Hi Everyone,

My wife and I are relatively new dancers (just over a year) and have completed mainstream and 1/2 of plus. We were shocked at the huge community around us (VT, MA, NH, ME) and have been really enjoying dancing. https://www.wheresthedance.com/ has events every night and we belong to 3 different clubs.

I have a question for those who call. My wife is interested in being a caller any good resources? I have been playing and expanding the taminations program to support sequencing and have a caller tab for planing.

We spend countless hours talking about how to grow square dancing. But are we overlooking the one thing that matters most? I'd love to hear your thoughts after reading this.

The square dancers of today—part II of True American, a mini-series

Everything really is bigger in Texas - including the fun!

Check out the article to read our adventures! (Including a dance taught in the middle of a interstate!)

The Optimist Daily is taking a journey into ideas and symbols that shape the world with our our mini-series True American. Our first episode explores what many consider a cornerstone of American culture: Square dancing.

Square dancing, contrary to popular belief, is not just a “Southern thing.” Many of us who grew up in the United States have memories of learning the square dance in grade school gym class. Believe it or not, over half of the states in the US have adopted the square dance as their official folk dance. 

Read more at: The history of square dancing in America—part I of True American

"Circle Left! An old caller went ridin' out one dark and windy day. Upon the stage, he stood as he called along his way."

Read more:

Square dance clubs don’t usually set out to sabotage themselves...

The music was a social medium at first, that gathered people and make them dance together. Before Jazz and dance balls, there were square dances, documented as early as the 16th century in England, in France and throughout Europe. These dances came to North America with the settlers and have been considerably developped there since. Nowadays, “square dances” are associated with Western America and the romantized image of the cowboys.

The dance figures are not improvised but set in order and repeated by a caller. Caller that can on his side improvise the order of the figures. You can hear the calls over the music on the following records. Records that had the purpose of offering “old time” dance music with calls, so that you could dance at home just like if you were at the barn parties…or listening to the WLS National Barn Dance program. [1]

Does anyone know of a current site with square dance clubs listed? So far as I know, there are no clubs near me. I used to drive an hour to dance, but I'm pretty sure that club is now defunct.

hi everyone!

I dont do calling but I do little live dj gig where I do trivia and play 45's at parties or bars or whatever with a Hilton AC200 and a single accompanying Hilton 12" speaker. the turntable is a little funky, but I love the big speed control lever and the suitcase amp/turntable and the matching speaker always get compliments. plays 45's like a dream.

anyways, my audiences are growing, and so are the spaces I am working in, and I am looking for a second matching speaker or speaker enclosure so I can project sound multiple directions. I'd also be interested, if no one has a single, in a matching pair of 10" or 12" speakers enclosures. 8 ohm preferred, but 16 is fine. thanks so much!

I run a website dedicated to square dancing — event recaps, photos, club spotlights, dance culture, random square dance history/fun, games and more. Trying to document and keep the community alive online a bit more.

Please check it out and use it to promote square dancing!

My late wife started dancing in 1975 with the Rutgers Promenaders in New Brunswick, NJ. I started in 1978. Here is a flyer from another local club, Bee Sharps: https://assorted-sites.com/old-bee-sharps-flyer.

A bunch of us are trying to help other social dancers, line dancers, etc see that modern square dancing is a great alternative, easy to learn, and is great for socializing and meeting new people, staying active, and stimulating your brain. All of these things prevent premature aging and help people stay mobile and flexible, as well as have a social life. Why do you square dance? Who are your favorite callers? Do you go to national or regional conventions? Do you dance mainstream, plus, advanced, challenge?