Square Dancing in the Kentucky Foothills
Based on extensive interviews, audio files and video recordings, the author has compiled a detailed look at dancing in the area around Berea, Kentucky. Her introduction provides a broad look at the topic:
"In Berea and surrounding counties, square dancing, the type done in a big circle that divides into smaller “squares” of two couples, seems to have been popular from the beginning of the twentieth century. In the early years of the century, it took place predominantly in homes, moving to lodges, schools, and other larger places by the 1930s and 40s. By mid-century the venues and occasions began to shift toward competitions and festivals, but people danced in local establishments until the 1970s. Social square dancing seems not to exist in this area as a regular recreation any more, but clogging teams still perform and compete, some using square dance figures and others dancing in lines and other formations."
Subjects: Southern Appalachian - general
Tags: Berea, big circle, big set, clogging, Kentucky, Mountain Square Dance Festival, Renfro Valley, Susan Spalding
Item Relations
| This Item | is related to | Item: Kentucky Square Dances |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Square Dancing in the Mountains of Eastern Kentucky |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Set Runnin' in Eastern Kentucky |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Kentucky Running Set |
| This Item | is related to | Item: "Dancing to the Music: Domestic Square Dances and Community in Southcentral Kentucky (1880-1940)" |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Set Running - Berea Country Dancers |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Stu Jamieson - The Old-Time Kentucky Running Set |
| Item: Appalachian Circle | is related to | This Item |
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"In Berea and surrounding counties, square dancing, the type done in a big circle that divides into smaller “squares” of two couples, seems to have been popular from the beginning of the twentieth century. In the early years of the century, it took place predominantly in homes, moving to lodges, schools, and other larger places by the 1930s and 40s. By mid-century the venues and occasions began to shift toward competitions and festivals, but people danced in local establishments until the 1970s. Social square dancing seems not to exist in this area as a regular recreation any more, but clogging teams still perform and compete, some using square dance figures and others dancing in lines and other formations."