Arnie suffered a stroke,after which Milliehad to runthe business on her own.

Then last Aprila pair of Christian missionaries who had been travelling around Canada showed up at Millie and Arnie's door, offering to help.

Bonnie Rawling said she and husband Bruce felt called by God to come toManitouBeach and specifically toDanceland.

Bonnie and Bruce Rawling work for Millie Strueby at Danceland. (Madeline Kotzer/CBC News)

"We lived in a bus and we went wherever God told us to go," said Bonnie.

Bonnie said when she and Bruce feel they've been given a sign from God, they pray for three confirmations. She said they followed that rule when they felt Him pointing them toward Danceland. They stopped counting confirmations after 17.

She said they felt directed by God toward a specific Bible verse about laying down your life for others. Bonnie said when they metMillie and Arnie, and learned about Arnie's stroke, it made sense.

"We realized that verse was for her. That we were to come and lay down our life and help her in anyway that we could," Bonnie said.

A little more than a year later, Bonnie and Bruce work for Millie, helping her run the business on a daily basis.

Bruce and Bonnie Rawling travelled and lived on a bus before arriving in Manitou Beach, Sask. in April 2017. (Tree Of Life Hope Foundation/Facebook)

Millie acknowledges that the Rawlings' appearance was unexpected, but she said she is thankful for the help.

"You know the songThere Are Angels Among Us? That's about it. They came to me. Walked in one day and said they were interested in helping me out," Millie said.

Together, the team is trying out new ideas to attract visitors and raise funds, including themed dance parties, weddings, private eventsand booking bands that don't play polka.

Despite all that, Bonnie said she does not want to turnDancelandinto a bar.

"The challenge, for us, is that everybody wants to playDancelandand not everybody is the type of band we want atDanceland," she said.

Elvis, surf rock and the next generation

The venue has hosted stars through the years, including famous big band acts of the '30slike Mart Kenney and his Western Gentlemen with Norma Locke and American blues hitmakers like the Ink Spots.

People love to tell stories aboutElvis Presley and Buddy Holly gracing the stage, but historians say there is no paper trail to support the claims.

"Al Capone, maybe," said Alcock, laughing.

The Ink Spots were American hit-makers who gained international fame in the 1930s and 1940s. They played Danceland. (Wikimedia)

One thing many locals agree on is thatManitouBeach is enjoying an upswing.

Despite flooding issues, the population has grown in recent years.On weekendsthe resort village of a few hundred people often swells to a few thousand.

Brendan Manz said it can cause capacity issues, buthe sees it as a good sign.

Manz, theWatrousandManitouBeach Community Development Officer, said when things are crowdedit shows there's room for growth.

"Not onlyare we looking for visitors to come, we know that the more visitors come, the more potential investors, as well," he said.

According to Manz,ManitouBeach is seekingto market its rare saltwater lake to the world as an attraction with health benefits.

"So, they may come and say, 'Hey, this is a place that I want to come, live and invest and be a part of,' and we're seeing more and more of that," Manz said.

The Garrys are a Saskatoon band composed of sisters Julie, Erica and Lenore Maier. The trio have spent lots of time in Manitou Beach at their family's cabin. (The Garrys/Facebook)

ManitouBeach's spirit and atmosphere inspired Saskatoon surf rock trio The Garrys to write a concept album,SurfManitou.

Bandmates Lenore, Julie and Erica Maier, who are also sisters, often spend time there at their family's cabin.

"It sort of feels like you're stepping back in time a little bit," saidLenore, the eldest.

Dancing has never died. It might change. They might have a different style of dance. Different music. But, I foresee dancing going on forever.- Millie Strueby

FromDanceland, to the drive-in theatre, to the beach burger shack,the village is steeped in nostalgia.

Garrys' tracks like "Relics", "Burger Buoy" and "Danceland(Come With Me)" are sweet poems to the musicians' favourite local landmarks.

"It really represents a bit of a time capsule. There's a lot of reallyold-fashioned, vintage vibes there,"Lenore said.

"It's one of the most sought-after venues in the province, for sure. And, it's not a venue that has gigs outside of your typical polka very often."

Manitou Boogaloo, the Garrys' benefit concert for stray cats in Manitou Beach, was packed. (Lenore Mayer/Submitted to CBC)

Lenore and her sisters see potential when they dream aboutDanceland.

Recently, they rented the space and brought in other Saskatchewan artists fora benefit concertManitouBoogaloo which raisedfunds for local stray cats.

Lenore said the eventwas a smash hit and there are already plans for ManitouBoogaloo2.

As far as Millie is concerned, change is good.

"Dancing has never died. It might change. They might have a different style of dance. Different music. ButI foresee dancing going on forever," she said.

Millie Strueby hopes Danceland will survive another 90 years. (Madeline Kotzer/CBC News)