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

Browse Items (1930 total)

Moving Image

Runnin' the Goat - Newfoundland

Harbour Deep was a Newfoundland logging and fishing community that no longer exists; when the cod fishery collapsed, the town disappeared, with the last residents leaving in 2002. This documentary… View item
Sound

Bluebonnet Squares with Melton Luttrell

These are recordings of two sessions led by Melton Luttrell at the 1987 National Square Dance Convention in Houston, Texas. The focus of his sessions was square dancing as led by Herb Greggerson in… View item
Document

Piute Pete - Village Barn

Piute Pete called squares regularly at the Village Barn in New York City. This newspaper columnist took a less-than-enthusiastic view of the proceedings. The SDHP collection has numerous items… View item
Sound

Sashey Partners (clip) - Mel Day

Mel Day was an Idaho caller who co-authored with Jere Long In Idaho It's Docey Doe : A Manual of Idaho Square Dances. The book appeared in 1945 and was reissued in 1952. The patter in this dance makes… View item
Website

An Invitation To Dance: A History of Social Dance in America

This online exhibit on the history of social dance in America draws on documents in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society to offer a multi-faceted portrait of the changing nature of… View item
Sound

Patter - Max Forsyth

This is a short clip from a dance called by Max Forsyth in the Springfield MA area in 1966. View item
Sound

Nobody's Baby - Max Forsyth, 1966

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Sound

Max Forsyth - Bat the Breeze patter, 1966

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Document

Square-Dance Figures from Northern New York State, 1931

Maud Karpeles was a close associate of Cecil Sharp, the English folksong collector and founder of the English Folk Dance Society. While in Appalachia in 1917, Sharp and Karpeles had their first… View item
Website

Square Dance Videos - MWSD

Caller Matt McGovern <matt@mattmcgovern.net> has started a YouTube channel devoted to modern square dancing, including his own videos and those contributed by others. This collection offers a… View item
Moving Image

Eriskay Quadrilles - Scottish square

Performed to Allan MacDonald on the pipes. Ceolas Summer School, Eriskay Ceilidh, Scotland. Notice the aerial figure created by the two side couples at 5:45! View item
Sound

Wakamono Tachi - Masaru Wada

Excerpt from recording by caller Masaru Wada, with calls in English but with additional lyrics in Japanese View item