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

Browse Items (1941 total)

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

Ends Turn In (clip) - Joe Lewis

Joe Lewis was one of the big names in square dance calling; he played an accordion that was specially fitted out so that different notes would produce different kinds of sounds, and his big hit was… View item
Moving Image

Ends Turn In - Susan Kevra

Dance composed in 1952 by Ed Gilmore, a well-known square dance leader of the 1950s; Susan Kevra, caller; Becky Tracy, fiddle, and Keith Murphy, piano; recorded at Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MA, Family… View item
Sound

Ends Turn In - Joe Casey

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Sound

Ends Turn In - Fenton "Jonesy" Jones

This is a rare live recording of Fenton “Jonesy” Jones from California. In the 1954 tape he says that he prefers to use his guitar for music rather than records even for some of the patter… View item
Sound

Ends Turn In - Ed Gilmore

Ed Gilmore's composition, Ends Turn In, is one of the most common items found in this website, called by modern square dance callers as well as by those who favor traditional squares. Here's the… View item
Document

Emergence and Development of the Cotillon

Jean-Michel Guilcher is a pre-eminent scholar of French dance. This is an excerpt from his book, La contredanse: un tournant dans l'histoire française de la danse, translated for the Square… View item
Moving Image

Elizabeth Burchenal footage 1 - Old Dan Tucker

Elizabeth Burchenal leading a group in Old Dan Tucker, a dance with with an extra gent in the center, a square dance related to the Ninepin. Recorded at Coney Island; see Tilyou's Steeplechase… View item
Moving Image

Elizabeth Burchenal 5 - square dance

Several figures incorporated into four-couple square dance, with the men doing some fancy footwork. Starting at 2:16 and until the end, notice the musicians, two fiddlers and a banjo. The fiddlers… View item
Moving Image

Elizabeth Burchenal 4 - big set, rooftop

In this dance, the lead couple passes around their neighbors, and while behind them passes each other by the right hand, then returns to the center of the set, swings the opposite, and moves on to the… View item
Moving Image

Elizabeth Burchenal 3 - big set demo

This appears to be a demonstration of various southern Appalachian big set figures. There are several shots of musicians scattered throughout.The film starts with the Georgia Rang Tang figure, also… View item
Moving Image

Elizabeth Burchenal 2 - big set in field

Brief shot of Elizabeth Burchenal herself at the start; shots of musicians (guitar, 2 banjos, fiddle) at 2:51 Figures include: Opposite turn by right hand; partner turn by left hand; swing… View item