American Square DanceSquare dancing was a big part of social dancing for a long time, even if it seems like something from a completely different time. Here's an excerpt from a book on square dancing, as well as other social and folk dancing covering some of the history of American square dancing.
Title: Dance! A Complete Guide to Social, Folk, and Square Dancing Author: J. Tillman Hall Excerpt: Square DancesAmerican square dances have their origins in England and France. Playford's The English Dancing Master, first published in 1651, describes three dances in square formation. Because Playford's book was very popular (seventeen editions were printed before 1729), it was probably read by some of the colonists of the New World. The French contre-dances were among the earliest to limit the number of couples to four and to establish the basic square formation. The French influence on American square dance is shown in the continued use of such terms as promenade, balance, chassé, and allemande.
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The American square dance takes its characteristics and its terminology from the diverse people who dance it. Early nineteenth-century dances were mostly contre-dances, quadrilles, and cotillions. These are still popular in the New England States. The Southern colonies developed the running sets in which the caller controls all the movements. As the pioneers moved westward, significant changes were made; the dances became faster and more complicated.
Americans invented the system of calling. Originally, the dancers were given printed directions on playing cards, fans, or other items. The directions were memorized and the dances were stereotyped. But many people could not read, and others could not afford the items on which the directions were printed. Furthermore, an increasing variety of routines made it impossible for dancers to remember the exact sequence of movements.
Thus the caller became essential to the success of American square dance. Some of the calls were the well-established French words. Other calls grew out of the circumstances of the dancers. As civilization moved westward, there were not enough women to take the ladies' places, and so men were used. They wore conspicuous patches on the seats of their pants. Calls such as "Promenade to the bar and treat your partner" were heard.
We are not sure of the exact date or place that the square-dance caller was first used. We know that it was before the 1850's, because several books that describe the caller were written about that time.
Howe's Complete Ball-room Hand Book, written in 1858, contains several "patter" calls. Patter is the nonsensical chatter of the caller as he waits for the dancers to complete some previously called movement. The popular singing calls made their appearance in the 1870's.
Also in the 1870's the waltz and polka routines were added to the square dance. Not until the 1880's do we find a description of the buzz-step swing. Before that time a "swing your partner" consisted of joining hands and turning the partner around once.
Attempts are being made to standardize square-dance terms and movements. Although some headway has been made, the attemps have not been entirely successful. Universal terms such as "docey-doe" or "do-ci-do" have different meanings in various sections of the United States.
Even though one may encounter regional differences in the fundamental movements of square dance, the basic foundations remain the same, and the outcomes are rewarding.
- from "Dance! A Complete Guide to Social, Folk, and Square Dancing," by J. Tillman Hall
Americans invented the system of calling. Originally, the dancers were given printed directions on playing cards, fans, or other items. The directions were memorized and the dances were stereotyped. But many people could not read, and others could not afford the items on which the directions were printed. Furthermore, an increasing variety of routines made it impossible for dancers to remember the exact sequence of movements.
Thus the caller became essential to the success of American square dance. Some of the calls were the well-established French words. Other calls grew out of the circumstances of the dancers. As civilization moved westward, there were not enough women to take the ladies' places, and so men were used. They wore conspicuous patches on the seats of their pants. Calls such as "Promenade to the bar and treat your partner" were heard.
We are not sure of the exact date or place that the square-dance caller was first used. We know that it was before the 1850's, because several books that describe the caller were written about that time.
Howe's Complete Ball-room Hand Book, written in 1858, contains several "patter" calls. Patter is the nonsensical chatter of the caller as he waits for the dancers to complete some previously called movement. The popular singing calls made their appearance in the 1870's.
Also in the 1870's the waltz and polka routines were added to the square dance. Not until the 1880's do we find a description of the buzz-step swing. Before that time a "swing your partner" consisted of joining hands and turning the partner around once.
Attempts are being made to standardize square-dance terms and movements. Although some headway has been made, the attemps have not been entirely successful. Universal terms such as "docey-doe" or "do-ci-do" have different meanings in various sections of the United States.
Even though one may encounter regional differences in the fundamental movements of square dance, the basic foundations remain the same, and the outcomes are rewarding.
- from "Dance! A Complete Guide to Social, Folk, and Square Dancing," by J. Tillman Hall