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

Browse Items (1924 total)

Moving Image

Swing in the Rear - 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
Sound

Between Those Ladies (clip) - Ray Smith

This 1953 clip features Texas caller Raymond Smith introducing the seeds of modern Western square dance style at Camp Becket in Massachusetts. He's calling "Between Those Ladies" by… View item
Sound

Cut Away 6, 4, 2 (clip) - Fred Townsend

Canadian caller, born 1900, who was the caller for Don Messer's bands on its many cross-country trips. A three-LP boxed set of his dance calls (Let's Square Dance) was released (Doncaster DS-3-102).… View item
Sound

Cut Off Six - Tiny Clark

Recorded in the early 1940s; music by Mr. and Mrs. Siller. Compare the calls for this dance with others in the collection doing the same figures. The liner notes to his album on Asch Records 344… View item
Document

Tiny Clark - album cover

American Country Dances, issued on Asch Recordings View item
Sound

Arkansas Traveler (clip) - Rod Linnell

Despite the title of the dance, with a reel by the same name, the tune for this recording is Little Burnt Potato, a jig. Rod Linnell, from Maine, was a contemporary of Ralph Page, perhaps best known… View item
Still Image

Square Dance Postcards

A collection of postcards showing different styles and personalities associated with square dance. We are eager to acquire more to add to this collection!Additional images of square dance postcards… View item
Still Image

Dick Leger - Marianne

The Square with the Bongo Beat, Dick Leger's dance, "Marianne," was a 1957 hit. Here are additional links to the recording itself and to a video of the dance called by Tony Parkes. View item
Document

Piute Pete - Village Barn

Piute Pete called squares regularly at the Village Barn in New York City. This newspaper columnist took a less-than-enthusiastic view of the proceedings. The SDHP collection has numerous items… View item
Website

Rufus Guinchard: The life and music of Newfoundland's late legendary fiddle player

This is a 30-minute film made in 1990 that celebrates the life and music of Newfoundland fiddler Rufus Guinchard. The film is available online, and is well worth watching. Like Medicine Fiddle, the… View item
Moving Image

Cumberland Square Eight

This popular dance can be found in numerous settings:English country dancers in the USScottish country dancers celebrating Burns Night"anarchic" dancersanother energetic groupdancers at a wedding… View item
Sound

Standard Club Quadrille (clip) - Benjamin Lovett

Benjamin Lovett, a New England dancing master, was hired by Henry Ford and relocated from Massachusetts to Michigan. He recorded numerous albums with the Henry Ford Orchestra, as well as authoring… View item