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

Browse Items (502 total)

  • Collection: MWSD
Sound

Patter Calling - Ed Gilmore

This is a short clip of patter calling by Ed Gilmore. The choreography is the classic Ends Turn In that was created by Ed in 1951. View item
Sound

Patter Calling - Frank Lane

This is a short clip from a dance called in 1969 by Frank Lane at the Newton Pavillion in Newton, New Hampshire View item
Sound

Patter, Joe Lewis, 1964

View item
Moving Image

Paul Place - MWSD Traveling Hoedowners - Plus Program

The Traveling Hoedowners is a demonstration group associated with the Travelinghoedowners.com web site. This site offers training videos and other information about square dancing. This video was made… View item
Moving Image

Plus Program Square Dancing in Germany

This is a video of a square dance in Germany in 2008. The callers are Jerry Jestin from the USA and Joe Kromer from Germany. The video is of a singing call, Tiger By the Tail and the two callers join… View item
Moving Image

Popcorn Quadrille

Variations on Grand Square figure, danced to early electronic music, a record named "Popcorn." Chicago caller Andy Anderson created the dance to go with it. From a demonstration of historical dances,… View item
Document

Progressive Squares - introduction

This article from the Experimental Lab of Sets in Order magazine documents the introduction of progressive squares by Ed Gilmore. The article explains that he "developed an unusual collection of calls… View item
Sound

Progressive Squares - Jerry Helt

This half hour recording comes from a 1998 CALLERLAB session led by Jerry Helt, widely known for his use of progressive squares. (We appreciate CALLERLAB giving permission to share the material here.… View item
Sound

Pussy Cat -Red Bates - 1973

The 1973 singing call, Pussy Cat, Windsor Records #4173, was recorded by Bruce Johnson; it is one that became a Red Bates trademark. The figure was difficult in a unique way. The challenge was the… View item
Sound

Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (clip) - Charley Thomas

Charley Thomas was a vendor of records and books for squares and contra dances. He founded American Squares magazine after World War II, and edited it until it was purchased by Frank Kaltman and… View item
Sound

Puttin' On The Style - Charlie Baldwin, 1961

View item
Sound

Puttin' on the Style (clip) - Al Brundage

This is an excerpt (opener and first figure) from Al Brundage's recording of the dance on the Windsor label. View item