Charles Bridges
Charles Leroy Bridges
29 Jan 1956 - 08 Nov 2023
Clubs & Associations
Biography
Charles started square dancing at age 12 and attended his first regional festival, Harvest Hoedown in 1969. He joined the Silhouettes exhibition round dance group at age 15, performing at local and national square dance conventions. He first called a square dance for the Ione Twirlers in 1972 at age 16. Charles has called for these local Sacramento area clubs: Twilight Twirlers, Whirl-a-Ways, Cal Aggies, Desperados, and Starlight Shufflers. In addition to calling for CCS, he also currently calls for the Yolo Travelers Advanced Group in West Sacramento. Charles has taught line dancing and ballroom dance, he has choreographed country western dancing, and has even participated in national ballroom competitions. Charles says that his greatest passion is to teach dancing at any level. His spouse is Terri Rosnow-Bridges.[1]
Quick Facts
- Former club caller for Capital City Squares
- Married to Terri Bridges
Remembrances
Saw a post earlier referencing the passing of Charles Bridges. Went online looking for confirmation, and found the following at legacy dot com under "Charles L. Bridges:"
"Charles Bridges's passing on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 has been publicly announced by Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery, Funeral Homes & Crematory in Kissimmee, FL."
Charles was the club caller for the Cal Aggie Square Dancers for many years, before I arrived in 1984 looking for a place to dance, and after I departed in 1989. He's one of the people I credit as sources of some of my teaching techniques, having watched him teach the Cal Aggies' zero-to-Plus-in-one-college-quarter classes several times. The Aggies' various antics never fazed him, and I remember how he'd occasionally pull out "Pickle Up A Doodle" and call it to the club on some Monday night with NO preparation at all. A few times, we even got through it! Another memory is how he'd have us do "Head Ladies Center, Side Men Left for a Split Tea / Beer Mug Chain!"
After I started calling, I noticed other things...how he'd go through phases of doing nothing but sad singing calls after he had a bad breakup...how happy he was when he finally found Terri Bridges, eventually his wife. I was sorry to see him leave the area for Florida.
And now, it appears he's gone.
Rest in peace, my friend.
— Lawrence Johnstone
Thanks so much for that beautiful story about Charles. He would have loved it. Marrying so late in life, I missed out on those early fun days of square dancing. I still feel absolutely numb!
— Terri Bridges
Oh no. My deepest condolences to Terri.
— Nancy Schaal
He helped me get back into Square Dancing.
I will miss him.
Terri, HUGS and LOVE to you.
— Mary Eva Ingram Crawford
Thank you Lawrence Johnstone for finding that. I knew that I would not be able to make a post that would do him justice. I missed Charles when he left Sacramento, I miss him more now.
— Jay Aldrich
If it wasn't for his great calling I would have never found my love of dancing. It all started with square dancing!! My heart breaks~=
— Jeanne Laikam Sherman
Charles is the one who taught me dance, and helped me get interested in calling
— Scott Pearce
I’m so sorry to hear about Charles. He was such a good caller/teacher; I learned a lot from him. I know he will be greatly missed as so many enjoyed dancing to him.
— Patty Fox
Memorial Panel
Photos
With his wife Terri, 22 Nov 2019. Photo by Larry Lauszus. Photo courtesy of Terri Bridges
Showing off his badges for 50 years of continuous attendance at Harvest Hoedown, a Sacramento area festival. Oct 2019. Photo courtesy of Terri Bridges
Sources
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