Social Symbolism in a Rural Square Dance Event
This scholarly article looks in depth at a Grange dance in a small town in western Pennsylvania. Written from a sociological/folklorist perspective, the authors describe the community in which the dance takes place, the ethnic background of participants, the local economy, and the centrality of the event in community life:
"Considering the central position of the square dance in the social calendar, the frequency of the event throughout the year, the paramount place of the dance in the social events of the Grange, and the social importance of the Grange in the rural agricultural community, we might expect that the high ritual value placed on the square dance would be indicative of the dance event's ability to express fundamental and important social values of the group."
This introduction is followed by a lengthy description of the dance evening, including three squares in particular: Dive the The Ocean Wave, Red River Valley, and the Grapevine Twist. Mention is also made of a cakewalk, round dances, and a final Grand March.
Much of the social analysis focuses on the "Social Symbolism of Couples and Community," based on data collected by surveying the participants. The authors conclude that "the dance event is a community of couples, each of which shares equally in the event, but each of which also makes a statement about the place of that couple in the evolution of coupledom in the community by where the couple sits, where the couple dances, whom the couple dances with, what kinds of rearrangements the couple permits for itself in its relations with other couples, and the nature and quality of the couple's dancing."
Tags: cakewalk, Dive the The Ocean Wave, Grand March, Grange, Grapevine Twist, Pennsylvania, Red River Valley, round dance
Item Relations
| This Item | is related to | Item: The Independence (PA) Lancers |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Dance to the Music and Listen to the Calls: The Square Dances and Calling of Jerry Goodwin |
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"Considering the central position of the square dance in the social calendar, the frequency of the event throughout the year, the paramount place of the dance in the social events of the Grange, and the social importance of the Grange in the rural agricultural community, we might expect that the high ritual value placed on the square dance would be indicative of the dance event's ability to express fundamental and important social values of the group."
This introduction is followed by a lengthy description of the dance evening, including three squares in particular: Dive the The Ocean Wave, Red River Valley, and the Grapevine Twist. Mention is also made of a cakewalk, round dances, and a final Grand March.
Much of the social analysis focuses on the "Social Symbolism of Couples and Community," based on data collected by surveying the participants. The authors conclude that "the dance event is a community of couples, each of which shares equally in the event, but each of which also makes a statement about the place of that couple in the evolution of coupledom in the community by where the couple sits, where the couple dances, whom the couple dances with, what kinds of rearrangements the couple permits for itself in its relations with other couples, and the nature and quality of the couple's dancing."