November 29 - Square Dance Day

nPosted on November 29, 2019

Key points

nFour couples form an inward-facing square.

nThe music starts.

nThe caller begins her or his rapid-fire instructions:

“Now bow to your partner,

nBow to your corner, too,

nNow heads forward and back,

nAnd sides forward and back,

nCircle left!

nNow swing your partner,

nAllemande left,

nAnd promenade back home.”

nI have learned some square dancing, and it’s pretty fun – for sure good for the ole’ brain, since one call can have 20 or 30 different moves. I’m talking about Teacup Chain, Load the Boat, Trade the Wave, AC/DC, and so forth.

Square dancing is often associated with senior citizens,
poofy skirts and stiff petticoats, and country music.

All of that CAN be true, but many young people square
dance, too, you can wear just about anything to square
dance, and some callers use multiple genres of music.

Some people think that square dancing should be declared the National Dance of the United States, since it is (they say) uniquely American. However, square dancing has roots in European and African folk dancing as well as in Native American dancing – so many aspects are not completely “unique” to the U.S. – and it certainly isn’t more “American” than is, say, Hawaiian hula or Cherokee stomp dancing or Inuit drum dancing.

nStill, square dancing is fun, it’s good exercise, it’s very social, and it’s good for the brain!