Square dance is a folk dance where four couples (eight dancers) are in a square beginning with Couple 1 (the couple facing away from the music) and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are known as the side couples. Each dance begins and ends each sequence in a square formation, with one couple on each side of a square. This is called being in your "sets-in-order". The dance was first described in 17th century England but was also quite common in France and throughout Europe and bears a marked similarity to Scottish Country Dancing. It has become associated with the United States of America due to its historic development in that country. Nineteen U.S. states have designated it as their official state dance. Traditional square dance is the form of square dance most often danced as part of a contra dance event. ... Modern Western square dance (also called Western square dance, contemporary Western square dance, or modern American square dance) is one of two types of square dancing, along with traditional square dance. ... Folk dancers in Prague Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances, mostly of European origin, that tend to share the following attributes: They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier (or are, in any case, not currently copyrighted); Their performance is... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... This is a list of official U.S. state dances:[1] This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ...

The various square dance steps are based on the steps used in traditional folk dances and social dances of the various people who migrated to the USA. Some of these traditional dances include Morris dance, English Country Dance, and the quadrille. Square dancing is enjoyed by people around the world, and people around the world are involved in the continuing development of this dance. Cotswold morris with handkerchiefs A morris dance is a form of English folk dance. ... English Country Dance, sometimes abbreviated ECD, is a form of folk dance. ... for the equestrian form of quadrille, see Quadrille (dressage) Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. ...

Square dancers are prompted or cued through a sequence of steps (square dance choreography) by a square dance caller to the beat of music. The caller leads, but usually does not participate in the dance. Caller is a person that calls dance figures in round dances, line dances, square dances, contra dances, etc. ...

Two types of square dancing

There are two different types of square dance:

• Traditional square dance, which nowadays is frequently presented in alternation with contra dances, and is most prevalent in New England, with Appalachia and the South being close seconds. Another name for a traditional square dance is quadrille, a dance which originated in mid-18th century France, and spread in popularity throughout upper-class England and the rest of Europe.

• Modern Western square dance, which is also called "Western square dance", "contemporary Western square dance", or "modern American square dance". The basis of modern Western square dance was established during the 1930s and 1940s by Lloyd Shaw, who solicited definitions from callers across the country in order to preserve traditional American folk dance. Since the 1970s modern Western square dance has been promoted and standardized by Callerlab, the "International Association of Square Dance Callers". Modern Western square dance is sometimes presented in alternation with round dances.

Traditional square dance is the form of square dance most often danced as part of a contra dance event. ... You may also be looking for a style of classical music called contredanse. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... It has been suggested that Poverty in Appalachia be merged into this article or section. ... for the equestrian form of quadrille, see Quadrille (dressage) Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. ... Modern Western square dance (also called Western square dance, contemporary Western square dance, or modern American square dance) is one of two types of square dancing, along with traditional square dance. ... The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Intro to Dr. Lloyd Pappy Shaw Dr. Lloyd Shaw was a teacher at Cheyenne Mountain High School in the early 1900s. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Callerlab is the internation association of square dance callers, and is the largest square dance association in the United States. ... There are two distinct dance categories called Round Dance. ...

Comparing square dance calls

In this context a "call" refers to the name of a specific dance step. It may alternatively refer to the phrase used by a caller to cue the dancers so they dance the specified step, or to the dance step itself. It mirrors the ambiguity of the word "dance", which may mean a dance event, the dancing of an individual to the playing of one piece of music, or dancing in general.

A square dance call may take a very short time or a very long time to execute. In traditional square dancing the timing of a call is fitted to the music, but in modern Western square dancing many calls have been given formally-specified durations, usually 4-32 "counts" (where a count is roughly one step).

Traditional and modern Western square dancing have a number of calls in common, but there are usually small differences in the way they are performed. For example, the "Allemande Left" is traditionally performed by grasping left hands with the other dancer, leaning backwards slightly, and walking halfway around a central axis then stepping through. In modern Western dance the grip is modified so that each dancer grips the forearm of the other, and there is less leaning. These modifications make it easier to enter and exit the step, and thus easier to incorporate into a long sequence of calls.

Traditional square dance uses about forty or fifty calls, and every dance is explained before the participants dance it. There is a list of some examples of traditional square dance steps at Contradance. Participants are made to feel welcome to make mistakes (within limits), and the mistakes can sometimes make the dance a lot more fun. This article needs cleanup. ...

In modern Western square dance the participants are expected to have learned and become proficient in a particular program, a defined set of calls. Dancing modern Western square dance is constantly challenging and surprising due to the unknown or unexpected choreography of the caller (that is, the way the caller ties together the "calls" and the formations which result)—unlike traditional square dance, very rarely are two modern Western dances ever alike! Like traditional square dancing, recovering from occasional mistakes is often part of the fun, but dancers are usually encouraged to dance only those programs at which they are reasonably proficient. A square dance program or square dance list is a set of defined square dance calls or dance steps which are associated with a level of difficulty. ...

Comparing square dance music

The two types of square dance are accompanied by different types of music.

Traditional square dance is danced to traditional "country dance" music: Irish jigs and reels for the most part, as well as folk music from Quebec (Canada), England, Scotland, and other countries. The music is almost always performed live by a traditional dance music band, and played on acoustic instruments, such as the fiddle. banjo, guitar and double bass. "Old time music" is one form of dance music played at traditional square dances. The jig (sometimes seen in its French language or Italian language forms gigue or giga) is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type, popular in Ireland and Scotland. ... The reel is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots3 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  -  First Minister Jack McConnell... // Jazz The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument are documented during the first decades of the 20th century. ... A four-string banjo For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) The banjo is a stringed instrument of African American origin adapted from several African instruments. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Old-time music, a traditional style of American music, has roots in Irish, Scottish and African folk music. ...

Modern Western square dancing is danced to a variety of music types, everything from pop to traditional country to broadway musical to contemporary country music—even rock and techno. The music is usually played from recordings; the beat is also somewhat faster, as the "perfect" modern Western square dance tempo is 120–128 bpm. At this speed dancers take one step per beat of the music This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Beats per minute (bpm) is a unit typically used as either a measure of tempo in music, or a measure of ones heart rate. ...

Other comparisons

Modern Western square dance is organized by square dance clubs. Clubs offer classes, social and dance evenings, as well as arrange for larger dances which are usually open to the general square dancing public (i.e. non-club members). Larger dances sometimes request a strict western-style dress code, which originated in the late '50s and early '60s and is known as "traditional square dance attire", although it was not traditional before that time. Clubs may choose to advertise their dances as requiring less strict dress codes known as "proper" or "casual" (no dress code). Traditional square dance groups are less structured and often have no particular dress code. Square dance clubs are the primary form for organization within the recreational activity of square dancing, and more specifically modern Western square dance. ... Modern Western square dance (also called Western square dance, contemporary Western square dance, or modern American square dance) is one of two types of square dancing, along with traditional square dance. ...

Designations

Square dance is the State Dance or the State Folk Dance of numerous states in the US, see List of U.S. state dances. Folk dancers in Prague Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances, mostly of European origin, that tend to share the following attributes: They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier (or are, in any case, not currently copyrighted); Their performance is... This is a list of official U.S. state dances:[1] This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ...

The Promenade Act

The Promenade Act (H. R. 645) is a bill before the United States Congress that proposes that Square Dance be designated as the national folk dance, and that defines certain other dances (i.e. round dance, the contra dance, the line dance, the heritage dance, and clogging) as square dance. There are two distinct dance categories called Round Dance. ... This article needs cleanup. ... A line dance is a formation dance in which a group of people dance in one or more lines (British English, rows), executing the same movements. ... Clogging is a traditional type of percussive folk dance which is associated with a number of different regions across the world. ...

See also

• Youth square dance

Youth square dancing has no precise definition, because youth is a relative term. ...

External links

• Callerlab: The International Association of Square Dance Callers
• History and Heritage of Modern American Square Dancing
• Information & Resources on Australia's 1950's Square Dancing BOOM!
• History of Square and Contra Dance