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

Browse Items (1930 total)

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Square Dance in Japan

(Note: also available is information on the start of square dancing in Germany. Viewers may also be interested in a 2021 audio program featuring MWSD singing calls by Japanese callers, part of Buddy… View item
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Kitchen Lancers - Tony Parkes

This dance was taught by Tony Parkes as part of his workshop session on New England Square Dances, recorded November 19, 2011, at the Dare To Be Square Weekend, John C. Campbell Folk School,… View item
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Deer Park Lancers - Tony Parkes

This dance was taught by Tony Parkes as part of his workshop session on New England Square Dances, recorded November 19, 2011, at the Dare To Be Square Weekend, John C. Campbell Folk School,… View item
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Darling Nellie Gray walkthrough - Tony Parkes

Ralph Page's usual ending dance was Darling Nellie Gray. Here, Tony Parkes teaches that traditional dance as well as a variation by Rod Linnell called "Atomic Nellie Gray"; Tony… View item
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Outside Susie - Larry Edelman - Dances of Jerry Goodwin:

Caller Larry Edelman credits this version of the Susie Q figure to Frank Tyrell. This clip includes a walkthrough. Recorded at Dare To Be Square, Brasstown, NC, November 19, 2011. Musicians for… View item
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Let's All Face Out - Larry Edelman - Dances of Jerry Goodwin:

Larry Edelman, caller; dance by Buford Evans. As part of the intro and break, Larry alternates two figures from the "allemande alphabet": Allemande X (pass one and swing the next) and… View item
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Missing Link, The - Larry Edelman

Larry Edelman, caller, cites this dance by Frank Tyrell as one of his favorites, marking the transitional moment between traditional and modern square dancing. It combines figures from the… View item
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Larry Edelman - Dances of Jerry Goodwin workshop sampler

Larry Edelman led a workshop session on dances he learned from the calling of Jerry Goodwin, originally from West Virginia but living and calling in western Pennsylvania when Larry studied with him in… View item
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Birdie in the Cage walkthrough - Larry Edelman - Dances of Jerry Goodwin:

Larry Edelman led a workshop session on dances he learned from the calling of Jerry Goodwin, originally from West Virginia but living and calling in western Pennsylvania when Larry studied with him in… View item
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Winfield P. Niblo

Photographs of Winfield P. Niblo, widely credited with bringing American square dance to Japan after World War II. In one photo he can be seen calling with cupped hands; there simply was no PA system… View item
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Square dance demonstration - Calgary Olympics, 1988

Hundreds of modern western square dancers perform as part of the opening ceremony for the 1988 Olympics, held in Calgary, Alberta. The dance features the "Kaleidoscope Square" created by Gloria Rios… View item
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Big Circle Dance from Carcassonne, KY - Phil Jamison

Phil Jamison led a workshop session on square dances from the southern Appalachians, focusing on dances from different communities in that region. In this video, Phil introduces the big set formation… View item