November 29 is Square Dance Day, so grab your partner and get ready to dosey doe! Square dancing usually involves four couples, or eight dancers, who all face each other in a square shape, with one couple forming each side of the square.
Square dancing originated in Europe in the 17th century, and was brought to the United States by Irish, Scottish, and English settlers. Square dancing has evolved into many different forms over the years, some including more dancers and a “caller” to call out cues and steps to dancers. One thing all square dances have in common is that they are all lively and energetic dances, and square dancing has been linked by medical studies to having many health benefits. A half hour of spirited square dancing can burn 200 to 400 calories.
This spirited dance is still largely popular in the Western and Southern United States, and gained recognition with its association with the romanticized version of the American cowboy. Lloyd Shaw began heavily promoting the Traditional Western Square Dance in the 1930s by gathering traditional dance steps from callers all over the country so the dance could be standardized, preserved, and taught to anyone willing to learn. Since the 1970s, the International Association of Square Dance Callers has promoted this standardization, making it easy for anyone to learn the traditional dances. The Square Dance has been named the official state dance of 19 states in the United States.
If you would like to learn how to square dance at home, check out this video!