The Dancers category contains articles with information for dancers or regarding dancers. This includes topics such as recruiting, training, and retention of dancers, information about starting and operating clubs, holding specific square dance events, lesson plans, teaching methods, social activies, etc.
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Squaring Up: A Film About Square Dancing
This 12 minute video shows the unique world of the square dancing community and the passion participants have for dancing. It features the story of a blind dancer in Calgary, ... Read More
SSD Documentation and Support Materials
This article collects in one place documentation and materials that support the use of the SSD system. Some were created by the CALLERLAB SSD Committee while others were created by ... Read More
SSD FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Those who are considering use of the Social Square Dance (SSD) system usually have many questions about how it works, the best way to implement it, and the issues they ... Read More
SSD In A Nutshell
This the documentary equivalent of an "elevator speech" for SSD that quickly outlines the benefits, explains the approach, and directs readers to further appropriate information. It's an excellent introduction to ... Read More
SSD, MS, & Plus Call Booklets from North Shore Squares
North Shore Squares is a new club that dances in Evanston, ILL. Despite only being active for 18 months or so they already boast 55 members. They elected to use ... Read More
Step By Step Through Modern Square Dance History (book)
This book traces the development of Modern Western Square Dancing from its earliest origins through to the present day. Understanding the evolution of our activity can shed valuable insights for ... Read More
Success Story Growing Classes
Report from Don Wood describing how they revised their beginner offerings to increase their recruiting success ... Read More
Success Strategy – Brecksville Squares (Ohio)
A report from Dennis H. Deluga about what can be done to help a club become successful. It deals with a number of areas including leadership, communication, and outreach, that ... Read More
Success Strategy – Broken Wheel Squares (Kirtland, OH)
An account of how Broken Wheel Squares revitalized their club by using theme nights and rejigging how they communicated and organized ... Read More
Success Using Fast Track in Edmonton, Alberta
An account of how using a Fast Track program helped to reinvigorate the Country Sunshiners club ... Read More
Successful Experiences using the 12 Week Condensed Teaching Method
This story recounts the results of three years of experience with the 12-week Condensed Teaching Method (CTM) - sometimes also referred to as the Condensed Teaching Order (CTO) ... Read More
Taminations
This site contains a tool that allows viewers to watch an animation of a call being performed, often from a variety of starting formations. It provides an excellent educational tool ... Read More
Teaching an SSD Class
This Winning Ways story from a newer caller explains how she is using the SSD program to teach new dancers ... Read More
Teaching Beginners on Zoom
Have you wondered if it might be possible teach beginner dancers via Zoom? Ray Brendzy has been doing just that during the pandemic. He has made video recordings of his ... Read More
Tech Squares Call Definitions
Tech Squares is a club that operates at MIT. An interesting fact about this club is that their lesson-set is actually offered by MIT as a Physical Education credit. Part ... Read More
Teen Dancing (Petaluma, CA)
This is a report on teen dancers in Petaluma, CA as reported in the Press Democrat By Janet Parmer ... Read More
The How & Why of New Basics
This paper by Paul Hartman appeared in American Square Dance magazine in 1974. It describes how square dancing evolved to become what we now call Modern Western Square Dancing during ... Read More
This Is Your Brain On Dancing
This article is actually a promotion for Arthur Murray Dance Studios, but it lists a variety of studies that support the benefits of dance for brain health. The studies apply ... Read More
Three Promotional Videos From Sweden
Three short promotional videos posted to YouTube by Jon Hansell Nilsson from Sweden. All are under two minutes long ... Read More
Timberline Toppers’ Recruiting Plan
Timberline Toppers in Colorado created a recruiting plan that they used repetitively over a period of several years resulting in a dramatic regrowth of their failing club. In 2005 they ... Read More
Tony Parkes On The History of Square Dancing
Type Presentation Event Newbie Callers Zoom Presentation Date 2021-09-18 Presenters Tony Parkes Links Video Handout Description During the pandemic Dan Lyke and Don Beck hosted weekly presentations and discussions aimed ... Read More
TV Publicity
The Town Howlers have gained a lot of publicity for their club and square dancing through the use of their local cable TV company and the efforts of club member ... Read More
Two-Couple Teaching and Dancing Recordings
Tony Collingwood is a caller in the UK who has created an impressive repertoire of 2-couple teaching and dancing material ranging from Mainstream through C3B. These recordings are available free ... Read More
Two-Person (Minimal Phantoms) Square Dancing
Bob & Dorothy Simpson and Darby Love, in Nanaimo, BC created a whole series of videos they titled “Dancing In The Garage”. They are aimed at people who can't assemble ... Read More
United Square Dancers of America (USDA)
The UNITED SQUARE DANCERS OF AMERICA, INC. (USDA) was formed on June 26, 1981, during the National Square Dance Convention held in Seattle, Washington, and has grown to the size ... Read More
USDA COVID-19 Letter
The United Square Dancers of America published this open letter with guidance on handling dances during and after the COVID-19 pandemic ... Read More
Using Square Dancing For Rehab (2004)
Report from Barbara Blencoe about how her square dance group and activity helped her rehabilitation from a stroke ... Read More
Using The 12 Session Twice Per Week Program in Red Deer, Alberta
For the 2014-15 square dance season, the Red Deer Square Dance Club decided to try something new and untested for introducing New Dancers to square dancing. Instead of the usual ... Read More
Using Yard Signs to Advertise
IDEA: Advertising square dance lessons by placing a sign on a lawn or a poster on a telephone pole is not new. But this new twist shows how with a ... Read More
