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Square Dance
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Square dance is a folk
dance with four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, with one
couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music
and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are
known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples.
Each dance begins and ends each sequence with "sets-in-order" in
the square formation. The dance was first described in 17th century England
but was also quite common in France
and throughout Europe
and bears a marked similarity to Scottish
Country Dancing. It has become associated with the United
States of America due to its historic development in that country.
Nineteen U.S. states have designated it as their official
state dance.
The various square dance movements are based on the steps and figures
used in traditional folk dances and social dances of the various people
who migrated to the USA. Some of these traditional dances include Morris
dance, English
Country Dance, Caledonians and the quadrille.
Square dancing is enjoyed by people around the world, and people around
the world are involved in the continuing development of this dance. Square
dancers are prompted or cued through a sequence of steps (square dance
choreography) by a square
dance caller to the beat of music. The caller leads, but usually does
not participate in the dance. |
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