What is Square Dance?
A square dance is an American folk dance form that involves four couples in a square formation dancing to a specific sequence or series of steps announced or cued by a caller.
12 Basic Calls for Square Dancing
- Circle Left: All eight dancers join hands and walk in a left circle.
- Allemande Left
- Do Si Do
- Right and Left Grand
- Promenade
- Swing your partner
- Roll Away To A Half Sashay
- Ladies In, Men Sashay
Why did hey teach Square Dancing in schools?
Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor company, campaigned to bring Square Dancing into the physical education classes of students across the country, believing it would teach children “social training, courtesy, good citizenship, along with rhythm.” The schools agreed, and by 1928, almost half the schools in America were teaching square dancing and other forms of old-fashioned dancing to students.