About the Square Dance History Project
Square dancing has been an integral part of American social life for centuries. Traditional square dance was vital for generations of Americans, especially in rural communities; in the post-World War II era, modern square dance similarly enjoyed participants numbering in the millions.
Despite its popularity, the history of square dance has not been well documented. Scores of books explain specific figures and calls, but there are few current sources that offer a detailed discussion of the development of this form of American social dance. We hope this site helps to fill that need.
Sound
Keeler Calling - audio
These six files are the recordings contained in Keeler Calling, the 1950 release by New York caller Elisha Keeler.The album's first three disks contained the six dances, one on each side; the final… View itemWebsite
When Vermont barn dances were all the rage
"Someone's grandparents always seem to remember one, and sometimes you can still find the scuffs and scrapes of shoes and boots on the floors. But where'd those hoedowns go?" This… View itemDocument
The Square Dance Caller
This is one of the most successful efforts to describe in detail just what is involved in being a good square dance caller. (Tony Parkes, in his Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century,"… View itemWebsite
Buddy Weaver Podcast - Vintage MSD- Joel Pepper with Jack Barbour at Sunny Hills Barn
A live recording done at Sunny Hills Barn in Fullerton, California. From 1948 to 1962, it was the largest square dance hall in America boasting a dance floor that would hold 150 squares. Ed Smith,… View itemSound
Gib Gilbert - Colorado caller
We're fortunate to have these live recordings from a 1979 dance called by Gib Gilbert with Yankee Ingenuity. In his introduction to the Boston area crowd, Tony Parkes comments, "All I'm going to say… View itemDocument
History timeline - square dance and CALLERLAB
At the annual CALLERLAB convention, in April 2025, caller Clark Baker was asked to lead a workshop on the history of square dance and of CALLERLAB. Clark has been calling nearly 50 years, mostly at… View itemMoving Image
Square Dance - George Balanchine ballet
This video documents the marriage of square dance with ballet. According to the George Balachine Trust's website: "InSquare Dance, Balanchine joined the traditions of American folk dance with… View itemSound
La Grande Chaine
This recording comes from La Famille Beaudoin / The Beaudoin Family, a 1976 album on the Philo label. It features the fiddling of Louis Beaudoin with calls by Fred Beaudoin. It illustrates the… View itemWebsite
Dancing for Busy People by Cal Campbell
Cal Campbell published "Dancing for Busy People" in 1995 to provide enjoyable dance materials that are accessible to dancers who have not taken Modern Western Square Dance classes. View itemMoving Image
Baltimore Square Dance
Beginning in 2013 the Baltimore Square Dance is a key event in the vibrant Baltimore Old Time Music scene. Monthly dances are attended by all ages, featuring bands and callers from around the region… View itemStill Image
Ed Durlacher - World's Fair, 1940
The description on this publiicity photo from the 1940 New York World's Fair reads: FAIR STAGES WORLD'S BIGGEST BARN DANCE More than 700 square dancers, hill billy bands and square… View itemDocument