GLBTQ Square Dance history
In recent decades, as modern square dancing has been declining overall, one of the growth areas was in the LGBTQ community. This short history, prepared for this SDHP item, offers a brief look at the early years of that movement, and provides a link to a much more detailed and lengthy (250 pages) history of groups affiliated with the International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs.
Author Allan Hurst describes one fundamental difference between gay and straight clubs: "There are some differences between regular and GLBTQ square dance clubs. All GLBTQ clubs are what most people would consider to be “singles” clubs. In many standard clubs, the defined unit of membership and dancing is a “couple”. In a GLBTQ club, the defined unit of membership and dancing is a “dancer”. Thus, while a square in standard clubs is considered to be formed of four couples, in GLBTQ clubs, a square is formed of eight dancers."
Subjects: Modern square dance - general
Tags: Allan Hurst, Arky, gay, Gay Callers Association, GLBTQ, Harlan Kerr, IAGSDC, LGBTQ, Luis Torres, Miami Mustangs, Roger Coffin, Skip Barrett
Citation
Dublin Core
Title
Subject
Description
Author Allan Hurst describes one fundamental difference between gay and straight clubs: "There are some differences between regular and GLBTQ square dance clubs. All GLBTQ clubs are what most people would consider to be “singles” clubs. In many standard clubs, the defined unit of membership and dancing is a “couple”. In a GLBTQ club, the defined unit of membership and dancing is a “dancer”. Thus, while a square in standard clubs is considered to be formed of four couples, in GLBTQ clubs, a square is formed of eight dancers."