Square Dance History Project
The rich story of North American square dance finally has a home in the digital age.

Browse Items (1931 total)

Moving Image

Georgia Rang Tang description - Bob Dalsemer

If the vidieo does not play, try going here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn0n_ZKc5YsThe figure of alternating hand turns is known in the west as a Docey-Do and in some Southern communities as… View item
Moving Image

Chase the Rabbit - Bob Dalsemer

In this version, after the "chase the rabbit, chase the squirrel" figure, dancers immediately follow up with "opposite by the right hand round, partner by theleft hand round" then circle left. As the… View item
Moving Image

Texas Star - Bob Dalsemer

Recorded at Dare To Be Square, Seattle, in 2009. For a more complete view of dances from the weekend, see the audio and video files posted here. View item
Sound

Maryland Line Square Dance, 1974: Grand Square (Bye, Bye, My Baby)

Recorded by Bob Dalsemer, January 5, 1974 at the Maryland Line Fire Hall, Maryland Line, MD. Caller: Donald "Jake" Jacoby Band: The Saw Mill Boys This version is a bit unusual in that… View item
Sound

Golden Slippers - Donald "Jake" Jacoby

Recorded by Bob Dalsemer, January 5, 1974 at the Maryland Line Fire Hall, Maryland Line, MD. Caller: Donald "Jake" Jacoby Band: The Saw Mill Boys This a standard "divide the… View item
Sound

Bile Them Cabbage Down (Duck and Dive) - Donald "Jake" Jacoby

Recorded by Bob Dalsemer, January 5, 1974 at the Maryland Line Fire Hall, Maryland Line, MD. Caller: Donald "Jake" Jacoby Band: The Saw Mill Boys Note that when couples 1 and 3 lead the… View item
Sound

Maryland Line Square Dance, 1974: Little Brown Jug (Birdie In the Cage)

Recorded by Bob Dalsemer, January 5, 1974 at the Maryland Line Fire Hall, Maryland Line, MD. Caller: Donald "Jake" Jacoby Band: The Saw Mill Boys This visiting couple square has a quick… View item
Document

Singing Calls - a short history

History of Singing Squaresby Tony ParkesThe earliest description of a singing square I've found so far (in fairly shallow digging) appears in the first edition (1925) of Good Morning, prepared by Mr.… View item
Document

Box the Gnat - a short history

Box the Gnat - a short historyby Tony ParkesNobody seems to know when "box the gnat" took on the standardized meaning it has today inrecreational square and contra dancing. In Instant Hash (1962),… View item
Sound

Al Brundage - dance history

Note: The audio file takes a while to load, so be patient.This recording documents a presentation by Al Brundage about the history of square dancing. The tape label has no information about the date… View item
Moving Image

Just Because - Walter Lenk

Caller Walter Lenk, backed up by Tony Parkes, leads dancers through the singing square Just Because. Recorded at the Saturday night Grand Dance, January 1988, at the first Ralph Page Dance Legacy… View item
Website

Edson H. Cole - website

In her 1939 Folk Songs of Old New England, Eloise Hubbard Linscott writes, "Edson H. Cole of Freedom, New Hampshire, has been fiddler, caller, and dancing master for more than 30 years. When he was a… View item