Square Dance History Project
The rich story of North American square dance finally has a home in the digital age.

Browse Items (359 total)

  • Collection: Northern squares
Moving Image

Dick Leger - Have I Told You Lately That I Love You

Dick Leger was known as "The Man with the Guitar." This clip shows him having fun with the dancers: "I can't believe I'm doing this!" Recorded at the York Contra… View item
Sound

Four Leaf Clover - Larry Edelman

Larry writes: "This rendition of Four-Leaf Clover was recorded on August 24, 1985. I called it to a demonstration square (or maybe two) during a live hour-long broadcast of Seattle’s long-running… View item
Still Image

Dick Perry Orchestra - dance photographs

These photographs show the Dick Perry Orchestra playing for a dance at the Putney (VT) Town Hall. The group turns up in many newspaper stories from the 1950s and 1960s. View item
Sound

East Meets West (clip) - Lawrence Loy

Lawrence Loy was from western Massachusetts but this recording, with its apt title, shows the influence of the western style of dance, with changing choreography. After generic opening figures, two… View item
Still Image

Buffalo Boy Go Round the Outside

Lawrence Loy is the caller, working with Carson Robison and his Old Timers. (Click on the Additional Files link to hear the audio clip.) You can also download the cover or the instructions from inside… View item
Document

IOCA Barn Dance 1942

Events sponsored by the IOCA, the Intercollegiate Outing Club Association, provided the introduction to square dancing for many young dancers. Students from colleges and universities in the Northeast… View item
Moving Image

Contra Corners Canon

The dance was composed by Pittsburgh caller and choreographer Ron Buchanan. In this video, it's being called by Lisa Greenleaf. View item
Moving Image

Just Because - Lori Morin

The caller is Lori Morin, from Chepachet, RI. She is a modern square dancer, organizer, and caller influenced by Dick Leger. Here she's calling a guest slot at Bob Livingston's monthly dance… View item
Sound

Catch All Eight - Louise Winston

This is an interesting example of a modern square dance call turning up in the repertoire of a caller deeply involved in the New England traditional square dance scene. Louise Winston was one of the… View item
Sound

Shoo-Fly (clip) - Mac McKenrick

Singing square, called to the familiar children's song; not to be confused with the "Shoo-Fly Swing," a figure sometimes found at the end of big circle dances. View item
Sound

Mal Hayden - Seacoast Demonstration, 1960

This is Mal Hayden, a New Hampshire caller who straddled the space between traditional and early modern square dance calling. Information about him can be found at the Related Item.Drawing on various… View item
Document

Pop Sweet

This item recounts a chance encounter between Margot Mayo, the leader of the American Square Dance Group, and Pop Sweet, a traditional fiddler/caller from western Massachusetts. Her excitement at… View item