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

Browse Items (1925 total)

Sound

When The Work's All Done This Fall - Donald "Jake" Jacoby

Recorded by Bob Dalsemer, January 5, 1974 at the Maryland Line Fire Hall, Maryland Line, MD. Caller: Donald "Jake" Jacoby Band: The Saw Mill Boys The figure: the active couple separates… View item
Website

And They Danced - Cape Breton dance

This documentary (47 minutes) is a rich portrait of stepdancing and square dance traditions in Cape Breton Island, particularly in Inverness County. View item
Document

Pageant of American Square Dance History, 1959

This lengthy presentation of square dance history was presented at the Eighth National Square Dance Convention in Denver, 1959. Researched and organized by Dorothy Shaw after Lloyd Shaw's death in… View item
Document

Square Dance Revival Due To Shaw’s Dreams in the 1920’s

This newspaper essay by Dorothy Stott Shaw describes, in her usual poetic manner, the rise of square dancing as seen through Lloyd Shaw and his experiences at Cheyenne Mountain School. There are more… View item
Moving Image

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
Moving Image

Not Your Grandparents Square Dance

Old-time music and square dancing in Portland, Oregon. Interviews with Bill Martin and Michael Ismerio, and footage from the Old Time Music Gathering, reveal the intimate links between the old-time… View item
Moving Image

Michael Ismerio - Take a Little Peek

Michael Ismerio calls a Take A Peek at the 2009 Portland Old Time Gathering. Music by Ebenezer (Caitlin Daum, fiddle; Scott Killops, banjo; Robin Wilcox, bass; Ryan Fitzpatrick, mandolin; and Patrick… View item
Moving Image

Chase the Rabbit - Bob Dalsemer

In this version, after the "chase the rabbit, chase the squirrel" figure, dancers immediately follow up with "opposite by the right hand round, partner by theleft hand round" then circle left. As the… View item
Moving Image

Georgia Rang Tang description - Bob Dalsemer

If the vidieo does not play, try going here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn0n_ZKc5YsThe figure of alternating hand turns is known in the west as a Docey-Do and in some Southern communities as… View item
Moving Image

Georgia Rang Tang, big set - Bob Dalsemer

This clip shows the dancers finishing up the figures with another couple, and then being called back into the big circle for the grand right and left for everyone. The musicians are Sandy Bradley,… View item
Moving Image

Georgia Rang Tang close-up - Bob Dalsemer

This very short high-definition video clip conveys the smooth feeling of the Georgia Rang Tang figure.Recorded at Dare To Be Square, Seattle, in 2009. For a more complete view of dances from the… View item
Moving Image

Big Set - Bob Dalsemer

Recorded at Dare To Be Square, Seattle, in 2009. For a more complete view of dances from the weekend, see the audio and video files posted here. View item