Types of Dance Explained!
by Dave Brown

When you attend a Modern Square Dance, there are three types of dancing that is possibly offered depending on the club format. Please note that the Term “Square Dance” is often used, even when Round and Line dancing is offered. “Square Dancing” is often the main dance attraction at one of these events. Round Dancing is the number two event as a rule. Line Dancing is not as common overall in the activity across America (and the World) known as Modern Square Dancing.

Of course, if you think about it, Square Dancing requires four Male/Female couples, or eight people. Each couple completing one side of a square. Hence, 4 sides of a square. I’m not sure where Line Dancers, Western dancers and the public get the notion that Line and Western Dancing is Square Dancing. There is simply a lack of 4 sides to make a square in the two mentioned here.

Please don’t confuse “Folk Dancing” with “Modern Square Dancing”, which is a whole other format that often uses less than 50 Dance “Calls”, whereas Modern Square Dancing extends beyond that. Folk Dancers often declare their type of dancing as “Square Dance” but it does fall in line with the term that all of us know as American Folk Dance. Folk Dancing is often prompted, rather than Called as in Modern Square Dancing, as most routines are set choreography.

The difference between the Square Dance of old and Modern Square Dancing is simply the introduction of electronic amplifiers. The “Old” way of Square Dance was prompted, as there was no way for the prompter to yell the full time the dance was in progress. It invariably made the voice box sore and inoperable (hoarse).  As a result, the “Calls” or routines were more extended in time and calls were more of a “memorized by the dancers routine” lasting up to 64 beats or counts. Then the next call was “barked” or “prompted” over the band playing and noise of an excited crowd .

As a result of Electronic technology, the prompter is now known as a “Caller”. The caller can now make more noise that the crowd as a result of voice amplification. This means the dancers can how hear all of the words that the caller might call out, but now the callers voice can last most of the night without becoming hoarse. The end result, human nature as it is, the dancers want more. More of what? Since the dancers can now hear everything, the calls have become shorter in duration, and now there are more calls to challenge the dancer.

Modern Square Dancing, which breaks down to 2 types, with several levels within each, “Patter” and “Sing Calls”. The Person Directing a Square Dance is known as a “Caller”

The second most popular form of dancing found at a Modern Square Dance, is Round Dancing.

Round Dancing is performed by couples in a large circle consuming most of the hall traveling counter clockwise in that circle. The Person Directing a Round Dance is known as a “Cuer”, prompting the next pre-choreographed call to any number of popular songs or music.

Line Dancing. Performed by individuals in lines stacked to face the front of the hall. The Person Directing a Line Dance is known as a “Prompter”, prompting the next choreographed call to any number of popular songs or music. Often Line Dancing choreography is simple enough that only the first or second time through is enough to get the idea to continue being prompting.

What needs to be pointed out, is that there is a progression of participation with people involved with each other for personal satisfaction. from line dancing of individuals (1ea) to Pairs (2ea)  and then 8 (or 4 couples) performing together.

Touch, Experience It!

By Dave Brown

I am always fascinated by people when I ask for them to try Square Dancing. Different reactions can be expected, but rarely, when given a date and time, do I hear, ﾓI’ll be there for class!ﾔ It really seems to be a difficult process to bring new people into our activity.

Without, what I call the ﾓtouch componentﾔ or physical experience, recruitment needs to be a gradual exposure over time. The concept is known as ﾓGet to know, Like and Trust.ﾔ It is human nature to resist change. To only do what was always done before. When exposed to the idea enough, only then will the prospect move forward with action. This can be acted upon through social media or wearing your Square Dance clothes into any establishment, or after party at your local restaurant. People need to see (many times) that there are ﾓa lot of peopleﾔ involved in the activity to the point of being common. Many times I hear comments as to our Square Dance outfits or ﾓwhere’s the dance?ﾔ Maybe we should just throw on some Square Dance clothes and go out for dinner… just thinking out-loud.

The nature of most people is to ﾓSit on the fenceﾔ, wait and see if someone else does something, and if enough people do it without repercussions, then it must be ﾓOKﾔ. ﾓLet Mikey take the first bite.ﾔ If we are out in public enough with Square Dance attire, people might assume that there is a Square Dance somewhere and that they might be feeling left out. Think about it guys and gals.

Now the touch component.

I learned a long time ago, that if I didn’t “experience it by touching or acting on the activity”, I would never know what was reality verses what my mind was thinking it might be. I base this statement on past life experiences. The phrase “Don’t judge another man until you walk in his shoes.” begins to take on new meaning when you actually ﾓdoﾔ or ﾓtouchﾔ the activity as the other man did.

Let’s take the previous statement and reflect on it.

Up until the point of actually experiencing the activity, you have only information that is stored away in your memories of the possibilities of what you are about to experience. You might even be a little apprehensive because touch will be involved. It will be a brand new touch experience. The “real deal” as it were. (I followed that, did you?)

The touch component is missing until you actually, “Do It!” That component is the “real feel experience”. “Tactile or Touch”. You could read, watch someone else in their experience, or hear about an experience from a friend. Until you actually involve your mind and body simultaneously with the physical “Touch” component, the only conclusion that you could have had was from the previous “Non Touch” information.

Now let’s apply it to Square Dancing.

Many people grow up with other dance experiences. That’s ok. It seems that Square Dancing is one of those activities that people actually like to watch, in wonder, as the demo square completes their moves, synchronously one move after another, caller with dancers. ﾓIt looks so hard!ﾔ is a normal comment as the activity is stored away in their subconscious as ﾓTo Hard for me, but coolﾔ.

Ok, now how do we recruit that person?

I have found that the best place to recruit is at a demo as we show our stuff in front of an audience of potential Square Dance prospects! The trick is to bring in bystanders and teach just enough to let them know that they can actually do it. The caller should agree with the demo group, a secret key phrase, like, ﾓExplode the Square!ﾔ This tells the dancers to go out into the audience and bring in one new person as a partner. One square begets two. Two squares turns into Four. Etc. Each newbie has an experienced dancer to help make positive results and success as a rule for the newbie. In almost every case after the set, that I have done this, there are several new people with their eyes opened up to the possibilities of learning the hobby even asking where they can learn.

I have found that from the audience of watchers, we never seem to recruit anyone. But… if we can get people to experience even just a little, touch sells the activity.

Put together some demos.

This gives new meaning to ﾓReach out and Touch Someone!ﾔ