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

Browse Items (1934 total)

Moving Image

Forward 6, Fall Back 8 - Bill Litchman

Bill Litchman, caller, in the traditional western style of square dance. This clip includes a walkthrough. The dancewaspublished by Lloyd Shaw in Cowboy Dances (1939).Recorded at Dare To Be Square,… View item
Document

Bill Johnston - Annen Polka Quadrille

Description of the figures for this dance, created by Bill Johnston and shown on video. View item
Moving Image

Old Fashioned Girl - Bill Hands

Fall dance of the Canadian Olde Tyme Square Dance Callers' Association, a group formed in 1954 to preserve and promote Canadian square dancing. Recorded November 17, 2001, Etobicoke (near Toronto),… View item
Moving Image

Jim Mayo's 40th - Hash

The caller is Earl Johnston, a member of the first CALLERLAB Board of Governors. Johnston was from Vernon, CT, and was a disciple of Al Brundage. This footage was taken by Bill Cross on October 1,… View item
Document

Santa Monica 1950 - Let's Dance

Cover story about the Santa Monica dance from Let's Dance magazine View item
Sound

Patter Call at Hoedown Hall - Bill Castner

This is a short clip of Bill Castner, a caller from California, calling at the Fiesta de la Cuadrilla at Hoedown Hall, September 29 & 30, 1961 View item
Sound

Basin Street Blues - Bill Castner

This is a short clip of Bill Castner, a caller from California, calling at the Fiesta de la Cuadrilla at Hoedown Hall, Mantua, New Jersey, September 29 & 30, 1961.Castner was inducted in the… View item
Sound

I Don't Know Why - Bill Castner

This is a short clip of Bill Castner calling the singing call I Don't Know Why (Sets In Order record # 1119) from a dance recorded in 1960. View item
Sound

Patter - Bill Castner

This is a short clip of patter calling by Bill Castner, a caller from California. View item
Sound

Oh By Jingo (clip) - Bill Castner

A detailed cue sheet with complete calls and descriptions is available.Wikipedia: "Oh By Jingo!" is a 1919 novelty song by Albert Von Tilzer with lyrics by Lew Brown. The song was featured in the… View item
Sound

Whirl Wind (clip) - Bill Castner

View item
Website

Hilton Kelly - Catskill fiddler & caller

Article about Catskills fiddler and caller Hilton Kelly, who has been playing and calling square dances in that region of New York for more than 75 years. Kelly died March 3, 2015; his death was noted… View item