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

Browse Items (1926 total)

Sound

Jingle Bells (clip) - Ralph Page

A fine example of why Ralph Page was known as New England's singing square dance caller, back in the day. The dance is Odd Couple to the Center, set to the tune of Jingle Bells. Ralph Page calling… View item
Sound

Jitterbug Square (Pistol Packin' Mama) - 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 This visiting couple square has a quick… View item
Moving Image

Joe Casey - hash

Joe Casey died June 22, 2012. He was a square dance caller for 62 years, starting as a traditional dancer and then moving into modern square dance. He was a caller for six clubs and a guest caller… View item
Sound

Joe Lewis - Callers Class

This is a fragment of a callers' class led by Joe Lewis; unfortunately, we do not know the location or the date. Lewis comments, "When a lot of people suddenly do the same thing wrong, the… View item
Still Image

Joe Lewis - photo

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Sound

Joe Lewis singing

Joe Lewis modified an accordion and used it to accompany himself on singing calls. He also used it to accompany his singing of songs as an entertainer after (or during) the dance. These two were… View item
Still Image

John and Mary Josy Bradford

John Bradford (age 13) and his sister Mary Jo (16), also known as Mary Josy to differentiate her from her mother, Mary Jo Bradford, went for the first time to Shaw's summer dance class in 1947,… View item
Moving Image

John Bill Allen - Big set, Berea, 1975

Note: The first minute of the video has garbled sound, but then it clears up. Notes from John Ramsay: Documentary of local square dancing in Berea, Kentucky circa 1975. The caller, John Bill Allen,… View item
Still Image

John Bradford photos

John Bradford and his sister were the youngest participants at the early Lloyd Shaw seminars in Colorado. John went on to call for many decades. The photos here date from his teen years up through a… View item
Sound

John Brown's Body (clip) - Jim Vickers-Willis

Live recording of the popular Australian caller who spearheaded a huge surge of interest there in American square dance in the 1950s. See additional newsreel footage and references on this website. View item
Still Image

John Newton - Turkey Mountain Window Smashers

Photographs, band logo and other ephemera related to John Newton's band The first photograph shows the big family version of the Turkey Mountain Window Smashers, about 1989. Members are, L to… View item
Sound

John Newton - Vermont - 5 squares

John Newton was a Vermont teacher and square dance caller. Included here are five examples of his calling. The first three were recorded by Steve Green in 1984 at John's home (with music by… View item