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

Browse Items (189 total)

  • Collection: Southern Appalachian
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Miss McLeod's Reel

Short clip showing outdoor dance, date and place not given though it's from Times ain't like they used to be [videorecording] : early rural and popular American music, 1928-1935. Four couple… View item
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Take a Little Peek

Northwestern Pennsylvania version of Take a Little Peek, usually considered a southern Appalachian dance figure. Called and posted by Dan Freligh (aka RubberCrutches). The tune is Boil that Cabbage… View item
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Square dance at the Tractor Tavern - Seattle

The Tallboys host a bi-monthly square dance at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood that is wildly popular with the under-30 crowd. Also featured is caller Charmaine Slaven. This… View item
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Chase the Rabbit - Ed Gilmore

Ed Gilmore, caller. Gilmore was from California, but demonstrates here his familiarity with traditional Southern Appalachian style patter. View item
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Eleanor Roosevelt square dancing

Newsreel footage of Eleanor Roosevelt dancing in Arthurdale, West Virginia, 1940 View item
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Bill Ohse 3 - Mix of figures

West Virginia caller Bill Ohse, recorded at the Dare To Be Square weekend in Riner, VA, on May 5, 2012. Here, he calls a different figure for each active couple in turn; there was no walkthrough. As… View item
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Bill Ohse 4 - Grand Reel and Chase Your Dear

West Virginia caller Bill Ohse, recorded at the Dare To Be Square weekend in Riner, VA, on May 5, 2012. Here he is teaching two figures that he'll be calling. They can be seen in the "Swing… View item
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Bill Ohse 1 - Sally Goodin

West Virginia caller Bill Ohse, recorded at the Dare To Be Square weekend in Riner, VA, on May 5, 2012. There are six clips in this series from the Saturday afternoon sessions that he called.… View item
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Bill Ohse - Chase the Rabbit (walkthrough)

Recorded May 5, 2012, at the evening dance at Dare To Be Square, Riner, Virginia Musicians are Chance McCoy -- fiddle; Sebastian Zijp -guitar; Mac Traynham -- banjo; Frances West - first bass… View item
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Bill Ohse 2 - Texas Star

West Virginia caller Bill Ohse, recorded at the Dare To Be Square weekend in Riner, VA, on May 5, 2012. There are six clips in this series from the Saturday afternoon sessions that he called.… View item
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Bill Ohse 5 - Swing in the Rear

West Virginia caller Bill Ohse, recorded at the Dare To Be Square weekend in Riner, VA, on May 5, 2012. In this clip, the caller uses several figures that are taught in #4 in this series. There are… View item
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Bill Ohse 6 - Six Go Forward and Six Go Back

"Six go forward, six go back, two ol' gents do a do-si-do,...Right hand high, left hand low, cross 'em on over, now here we go." West Virginia caller Bill Ohse, recorded at the… View item