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

Browse Items (1962 total)

Sound

Bumps-A-Daisy

The figures of this dance mirror the basic pattern found in Solomon Levi, Nelly Bly, and others; each couple in turn stands back to back, dances around the outside of the set-- in this one, just… View item
Sound

Ed Durlacher - Square Dance Calling Course

In this series of three LP records, Ed Durlacher presents an introduction to square dance calling. He usually introduces each topic with a lengthy discussion, then follows with a series of exercises,… View item
Still Image

Ed Durlacher - Square Dance Calling Course - record labels

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Document

The Dance Beat: The Kentucky Running Set

This article is the first of a series of columns found in the magazine The Old-Time Herald, published from 1987 to 2023. As of May 1, 2026, the entire Old-Time Herald archive is available via The… View item
Sound

Quadrilles with Calls

This 1941 recording (78rpm) features the American Square Dance Group headed by Margot Mayo, with prompting by Manny Wiener. The Lancers: Figures 1 & 2 Figures 3 & 4 Figure 5 Plain… View item
Still Image

Junior Kentucky Briar Hoppers

Estil McNew was a caller who led a group called the Kentucky Briar Hoppers. They danced at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance and appeared (as The Midwesterners) on Midwestern Hayride on WLW radio and… View item