Square Dancing, Where it Came From and Where it is Now

Square dancing is a type of Folk dancing. Square dancing dates back all the way to the 17th century in England. It is also listed as being common in France and Scotland. Western square dancing came from the folk dances that people who migrated to the United States brought with them.

It was intended to be a weekend gathering where the farmers and towns folk got together to have some fun and socialize with their neighbors. The steps were taken from such different dances as the Morris Dane, English Country Dance, Quadrille, Schottisch, jigs, reels and even the Minuet, with a caller calling out the next steps to be danced. Some callers went to other cities and towns and learned their dances and brought them back to call to his dancers Some callers created their own dances.

As the country grew square dancing was being replaced by new music and new dances. In 1930 Henry Ford became interested in square dancing and started movements to bring it back.

Today square dancing is a popular hobby and a competitive event. Gone is the barn, the hay, the pitchfork, the fiddler and the little brown jug, replaced by modern electronic music and professional callers. Nineteen states have declared the square dance as their official State Dance.

Today you can take lessons for square dancing, round dancing, clogging and contra. Contra is very similar to square dancing in that it uses three couples instead of four. Round dancing is a choreographed dance involving many dancers similar to Ballroom dancing. Clogging is a form of step dancing but wearing wood shoes to create certain clogging rhythmic sounds on the floor.