Square Dance History Project
The rich story of North American square dance finally has a home in the digital age.

Browse Items (499 total)

  • Collection: MWSD
Moving Image

Grand Colonel Spin - demonstration

The Grand Spin call is no longer on the standard lists of MWSD calls. The dancers here are tapping but the figure itself can be clearly seen, starting at :35. The dancers are the Air Cap Tappers at… View item
Sound

Hash with stars - Ed Gilmore, 1956

live recording Jerry Reed - Ed Gilmore was one of the early full time traveling callers. He also was an early teacher of callers. He urged callers to keep their patter calls organized and this clip… View item
Sound

Les Gotcher - hash - 1958

live recording - note the fast tempo, about 138 bpm Les Gotcher was one of the early full-time traveling callers. He was known as the "Hash Master" and this clip from a 1958 dance… View item
Website

Square Dancing - Bob Osgood film, 1951

Film made by Bob Osgood / Sets in Order in 1951 to popularize square dancing.A discussion among square dance enthusiasts on the history of the film can be found here. As that discussion reveals, a… View item
Sound

Ed Gilmore - Ends Turn In, live recording. 1958

In this clip Ed Gilmore uses a shortened version of the original Ends Turn In figure that was published in 1951. At that time the Square Thru call that he uses here to set up the lines did not exist.… View item
Website

How To Square Dance series

This square dance video teaches the following square dance calls on the mainstream list: Ocean Wave, Swing Thru, Run (Boys, Girls, Centers, Ends), Pass the Ocean, Trades (Boys, Girls, Ends, Centers),… View item
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MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
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MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final – Part 2

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
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MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final – Part 1

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
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MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
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MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Intermediate Preliminary

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
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Marina - Rich Sbardella - MWSD Early – Basic Program

This video is of a dance at the Powder Mill Barn in Enfield, CT. The barn is owned by Ralph Sweet. The caller is Rich Sbardella. Rich is a disciple of Dick Leger and calls in Dick's style which,… View item