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

Browse Items (1924 total)

Sound

Down East Squares - 1950s, #1

Live recording made by Dudley Laufman (1955-57) at Orange Hall, Brookline, Massachusetts. Released on cassette tape as "Traditional and Ethnic Square Dance Music of New England —… View item
Moving Image

Kentucky Set Running - 1993

Notes by John Ramsay: "The Kids From The Country, a country dance team from Silver Creek School in Berea, Kentucky demonstrate "running a set" or Set Running. Their music teacher, Mr. Barton, is the… View item
Moving Image

Appalachian Big Set - Berea- 1993

The Berea Festival Dancers, with caller Teresa Lowder, perform an Appalachian Big Set demonstration at the 1993 Mountain Folk Festival, Berea, Kentucky. The group is introduced by their director, John… View item
Moving Image

Waltz Cotillion & Prince Imperial Quadrille

The Quadrille Club and others dancing at a Ball in Richmond, England. The Waltz Quadrille is the first item of three in this video; the Prince Imperial Quadrille begins about 05:53. View item
Moving Image

Lancers, 5th figure

The music for this group of dancers is by Spare Parts, from their compact disc, The Civil War Ballroom. View item
Moving Image

le quadrille Américain - late 19th century

Tune composed and dance choreographed by François Paul in 1888, this dance was done up until World War I. It is composed of five figures: promenade, the basket, wooden horses, the visits and "The… View item
Moving Image

La boulangère - dance of French Revolution

Dance from the period of the French Revolution. La Boulangère was the only dance mentioned by name by Jane Austen, and it is related to an American dance figure of the south called the Shoo-Fly Swing. View item
Moving Image

Royal Scotch Quadrilles - 5th figure

Comments from Susan de Guardiola: The Royal Scotch Quadrilles were written by London dancing master Thomas Wilson in response to the (in his opinion, undeserved) success of The Caledonian Quadrilles,… View item
Website

Irish set dances - a list of examples

Clarebannerman channel on YouTube (once there, enter "set clarebannerman" in the search window) Clare Set Newport Set Corofin Plain Set Kilfenora Plain Set Mullagh Half Set (two couples) Enniscorthy… View item
Moving Image

Clare Plain Set

The August set dancing weekend in Kilrush, Co Clare, features outdoor ceilis in the town's market square. The Glenside Ceili Band were the featured musicians on Saturday afternoon when they played… View item