Square Dance - Steamboat Springs, 1951

This silent movie shows children dancing at the second annual Square Dance Festival held in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The film was taken by Leonard Fisher, whose daughter was one of the dancers; the original footage comes from the collection of the Tread of Pioneers Museum in Steamboat Springs, and is used by permission of the museum and the film's donor. The Square Dance History Project has additional information about this event, which garnered national attention. At the first festival, in 1950, about 100 persons were expected but 3,000 turned out, an indicator of the wide popularity that square dance was developing at this time.

Take a look at ribbons given out to participants and view national news coverage of the Steamboat Springs square dance festival.