If you have ever danced this dance yourself or even been to a social get together where the square dance is being danced, you would know that this dance is always danced by four couples who position themselves to form a square.
When you start and finish the dance, you end at the original formation of a square. Two of the couples are designated as the head couples and the other two as the side couples.
When the couples are dancing, there is someone known as the square dance caller who is responsible for calling out the names of various steps and moves that the dancer perform.
The caller functions as a guide to direct the dancers through a series of square dance steps as the dance music plays.
The traditional form of square dancing is known as old time square dance and this style was hugely influenced by regional styles and trends.
There are some traditional square dance styles that are still danced in parts of the world. This is especially true for the New England and Appalachian form of dancing that has been documented very well.
Traditionally square dancing served as an alternate between rounds of freestyle dancing and contra dances. It served as a break from other form of dances.
The modern form of square dance is more popularly known as the Western square dance. It is also known as contemporary Western square dance, modern Western square dance, or even modern American square dance.
It was in the late 1930s and early 1940s that some form and basis was defined for modern square dance. This was in attempt to preserve the folk dancing tradition of America.
No comments:
Post a Comment