Couple Dances at a Square Dance in Southwestern Pennsylvania 1985 - 1987

Dance caller, musician, and videographer Larry Edelman writes: "While studying traditional square dance calling and music in the 1980's in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, I found that there were as many, or even more, couples dances played and danced at a typical evening of square dancing than there were squares themselves. This video illustrates some of the most common dances I recorded: schottishes, polkas, two-steps, fox-trots, waltzes, and two dances not commonly seen elsewhere, The Peerless and The Rye Waltz. Also included are a couple examples of cakewalks. Some of this footage was recorded while I received support by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Recorded at the West Middletown Grange Hall, the Prosperity Fire Hall, and the Independence Grange Hall, all in Washington County. See the end credits for names of the musicians."

There are many examples of couple dances included in the SDHP collection. Click on this link to go to a listing.