The hoedown is the semiannual convention of the International Association of Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs, better-known by its ridiculously long abbreviation, IAGLCWDC. Fort Lauderdale is the ideal backdrop for the more than 300 dancers from around the world who will converge for the four-day event, especially considering that nearby Wilton Manors has recently been recognized as one of the nation's most bustling gay communities.
There are workshops available for dancers at every level to brush up on their skills with some of the best country dance instructors from around the world. For more advanced dancers, there are competitions for individuals and teams to contend for honors in two-step, waltz, swing, line dance, and more. There are also workshops and parties with proceeds benefiting the Comprehensive AIDS Program in Palm Beach County, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida, and Project Yes, a youth suicide prevention program. Similar events hosted by Southern Country South Florida have raised nearly $30,000 for charity.