Traditional Square Dance and
Old Time Square Dance Links
Because traditional square dances or old-time square dances are danced as part of the program at many contra dances, I have made a list of groups and dance series which appear, on description, to be as informal in attitude as the crowd you'll see and meet at a contra dance. That means, for the most part, I have not included groups that appear to have an emphasis on Modern Western Square Dancing. These inclusions and exclusions are not meant to place a value on any type of dancing, just that I have to limit, at some point, what types of dancing I will include on these lists. This is an adjunct page to my links about contra dancing.
To differentiate these types of square dances from others, here's a quote from Jaso's FAQ on old-time square dancing
Q: What's the difference between old-time square dancing and modern western square dancing?
A: "Modern western square dancing" evolved after WWII and has a strong focus on performance and exhibition. Western squares often involve costumes, pre-recorded music, club membership, and difficult dance figures that people actually practice. Old-time squares are more informal and party-like and always have live string band music.
Or, in my words, if there are mentions of levels, clubs, badges, colors and/or costumes, links to that type of dancing are not included here. Not that either type of dancing is better, just that I'm trying to limit the list of links to a certain type of square dancing.
Tony Parkes has contributed an article in Wikipedia that provides information and resources for those who want to find out more about traditional square dancing.
I do understand that a significant number of contra dancers do not like square dances, with attitudes ranging from, "This is a good time to sit one out" to "Kill me now". Obviously, this list is not for them. But, I do enjoy having a little variety during the course of an event. Ten or so contras (plus a couple of waltzes), while not necessarily boring, can be less interesting. In any event, I'll see you out on the dance floor.{>
As always, if you have additions or corrections for this list, please e-mail me.
New links are simply new to me, not
necessarily new to the World Wide Web. Change
in URL means that a link has changed its WWW address or
URL.
- Alabama, Delta: Georgy Alabam Square Dance Weekend in January.
- Alaska, Fairbanks: Annual festivals in February and June includes square dancing New entry (January 22, 2010)
- California, Berkeley: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention in mid-September
- California, Los Angeles Annual Old-Time Social in May
- California, San Francisco: San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival in early February.
- Canada: Canadian Olde Tyme Square Dance Callers' Association lists dances across the nation.
- Canada: Fiddle Events in Canada lists many events which include dancing.
- Canada, Cape Breton Island, Inverness County: square dances are held almost every night of the week.
- Canada, New Brunswick, Tobique: The Tobique Fiddle Camp is held in late June each year.
- Connecticut, Killingly: 2nd Saturdays.
- Delaware, Arden: Some Wednesdays as part of international folk dancing
- Georgia, Dahlonega: Bear on the Square Annual Mountain Festival in April includes square dancing.
- Germany, Berlin: 1st and 3rd Sundays.
- Illinois, Hudson: Four to five dances each year, including New Year's Eve.
- Kentucky, Morehead: Morehead Old Time Fiddlers Convention each July.
- Kentucky, Whitesburg: Check the calendar for information about dances on various Saturdays.
- Maryland, College Park: various dates.
- Massachusetts, Belmont: 4th Fridays.
- Massachusetts, Goshen: 2nd Saturdays.
- Massachusetts, Watertown: Various Saturdays (Canadian-American squares)
- Minnesota, Minneapolis: 1st Mondays
- Missouri, Hallsville: 2nd Saturdays
- Missouri, Pacific: Some square dances are held at the Tri-County Senior Center
- Missouri, West Plains: Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival in June
- Netherlands, Hengelo (Gld.): Summer camp in late July including English Country Dance and squares.
- New Hampshire, Wentworth: 1st Fridays Mention of this series is missing (April 5, 2009)
- New York, Ashokan: Southern Week at Ashokan each August includes a fair amount of square dancing.
- New York, Jacksonville: Occasional square dances on Saturdays New entry (January 17, 2010)
- New York, Schroon Lake: Wednesdays, mid-July to end of August
- North Carolina, Asheville or North Carolina, Asheville: Last Sunday of the month skipping summer months.
- North Carolina, Brasstown: Southern Appalachian Square Dance weekend in late October.
- North Caroina, Denton: 3rd Saturdays (generally)
- North Carolina, Denton: Every Monday
- North Carolina, Glendale Springs: Mountain Music Jamboree on Saturday nights.
- North Carolina, Hot Springs: Bluff Mountain Festival in mid-June with square dancing.
- North Carolina, Pleasant Green: 2nd Saturdays
- North Carolina, Sparta: Every Saturday
- North Carolina, Sparta: Alleghany Jubilee on Tuesdays and Saturdays Change of URL (May 12, 2010)
- Ohio, Lucas: Dances on various Saturdays from May to October
- Ohio, Wooster: 2nd Saturdays (discontinued until further notice)
- Oregon, Milwaukie: Last Saturday Old-time square dance.
- Oregon, Portland: 1st Thursdays On hiatus (April 5, 2009)
- Oregon, Portland: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
- Oregon, Portland: Dare to Be Square - West in December.
- Oregon, Portland: Portland Old-Time Music Gathering in mid-January
- Oregon, Portland: Pickathon, an annual music festival with some square dancing in early August.
- Oregon, Portland: Last Monday
- Pennsylvania, Cochranville: 3rd Saturdays
- Utah, Gardner Village: Annual Frontier Fest in June includes square dancing.
- Vermont, Montpelier: Square Ball (a full day of square dancing) on June 26, 2010. New entry (June 26, 2010)
- Vermont, West Newbury: 4th Saturdays
- Virginia, Ararat: Every Saturday
- Virginia, Blacksburg: 1st Saturdays
- Virginia, Floyd: Every Friday
- Virginia, Floyd: Some Saturdays
- Virginia, Fries: 1st and 3rd Saturdays
- Virginia, Rocky Mount: Festival in the Pines/Tripple Creek Music Festival in late April/early May
- Virginia, Patrick Springs: Every Saturday
- Virginia, Stuart: 1st Saturdays (?)
- Washington, Seattle: Last Fridays
- Washington, Seattle: 2nd and 4th Mondays
- West Virginia, Charleston: Vandalia Gathering in late May
- West Virginia, Clifftop: Appalachian String Band Music Festival in late July/early August
- West Virginia, Glenville: West Virginia State Folk Festival in mid-June
- West Virginia, Helvetia: 1st Saturdays; also check FOOTMAD for information. Also check town site for information. First link has problems; added town site (October 26, 2008)
- West Virginia, Morgantown: Gardner Winter Music Festival in late February
- West Virginia, Morgantown: Dances on various Saturdays.
- West Virginia, Various Locations: Dance series in State Parks from July to October.
- Portland, Oregon's Foghorn String Band's line-up fiddle, banjo, mandolin, bass and guitar - is reminiscent of early bluegrass, but their powerful approach is whole-heartedly old-time, centered largely by the fiddle. MySpace page.
- The Jugbusters play at square dances in Floyd, Virginia on occasion.
- The Striped Pig String Band often plays at the square dances in Arcata, California.
- Uncle Wiggily plays on a regular basis for square dances in Portland, Oregon.
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Produced by Charlie Seelig
This page last updated on July 5, 2010.