If someone mentions Square dance to you, they are very likely to be talking about the dance with eight dancers formed into four couples, each of them taking one side of a square.
Throughout history, this dance has been present in many different other dances of folk, barn, country, traditional, contra, and more styles. It is truly a popular format among many others!
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Origin of Square Dance
Almost every country has records of social dances and folk dances in figures, and traces of Square dance can be found there.
The oldest inspiration for Square might be credited to the Morris dance, a line dance from England with six men doing lively, quick-paced steps. It is also closely attached to English country dance, which consists of many formations, including squares.
In 1651, “The English Dancing Master” by John Playford was published with 8 out of 105 dances being square dances and still existing today, especially the concepts of side couples following the moves by head couples.
When the 19th century began, the quadrille was created under the influence of French dances, and the square form with four couples on each side became the most common concept.
As European settlers discovered and set their feet in the United States, they brought many cultural properties along, and their quadrille became a favorite here.
By the African slaves’ hands, the dance was modified with music, and the steps were called rather than memorized by dancers. The popularization of these changes made modern callers a familiar concept.
The traditional Square evolved into the modern Western Square dance during 1940 – 1960. With relentless efforts from associations and individuals, both forms have been preserved and promoted in different ways.
Types
You can find the “Square” term in almost every region and country, though the meaning might be vastly different. Let’s do a quick browse over the most well-known variations of this dance and see what special features they have!
USA and Canada
In the US and its neighboring countries, every dance in a square formation would be referred to as a Square dance. An event featuring Square can also be recognized with the same name.
Traditional square dance
New England calls the traditional form “quadrilles”, though people, in general, are more familiar with the “old-timed Square dance”. Either way, it has never been a standardized dance, and each region has a unique style.
The most popular styles are Western, Northeast (or New England), and Southeast (or Appalachian). The second and the third styles are remarkably more documented than the first, hence they survive until today.
The less acknowledged styles either got revived or failed to come back. Furthermore, a revived Square dance tends to embrace new choreography instead of staying the same.
What the traditional Square dances have in common is the calls being limited in number for each set order. You will find them at local events or revival groups, alternated with Contra dances or performed in freestyle.
Modern square dance
Sometimes called “contemporary”, “modern American”, or “Western”, it is undoubtedly the evolved version of the traditional Western Square dance.
Popularization wouldn’t have been possible without Henry Ford, even though his belief that the Jews and jazz could corrupt society was still extremely questionable.
As a wealthy industrialist, Ford had plenty of methods and opportunities to promote Square via books and events. His influence even took the dance to classes in public schools and made it part of the official PE program, aside from multiple Square dance events.
From the 1970s onward, the International Association of Square Dance Callers (CALLERLAB) has standardized and promoted the dance with more than 70 moves to be periodically examined.
The dance is taught in many countries, following the syllabus of the CALLERLAB. Despite the variations in titles and calls, the basics remain the same, so you can quickly adjust and enjoy the dance everywhere you go, as long as you have learned the terms.
UK and Ireland
Playford dances
The name was derived from John Playford, whose book “The English Dancing Master” was the inspiration for numerous English country dances, including several Square dances.
These variations are signature by both small steps and powerful leaps. Among the surviving dances backed up by the English Folk Dance & Song Society, “Newcastle” is the most popular.
Regional folk dances
Square dances withstanding the test of time and making their way into the 21st century are often known as folk dances exclusive to the English region.
English villages gave birth to the Goathland and the Cumberland square dances, in which the dancers perform a routine they have memorized.
The dances also frequently appear in barn dances alongside other types of Square: “La Russe”, American variations, Playford dances, quadrille derivatives, and more newly created versions.
Ceili
The Square formation is also part of many Irish Ceili dances, which are part of the traditional festivals or gatherings often known as cèilidhs.
Cèilidhs are included in English barn dances and folk dances too, though they are influenced by the numerous steps here, hence it will take a newbie some time to adjust to the routine.
Irish set dance
In Irish set dances, they call the couples “tops and sides” rather than “heads and sides” like the traditional and Western Square dances. The regional associations are strong here with flat-feet polka and similar steps.
Scottish country dance
The Scottish dances cover a lot of formations, and Square is one of them. The Royal Scottish Country Dance standardized and gave the routine more specific formations and steps to have a variety of sequences.
Other countries in Europe
European countries have many Square dances in their traditions and history. In an event, the caller wouldn’t usually call for Square, yet the dancers already know the sequence.
There is also the double-square formation with each side housing two couples instead of one like Vleegerd (the Netherlands) and Sonderborger Doppelkadril (Denmark). Some of them even adopt figures from quadrille, a high-society dance form.
Moves
So, what are the Square dance moves you should nail to shine in a dance? The caller will give you the signals to follow, and here is our brief description of them.
Allemande Left
Face your corner and take your left arm. Circle until you are standing in front of your partner once more, and then drop your arm.
Box the Gnats
Right-hand holds right hand. The man lets the woman turn under his arm and thereby switches the direction in the end. Let go.
Circle Left
All of the performers hold hands and form a circle while moving to the left.
Do Si Do
Start from a face-to-face stand with your partner. Go past them on the right side. Step back on the other side to face them again without turning your head at all.
Ladies In, Men Sashay
The ladies move toward the center and holler while the men go to the other side. When the women back away from the spot, the circle is back to the starting point.
Pass Thru, Separate, and Go Home
Pass the person in your front on the right side and keep your back on your partner. Keep walking around the other pair and return to the starting spot.
Promenade
Stand in skaters’. The ladies are on the men’s right side and slightly in front of them. Walk side-by-side anti-clockwise until you get back to the same spot.
Right – Left Grands
Face your partner and walk past them to take the right hands of people moving your way before you complete a rotation and return to your partner.
Roll to a half-sashay
Starting and ending hand-in-hand, the man will be the pillar while the lady rolls from one side of his to another.
Swings
Stand as a ballroom couple and circle clockwise until you complete a 360-degree turn. The man gives the lady a twirl and the swing finishes.
Weave the Rings
Face your partner and walk past them like the Grands, except you alternate the shoulders while passing people.
Wrong Way Grands
The reverse way of the Grands.
Music
As varied as the types of Square dances go, Square dance music also has an unimaginable variety.
In the old days, the traditional Square was performed to live music. The rise of reels and jigs from Ireland and Scotland took over the repertoire of Square music.
Sometimes with their original forms, and other times with elements from other regions.
The band is predominantly acoustic with guitar, banjo, piano, double bass, and sometimes other regional signature instruments like concertina or accordion. If the dance survives in one region, the music tends to become very popular too.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, new instruments like the drum, saxophone, and electric guitar started to be included in the band too, which allowed more tempos to be played.
In modern times, the range of music for Western square dance has broadened tremendously with Broadway, techno, rock, and even hip-hop music. Music can be pre-recorded and the tempo is more persistent than before.
Attires
The attire you should wear to a Square dance varies depending on the region you are in and the type of dance taking place.
The traditional Square dance attire has no specific dress code, which means you are free to wear anything you deem comfortable enough for your movements.
On the other hand, modern Western Square dance in America sometimes held extremely strict rules for attire during the 50s – 60s and called it their traditional attire.
Many modern British dancers follow the traditional dress code, while events are more relaxed about it. When organized as a social dance, people simply dress up to look good, although their outfits might not be like the traditional requirements.
The boundary between Square dance forms is blurred in the States. If you join a revival group, you will see them in the most casual outfits and utilize movements or techniques from other traditions.
Final Words
The amount of sequences and routines that might come out from a Square dance with eight dancers is truly amazing. This might be the reason it survived from Europe to America and still thrives in our time.
As long as you get the basic moves down, every Square event and group will have their doors open to you. So, are you ready to put your dancing shoes on and get some nice steps on the dance floor?