Easy Key Handbook of Square Dance Fundamentals

In the 1950s, square dancing in many locations was changing from traditional to modern squares, moving away from a complete set of patterns to a system in which dancers would learn basic figures that the caller could use in different ways. Clarke Kugler, a caller from Inglewood, California, devised a systematic way of teaching those basic figures and shared his approach through a series of checklists that accompanied this little booklet, originally published in 1953. Kugler's plan called for teaching these basic in a series of 10 weeks.

This item contains a story in Sets in Order (January, 1954), followed by a digital copy of the first edition of Kugler's booklet. After the SIO article, we've included the covers of the 1953 edition (which cost $.50 and contained 43 figures) and the 1955 revision, costing twice as much and containing 84 basic figures, evidence of the rapid growth and complexity of this new approach.

After all the descriptions of basic figures, take note of the final poem in the booklet, where the author uses square dance patter to encourage proper hygiene and attire for the square dance activity.

Thank you to Larry Marchese (Denver) for suggesting this item, and to Stig Malmo (Denmark) for providing a scan of the original booklet. If any viewer has a copy of the actual teaching sheets / checklists, please contact us.