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

Mountain Music Madness (clip) - Rod Linnell

The tune is "I Like Mountain Music," here adapted into a singing call. Recorded on the Apex label, #9-26431. The band is Don Messer's Islanders. In her notes to the dance in Square Dances from a… View item
Moving Image

Mr. Pastry Dances the Lancers

Richard Hearne (aka "Mr. Pastry") was an English vaudeville performer and a regular performer in children's shows on the BBC starting in the 1950s.Here he mimes being part of a set dancing the… View item
Website

Musical and Mathematical Design of Square Dance Singing Calls

These videos record a lengthy and detailed talk by caller Guy Steele. He's not addressing a square dance audience, so it's an interesting presentation of technical aspects of how a singing… View item
Document

MWSD - The First Ten Years

This article by Jim Mayo looks at the first ten years of what is usually called Modern Western Square Dancing. Jim traces the development of the activity in detail, citing specific callers and their… View item
Document

MWSD Named Dances

In the world of modern western square dance today, most callers create the choreography for each dance. Even singing squares, where there is more repetition of figures, can vary each time through, and… View item
Moving Image

MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Intermediate Preliminary

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
Moving Image

MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
Moving Image

MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
Moving Image

MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final – Part 1

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
Moving Image

MWSD Pacific Northwest Teens – Senior Final – Part 2

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival (PNTSDF) provides opportunities for young people up to and including 19 years of age to meet and enjoy competition in Square Dancing, Calling, Round… View item
Moving Image

MWSD Progressive Squares - Mainstream

Nasser Shukayr calling and explaining Progressive Squares, starting at about :42 into the video. The dance was a club dance for the Canyon Twirlers of Canyon Lake, CA on October 11, 2009. The… View item
Moving Image

My Little Girl - Adam Boyce

Traditional singing square dance, recorded in West Newbury, VT, on July 24, 2010. The caller and fiddler is Adam Boyce, accompanied by piano player Donna Weston. View item