Have You Ever Learned to "Square-Dance?"

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Square dancing began in the USA during colonial times, as settlers brought some of their traditional dances from their homelands and in time these various dances merged and developed into an American form that became unique to America. Square-dancing, at first found mostly in rural areas moved to the cities and many square-dancing groups with colorful costumes abound throughout the U.S. today. The women have swirling skirts with many petticoats and the men wear colorful Western shirts. Linking hands and moving in complicated patterns they dance this best-known form of American folk dancing. Mountain tunes are played on fiddles, guitars and banjos for the dancers who follow the instructions of a caller, who sings out “do-di-do” and “Swing your partner” and many other instructions. Square-dancing requires an even number of couples, usually four who face each other in a square (quadrille) or two lines (contra dance) or sometimes a circle (running set). A caller who is not part of the dancers calls out directions in what is called (patter calling.) The dancers follow his instructions. It’s usually a very vigorous and complex dance, which takes a long time to learn all the steps, but it is certainly fun and good exercise too. I learned to square-dance at a very young age, because my mother and father were square-dancers. I haven’t done it in years, now, however. Have you ever been square-dancing?