Yesterday, my square dancing club had its Christmas party (and no, I don't understand why we had a Christmas party before Thanksgiving either, so don't ask.). At one point during the party, our instructors mentioned how important it is to keep this activity going. Thus, I decided to post a blog about the history of the event and why I like it.
SquareDancing.org gives a short history of square dancing. It says that square dancing is an American institution that began in New England when the first settlers and immigrants brought their various dances to America. People got together at the end of the week and enjoyed dancing. However, since the types of dances were so diverse, it was difficult to remember. Eventually, the dances evolved into square dancing, with four couples in each square and a caller. It was an easy activity, because all you needed was a floor, music, and a caller. Square dancing faded into the background as "modern dances" pulled forward. However, in the 1930s, Henry Ford incorporated square dancing into his New England restoration project. It has continued to become popular to this day.
I personally enjoy square dancing because it gives me an opportunity to get together with some awesome people and have fun. I don't particularly enjoy exercising, but square dancing is a fun way to keep moving without having to make a huge point to exercise. Be sure to talk some friends into it. A friend of mine had to drag her boyfriend to come, but now he loves it. If you're interested, be sure to find a caller in your area!
This picture is of me and a friend of mine last month at the Halloween Square Dance. I'm the shorter, dark haired one on the left.
Ah I've always wanted to try square dancing!
Your blog only makes me want to do it more!!!
You should! The older people are kinda intimidating at first, but they really do want young people to be involved, because they don't want the sport to die out.
RESPECT LIFE
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"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I haven't danced since I injured my leg several years ago, but I was actually a certified caller (mainstream, plus one and experimental sets). I used to clog, too.
TTFN,
Blackout
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There's a first for everything : P That's really neat! I love our caller/instructor. He and his wife are really sweet. I've been taking lessons since March and my groups gotten through mainstream and we have one move left in plus. We should be done before the first of the year. : ) It's really cute to watch the little kids do it. I wish more teenage guys would get involved, though. It'd be nice to be able to dance with a guy my own age.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I never knew the history behind square dancing. I haven't squared danced but I talked my 9-year-old into joining his after-school square dancing club. He fought me on the issue but now he enjoys it. I shared the blog with him. He found it interesting. ~angi~
Glad to enlighten. : ) That's awesome. It's great to have kids involved! I'm glad he enjoyed my post. : )
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I've only square danced a few times, but line dancing is a lot of fun, especially if you don't do it very often and its kind of a novelty thing.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
Yeah, I love contra dancing, too. It's so much fun : D
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
Personally, I prefer line dancing or swing dancing. Swing is loads of fun and pretty easy to do as a follower as long as you have a good lead. Whenever I get with a good lead, one dance leaves me nice and breathless and dizzy from all the spinning.
~C
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OMGosh, I LOVE swing dancing. The college I'm going to is big on contra dancing and swing dancing. It is SO incredible if you get a guy who knows what he's doing! I even got flipped while I was at the summer program earlier this year! : D It was a BLAST!
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa