An article published recently in the Globe and Mail by Leah McLaren caught my eye. 'Maybe square dances are the kind of bailouts we need,' she writes from her new perch in the UK. In Toronto on business and a family visit, apparently Leah's mother shamed her into attending a community fundraiser - a square dance, no less - which she first laments, then lauds.

Considering Leah's position as the Globe's resident fashionista, could it be that the good old-fashioned square dance is poised to make a comeback?  Perhaps, in the face of economic downturn, it simply reflects our desire to get back to basics, hold hands with loved ones, and forget our troubles for a few hours.

Whatever the reason, when you're planning your next community fundraising event, consider a square dance -- it's just retro enough to be guaranteed fun!