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

Browse Items (503 total)

  • Collection: MWSD
Sound

Gentle On My Mind, Red Bates, 1968

In the 1968 singing call, Gentle On My Mind, the interesting and unusual figure was called by Red just as it was recorded on the Wagon Wheel label #113 by Don Franklin View item
Sound

Woman in Love - Red Bates, 1961

The singing call, Woman In Love, is a classic and Red uses the figure as it was recorded by Dick Leger on Grenn record #12128. Tempo is a characteristic of calling that underwent considerable change.… View item
Sound

Red Bates 1961, Patter

By the time of our first clip from a 1961 dance at the Newton Pavilion in Newton, NH, Bates was a busy caller working dances throughout New England. The choreography is very representative of MWSD at… View item
Sound

Ends Turn In (clip) - Raymond Smith

Dance created by Ed Gilmore, with many versions available on this site. Music here is played by Jack Barbour's band. View item
Sound

Between Those Ladies (clip) - Ray Smith

This 1953 clip features Texas caller Raymond Smith introducing the seeds of modern Western square dance style at Camp Becket in Massachusetts. He's calling "Between Those Ladies" by… View item
Moving Image

Vic Ceder - MWSD patter tip with all dance programs

Called by Vic Ceder at the Fall Berkshires C4 Weekend in Lenox, MA on Oct. 22, 2011. A group of volunteer dancers returned from their lunch early to dance a special tip in which each sequence was from… View item
Moving Image

Challenge Square Dancing - C4

This half-hour video was shot at the Fall Berkshires C4 Weekend in Lenox, MA on October 22, 2011. It contains dance sequences and interviews with avid C4 dancers who describe the more complicated… View item
Website

Ralph Sweet's Personal Square Dance History

This is a 2005 presentation by Ralph Sweet to NECCA (New England Council of Callers Associations), a group of MWSD callers. Reviewing his own interest in this activity provided Ralph with an… View item
Document

Ralph Piper - Teaching the Waltz

This is a handout by caller Ralph Piper for use at a class during the American Squares week at Camp Ihduhapi, MN, in 1953. He provides a brief description of different styles of waltz, a short history… View item
Document

The Value of Square Dancing - Ralph Maxhimer

In this essay, Ralph Maxhimer explains why he sees square dancing as a vital social/recreational activity. He was a founding member, along with his wife, Eve, of the National Square Dance Convention… View item
Still Image

Dick Leger - promo photo

This newspaper photographer's shot portrays The Man With the Guitar. Viewers will find many other Dick Leger items on our site. View item
Document

Square Dances in Western Style

A handbook of basic dance figures, written by a Virginia dance caller in the early 1950s. View item