Traditional Western Squares called by Bill Litchman: Sampler
This is a sampler of the dances taught by Bill Litchman at his workshop session (November 19, 2011) on Traditional Western Squares. Each dance is represented more fully in other videos at this site; most of these dances also have a video showing the walkthrough:
00:00 Arkansas Traveler
00:32 Chain 2 Ladies, Chain 3 Ladies
01:16 Heads to the Center, Sides Divide
01:48 Docey Out as She Comes In
02:32 Sally Goodin & Docey Doe
Bill mentioned that one defining characteristic of southern and traditional western dances is the docey doe, a series of hand turns done with partner and neighbor, often interspersed among other figures of a dance. Traditional western is more closely related to southern dances than to squares of the Northeast because the dances of the south moved west with settlers from that region, bringing a style of music (reels played at a fast tempo) and a more improvisational style of calling. Western dances are built around a figure, but can have a more free-form character than New England dances.
Recorded at the Dare To Be Square Weekend, John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC. Co-sponsored by the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS), the event brought together six experienced callers representing different styles of traditional and modern square dance with about 70 square dance enthusiasts.
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00:00 Arkansas Traveler
00:32 Chain 2 Ladies, Chain 3 Ladies
01:16 Heads to the Center, Sides Divide
01:48 Docey Out as She Comes In
02:32 Sally Goodin & Docey Doe
Bill mentioned that one defining characteristic of southern and traditional western dances is the docey doe, a series of hand turns done with partner and neighbor, often interspersed among other figures of a dance. Traditional western is more closely related to southern dances than to squares of the Northeast because the dances of the south moved west with settlers from that region, bringing a style of music (reels played at a fast tempo) and a more improvisational style of calling. Western dances are built around a figure, but can have a more free-form character than New England dances.
Recorded at the Dare To Be Square Weekend, John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC. Co-sponsored by the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS), the event brought together six experienced callers representing different styles of traditional and modern square dance with about 70 square dance enthusiasts.