Square Dance – a collection of attempted explanations
… is friendliness and fellowship, expressed in motion to music.
… is a party. Whenever and wherever people meet for Square Dancing, persons meet of different origin, to have fun together with motion to music. You find new friends, similarities and continue at the Afterpary conversations, which you started during the Pause in the Dance.
… is a challenge. The Square Dancer does not dance alone or in sets of two, but in a group of eight. He does not dance, what he currently wants, but has learned dance-figures, which he transforms in motion by use of instructions of the caller straight away. This is a high demand on team-spirit, memory retention and capacity of reaction.
… does not know social borders. At Square Dancing company bosses, submariners, nurses, bank assistants, unemployed, engineers, students, salesmen, doctors, police-men, artists… meet (there are of course several other representatives of our society). It is not important, what job you have or where you come from. It is just important, that you are a Square Dancer and follow the basic rules of friendliness and fellowship.
… is independent from age. Okay, almost. The youngest ones start with about ten years of age, although they often have learned it already earlier by watching the adults dancing. Upwards there is no limit, as long as brain and body are ready, to withstand the challenge. So it is not unusual, that you see the nine-years-old daughter and the more than eighty-year-old fore-granddad dance together.
… is not from yesterday. The roots of Square Dancing are some hundred years old, but the dance developed constantly. So it’s the case with the Modern American Square Dance, it’s dance-figures are globally standardized. The music, you dance to, includes something for everyone. There is country- and western-music, but hit songs, pop-music and European folklore as well. The musical timeline goes from Golden Oldie to Elvis and the hits of the Top Ten.
… is health-promoting. The rhythmic movement to music keeps the body fit, the circular flow is inspired naturally. The quick reaction to the instructions of the caller keeps the body going. It is said, that Square Dancer live at least ten years longer.
… is sport. Honestly, you may sweat as in a long-distance-rune. But Square Dance is no completion, there is only the fun. Furthermore, it is no sports, which is watched regularly by paying spectators. Although sometimes Square Dance takes place at an public gig with audience. But this is no duty, but serves above all as promotion for Square Dance and of course is costless for the spectators.
… is as a drug, but quite different.
First you try an Open Day at the beginning of a class.
In consequence of a regular enjoyment, you get used to it: the attendance of the class-lessons.
The fear of the consequences of a steady progression: the final exam.
The euphory leads to extensive consumption: the passed final exam.
The following phase proceeds differently, depending on the Square Dancer. On the one hand, there could be a total addiction, which results in a further increase of the dose. There are Square Dancers, who – during their wildest time – visit an other club each day; and this for weeks. Some satisfy their demand through the attendance of classes of higher levels. Or there is a slow-down. One realizes, that there are other things beside Square Dance, but it is hardly possible to get away from it. The regular attendance of the weekly clubnight belongs to the rhythm of life.
(below the technical explanation in brief))
… is an American folk dance, in which four dance-couples take their places at the sides of a (imaginary) square, follow the orders of the caller and move to the music in constantly changing formations. It rests on the caller, to put the figures to a harmonic choreography and to bring the dancers back to their basic position.
At this point there is no try, to find an explanation again. Therefore we hint at existing, to some extent very detailed descriptions, also regarding the historical development of Square Dance, which you find at the page with the links on it.
Caller
Square Dance is a dance with announcements. So who would be better qualified to announce the dance-figures as the caller? So, it is not possible without caller. In the early years of Square Dance, the caller recalled the choreography learned by heart, to help the dancers. Nowadays, he calls out the names of the dance-figures to the dancers, which have to be danced by the dancers. The dancers don’t learn dances by heart any more, but specific, standardized dance-figures. The caller then develops the choreography, so the order of the figures. He does this either in private and then presents the result to the dancers or he develops the choreography during the dance. In doing so, he can adjust the level of difficulty to the skills of the dancers.
Normally the caller is the teacher as well, who teaches the students of a class the dance-figures and the other habits.
Open House
An Open House is an accessible dance-event, to which the club invites all people interested in Square Dance and wanting to try, how Square Dancing feels like. You come as single person and need no previous knowledge. All you need, is the wish, to learn about new people and something new. Sentences as “I cannot dance”, “I have two left feet”, “I have no partner” or “my husband does not dance with me” don’t apply.
Because…
Everyone can dance, if the dance fits to his abilities.
I have not seen two left feet so far. If they exist, one of those can be trained to right.
To find a partner is not easy. But maybe it works at Square Dance – just show courage.
It already happened, that SHE brought him and finally HE was the one, who had more fun.
Class
… the beginning of a wonderful passion …
The class is the course, in which you can learn Square Dance. According to the different dance-programmes – the levels -, there are classes for beginners and advanced. Rookies are taught the extent of the Basic- and Mainstram-programme in the beginners-class. These are all together about 70 dance-figures. Therewith the student is ready for the mainstream-graduation, the final exam.
The class ranges from 30 to 35 evenings to practice, in which there is much time to have practical experience. Frequently the students are supported in their effort by the angels, who are experienced dancers. Thereby the students not only learn the technical processes of the dance-figures, but as well – starting on the first day -, how much fun the whole thing is. And as there is fun together, friendliness and fellowship don’t have to be taught, but appear automatically.
Although couples are dancing in the Square, it is no must to come to the class in couples. Singles are welcome as well as couples or groups.
Graduation
The climax, which was worked to about three quarters of a year. Which makes you nervous, when the time has arrived. The confirmation, that you are capable to dance … or not?
Hey, I was nervous on the day of my graduation. I had attended each class-night, took part in the workshops, learned the theory, even remembered the name of the caller, who brought me to the point, where I finally arrived, … and I had butterflies in the stomach. Well, a lot of club-dancers were there, who I had not seen before. Even guests from other clubs were there. Some looked quite sceptical, some whispered well-meant advices to me, … and then it started: a dance to warm-up, the theoretical exam, the practical one, the meaningful face of the caller … wow, I had passed! I was accepted in the community of the Square Dancers.
When passing the graduation, the student earns the right, to dance at events and clubnights in the appropriate levels. This might sound in some kind restrictive, but it makes sense: if someone wants to join a dance without sufficient knowledge of Square Dance, he spoils the party of the others, because the Square breaks and the choreography is smashed.
Page 2 – Guideline-link lower third