Items in the MWSD Collection (12/499)
Document
Easy Key Handbook of Square Dance Fundamentals
In the 1950s, square dancing in many locations was changing from traditional to modern squares, moving away from a complete set of patterns to a system in which dancers would learn basic figures that… View itemDocument
Southern California Square Dance "Gold Rush"
This essay, from the program booklet of the 1976 National Square Dance Convention, provides an overview of early square dancing in southern California. That year's NSDC was held in Anaheim, CA,… View itemDocument
Square Dance Timing for Callers: Philosophy
New England caller Dick Leger, "the man with the guitar," believed strongly in fitting calls to the musical phrase. In this, he was sometimes an outlier in the modern square dance community… View itemPerson
Herbie Gaudreau
Massachusetts caller and choreographer Herbie Gaudreau is perhaps better known in today's contra dance world than in the modern square dance world. Gaudreau created a contra dance that he named the… View itemDocument
Song of the HIGH-LEVEL Dancer - poem
The push for "high level dancing" appeared in the 1950s as square dancing took off. Some dancers wanted ever-more-challenging programs and they were often reluctant to dance with less-skilled dancers.… View itemDocument
High Level Dancing – One Man's Opinion
Technical Note: If this item does not display, click on the download arrow at the top of the screen to get a copy on your computer.In the mid-1950s, twenty years before the formation of CALLERLAB,… View itemSound
Hotshot Callers - Joe Lewis
In this recording, Joe Lewis highlights the plight of an average square dancer who just wants to go out for an evening of fun. Instead, he's confronted by a hotshot caller using all manner of… View itemDocument
Square Dancing Is NOT Out of This World
This is the text of a presentation by Joe Lewis at the 1959 National Square Dance Convention, part of a discussion of the future of square dancing.Lewis points out that the majority of dancers at the… View itemDocument
National Square Dance Convention - 1959 Who's Who
This excerpt from the program of the 1959 National Square Dance Convention lists the better-known presenters at the event. As such, it's a useful snapshot of who was respected enough at that time… View itemStill Image
National Square Dance Convention attendance
The National Square Dance Convention has been held annually since 1952, with the exception of 2020 (the Covid year). Attendance rose steadily over the early years as club square dancing became… View itemMoving Image
Tech Squares - I Will Survive, called by Don Beck
Don Beck Calling the last tip of the Tech Squares (MIT Square Dance Club) class graduation, December 1997 View itemDocument