SQUARE DANCING

The phrase "square dancing" refers to a group of four couples, generally four females and four males, dancing in a square-like pattern. Each couple forms one of the four walls of the square, the basic position from which all square dances begin. Dancers move from one place within the square to another, based on figures directed by the caller. The caller is the individual who sings, directs dancers, and generally decides the difficulty of the movements of the dance. In the past, dancers memorized dances as the organizers of the dance took part in the actual dancing. Now, however, most dances include impromptu calls known only to the caller until the moment the call is sung or said as part of the dance. Some of the more well-known calls include the promenade, grand right and left, allemande left, and dosado.

Square-dance calls have been placed in categories based on difficulty and include mainstream calls, plus calls, advanced calls, and challenge calls. Dancers take lessons starting with the mainstream level and may advance, if they wish, to other levels. Most square-dance clubs across the United States and around the world have dances that include mainstream and plus dances. Some clubs include advanced and challenge calls during dances, but most save these types of dances for the national convention held every year.

The exact beginning of square dancing is unknown, but it likely has its roots in European folk dances. Portions of American square dancing have been traced to dances such as the English morris, Scotch reels, Irish jigs, mazurka quadrilles, the polka, and the waltz. One of the most popular early forms of American square dancing was the Virginia reel. This dance includes lines of facing dancers with early forms of moves (calls) now used in modern square dancing. Several moves would be done as couples. Then the head couple would "reel the set," meaning they would dance all the way down the lines and lead the group to a "new" formation, with the lead couple going to the end of the lines and allowing the next couple in line the chance to show off. In the early stages of this dance, wealthy couples or guests were allowed to go first as a way of separating the people based on social class. Over time these dances became less about wealth and prestige and more about socializing. Western square dancing, or cowboy dances, also had some influence in modern square dancing. As the industrial era hit the United States and people moved from the farm to the city, these two influences—the European dances and cowboy dances—came together to form the beginnings of modern square dancing.

In the early 2000s, nearly every city in the United States has at least one square-dance club. Larger cities have two or more clubs, and some clubs will be organized for specific groups of people (singles or gays, for example). These clubs generally dance two nights each month on Friday or Saturday. Club dances are open to the public, but there is a charge to pay for callers, the building where they dance, and other expenses associated with the club. These clubs also sponsor classes for those interested in learning to dance or to learn another level of calls. Classes help to recruit new members and involve a new generation of dancers. Square dancers are stereotypically middle-aged and seniors, and have been dancing for many years. A new generation of square dancers is slow in coming, and threatens the existence of what many states have made their state folk dance. 29As of 1995, twenty-two states had made square dancing the state folk dance, and several others were considering such a move. A bill introduced in the United States Congress to make square dancing the national folk dance was defeated in 1991.

Many state and regional square-dance associations began in the 1950s. State associations promote square dancing through state conventions. Square dancers from a state come together to dance and socialize for one weekend each year. Some go to dance all weekend, while others go to learn how to make their local club more successful in recruiting new members. Whatever the reason for attending, most leave having enjoyed dancing with a variety of people. Modern square dancing lends itself to socialization through the movements in the dance that allow couples to trade partners for periods of time during the dance.

Two other large gatherings of square dancers include the National Square Dance Convention, held in a different location each year, and the other is the Mid-America Square Dance Jamboree, held every October in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Lloyd Shaw, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was instrumental in getting larger groups of square dancers together. The first national convention was held in Riverside, California, in 1952, with around 3,000 dancers in attendance. The national convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1999; then in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2000; Anaheim, California, in 2001; and in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2002. Anaheim saw the largest number of dancers (just under 20,000); St, Paul hosted the fewest (just under 8,900 dancers). The jamboree's high attendance came in 2000, with about 4,000 dancers. The jamboree's final year was 2004.

Square dancing has two major challenges to its existence in the future. One is that the population of square dancers is much older than the average population of the United States. The music at square dances is typically country western in nature, and much of the rising generation has gone to alternative styles of music. This country western type of music, overall, is less popular, making square dancing less popular as well among the younger generation. Current square dancers must find ways of promoting what they love to the next generation while keeping the activity relatively the same, so as not to create problems for the older, current square dancers. Another related challenge is that nearly all of the square dancers are Caucasian. Square-dance clubs would do well to target other populations as they seek to enroll new dancers.

The second challenge is related to travel distance and attractions. National conventions are held at various locations across the United States, drawing people from all over the world. However, only areas with popular attractions draw large numbers of square dancers. For example, the national convention held in Anaheim, California, drew many more dancers than the one in St. Paul, Minnesota. This was due, largely, to the proximity of Disneyland to the convention. This puts pressure on organizers to find locations with popular attractions, while knowing that doing so will lead would-be dancers to "skip-out" and play somewhere besides the dance floor. With the events related to the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., on 11 September 2001, travelers have proven to be less willing to travel long distances and have a tendency to stay closer to home. Even though some types of travel are approaching pre–11 September levels, many people are hesitant to travel by air, and traveling to a convention on the other side of the United States by automobile may be less than appealing. Moving the national convention around means that individuals may choose to attend the convention once every three or four years, instead of making the trip every year.

One significant positive note related to square dancing is an organization called Callerlab. In 1971, Bob Osgood brought together eleven callers to establish standardized calls and to provide training for square-dance callers. This nonprofit organization, formally organized in 1974, provides training, literature, and other information for current and potential callers. Clinics and schools offer hands-on opportunities to learn to call or to learn different levels of calls. Callerlab provides scholarships for their training and publications, both at the national conventions and also at other regional locations throughout the year. This provides individuals with the opportunity to learn how to call square dances, and also teaches lessons to new dancers to help clubs and square dancing overall grow.

See also: Dance Classes, Dance Halls, Social Dancing

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Callerlab: International Association of Square Dance Callers. Home page at http://www.callerlab.org.

Damon, S. Foster. The History of Square Dancing. Barre, Mass.: Barre Gazette, 1957.

Jensen, Clayne R., and Mary Bee Jensen. Beginning Square Dance. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1966.

Kevin Nelson