About the Square Dance History Project
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; in the post-World War II era, modern square dance similarly enjoyed participants numbering in the millions.
Despite its popularity, the history of square dance has not been well documented. Scores of books explain specific figures and calls, but there are few current sources that offer a detailed discussion of the development of this form of American social dance. We hope this site helps to fill that need.
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The Good Old Days - Jack Powelson
Jack Powelson wrote: "This was to have been Chapter 1 of a History of American Folk Dancing, but the other chapters were never written."Larry Edelman writes: "I met Jack Powelson sometime in the fall… View itemDocument
Square Dancing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
This is a detailed description of square dancing in the mid-1940s in the area around Salisbury, Maryland, located on the Eastern Shore, in particular dances that took place at Fruitland, four miles… View itemDocument
Asilomar Dance Camp
This large set of photos and text all relate to Asilomar, the location in southern California where many dance camps were held. Included in this item are photographs of campers, camp rosters, and… View itemWebsite
Square Dancing on the South Side
THis radio program looks at the history of modern square dancing within the Black community in Chicago, with many groups leading up to the formation of Southside Squares. It includes an interview with… View itemMoving Image
Hillbilly Hare
In 1950, the same year that the Santa Monica square dance attracted 15,000 dancers, Warner Brothers released a new Bugs Bunny cartoon,Hillbilly Hare, testimony to the rising popularity of square dance… View itemWebsite
Gone West Out East
Modern square dance was frequently transported to other nations through American servicemen. This video documents the effects of US airbases in East Anglia, England, on the cultural life of the area,… View itemWebsite
Les Gotcher recordings
Les Gotcher, the self-described Hashmaster, was a prominent figure in the development of modern square dance. (See various entries about him here on the Square Dance History Project or his entry in… View itemDocument
Friday Night Supper Dances - Windham, VT
This is an account of social dances in a small southern Vermont town, held from 1926 until about 1940. The first two pages of the PDF show the article as it appeared, followed by a clean copy of the… View itemDocument
A Look at Southern Squares - Document by Bill Martin
Bill Martin was a pivotal figure in the revival of old-time square dancing in the Pacific Northwest and, by extension, elsewhere throughout the U.S. This information was originally posted on the … View itemDocument
Texas Whirlwind - detailed calls
This is the detailed transcription of calls for Rickey Holdlen's version of the Texas Whirlwind. It illustrates the fast-paced nature of traditional Texas squares, the caller keeping up a non-stop… View itemSound
Keeler Calling - audio
These six files are the recordings contained in Keeler Calling, the 1950 release by New York caller Elisha Keeler.The album's first three disks contained the six dances, one on each side; the final… View itemWebsite