Square Dance Study Guide

History of Square Dance

Square dancing has been an integral part of American social life for centuries. Traditional square dance was vital for generations of Americans, especially in rural communities. On January 25, 1982 the 97th Congress unanimously passed a Joint Resolution designating square dancing as the national folk dance of the United States and on June 1, 1982 President Reagan signed it.

Early in this century, as America urbanized, square dancing nearly died out. The dance got left behind and was almost forgotten. Henry Ford had a major impact in its revival. He extolled the virtues of square dancing in an attempt to foster a dance form that would counteract what he considered to be the evils of jazz. In 1923 Henry Ford engaged the full-time services of square dance caller Benjamin Lovett. Ford brought Lovett to Dearborn, MI where he remained for twenty-six years. Ford sponsored a dance program for the Dearborn public schools, and soon Mr. Ford was sponsoring square dance programs in many other schools. Square dancing was also brought to numerous college and university campuses at Mr. Ford's expense. Ford sponsored a Sunday radio program that was broadcast nationwide. Over the radio Lovett would call dances that had been printed in the newspaper the previous week. Eventually Henry Ford had a new, large dance hall constructed at Greenfield Village to contain the increasing numbers of dancers. Old fashioned square dancing became the rage.

Folk dancing also received a major boost in the 1920's when the New York City public schools, the first major school system to do so, made folk dancing a required activity. But Lloyd "Pappy" Shaw should receive primary credit for square dancing's modern revival. Square dancing expanded rapidly after 1939. After the war ended, large numbers of them turned to square dancing in pursuit of wholesome recreational activity. With "Pappy" Shaw in Colorado, and the impact of the returning GI’s focusing on California, these two states led the development and evolution of modern square dancing. KEY TERMS

Partner -either of the two people who dance together (traditionally boy on left, girl on right)

Honor- Partners face – Ladies curtsy, Gents bow.

Head Couples- pairs 1 and 3

Side Couples- pairs 2 and 4

Do Si Do- dancers pass each other's right shoulder to right shoulder and circle each other back to back

Promenade- couples move counterclockwise in a circle

Forward and Back- Three steps forward, high tens and back to position

Corner- converging area where the sides meet (person to the right or left of each pair)

Allemande- Corners face each other, join left hand, and walk around till home base

Key Notes

-A complete square consists of 8 people

-2 people equal a set or pair

-“Square your set” means back to main position or home base

-In starting position, person on left has left hand behind and right palm up

-In starting position, person on right has left palm on top and right hand at side

4 Movements Learned in Class

1. Circle to the left/right

2. Do si Do

3. Forward and Back

4. Promenade