All About Square Dancing in America

One of the classes that I had to take in college, to get my degree in Physical Education, was Square Dance. When I first started to take the course, I wasn't too excited about doing so. However, once I learned how the dance worked, I enjoyed it a good deal.

Until the early 1990's, Square Dancing was an acceptable form of folk dance. The 90's brought a new type of Western Dance called Line Dancing.

There evolved two types of Square Dancing in the United States. The Traditional Square Dance, which originated in New England and Appalachia, and the Modern Western Square Dance, which is what is used in many States today. The difference between the two types of folk dance is do to their origin. the Traditional Square Dance is based on forms of Irish Jigs and Reels. The Modern Western Square Dance is based on Western and Country Music.

It developed in the 1930's and 40's by a gentleman by the name of Lloyd Shaw. Western Square Dance is also faster than the traditional. Traditional Square Dance has a lot of individual couple participation. One couple at a time performs while the others watch or dance in place.

Traditional Square Dance can have anywhere from 10 to 20 calls. The Western Square Dance is based on a set program that incorporates the different calls for that particular program.

Shaw's impact on Square Dancing is why it is so popular today. It is a contemporary type of western dance. Shaw solicited callers across America to get the names of different types of calls. Over time, he incorporated them into what is known today as Modern Western Square Dance.

In the 1970's. the Square Dance was standardized by "callerlab:" Callerlab is known as the "International Association of Square Dance Callers." through their efforts Square Dance became more familiar with the same type of basic calls used by everyone.