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

Browse Items (503 total)

  • Collection: MWSD
Still Image

Golden State Round Up 1964

Grand march at the Golden State Round Up, Oakland, CA, 1964. Each row is 4 squares, and there are about 50 rows That's 200 squares, or 1600 dancers. The event featured live music, with an 11… View item
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
Moving Image

Great Chicago Crossfire, gay fly-in, 1989

Television coverage (The 10% Show, a gay-focused channel) of The Great Chicago Crossfire, 1989, a square dance fly-in hosted by the Chi-Town Squares, a gay square dance club. Among the callers shown… View item
Document

Hand position in MWSD

The formation of CALLERLAB in 1974 established definitions and helped modern square dancing become more standardized. This does not mean that everything fell neatly into place! The cover illustration… View item
Sound

Harper Smith

This is a short clip called by Harper Smith at the National Square Dance Convention in Dallas, Texas in April of 1954. The choreography is hand turn hash with several Allemande Breaks. View item
Moving Image

Hash - Jim Mayo - MWSD 1

This is a series of videos documenting Jim Mayo's workshop on Modern Western Square Dance, recorded November 19, 2011. This was part of the Dare To Be Square Weekend held at the John C. Campbell… View item
Moving Image

Hash - Jim Mayo - MWSD 2b

This is a series of videos documenting Jim Mayo's workshop on Modern Western Square Dance, recorded November 19, 2011. This was part of the Dare To Be Square Weekend held at the John C. Campbell… View item
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Hash - Johnny Wedge

Johnny Wedge, caller. Videotaped October 27, 2010, at East Hill Farm, Troy, NH View item
Moving Image

Hash (Plus) - Jim Mayo

Jim Mayo, caller 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

Hashing the Breaks (clip) - Les Gotche

Les Gotcher was the self-proclaimed king of hash. Here's an example of his calling. Square dance enthusiasts who followed him from dance to dance in New England in the 1950s noticed, though, that… View item
Moving Image

Heart of My Heart - 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. Callers are Rich & Lynn Sbardella. Rich is a disciple of Dick Leger and calls in Dick's style… View item