- Type
- Collection
- Author
- Barry Clasper (barry at clasper dot ca)
- Last Update
- 2024-10-04 16:56:23
- Description
-
The table below contains links to a number of media articles or TV clips about square dancing or people involved in square dancing. They frequently contain information useful in the promotion of square dancing. The articles are initially sorted in reverse date order by publication date (i.e. most recent first), however you may sort on any column by clicking on the small up/down arrows in the column header. Click on the Article Title to see the article text.
Publication Date | Publication Name | Location | Article Title | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023-08-02 | AARP Newsletter / Bedford Bulletin | Forest Bedford, VA | AARP newsletter item: Dancing Your Way To Healthy Aging Bedford Bulletin article: Square Dancing in Forest |
These articles from the AARP newsletter and the Bedford Bulletin jointly describe how Steve DuVal started up a new square dance group by working through AARP. They contain a great deal of interesting information that could prove useful in the promotion of square dancing. |
2024-10-03 | Farm and Dairy | Niles, OH | Veteran caller keeps square dancing alive for all ages | A bio of caller Gene Hammond that includes a lot of great information on the history and benefits of square dancing, both in his local area and nationally. |
2024-08-14 | 100 Mile Free Press | 100 Mile House, British Columbia | Square dancing poised to make comeback in South Cariboo | Patrick and Lee Aubert are avid square dancers who recently moved to South Cariboo, BC. There were no square dance clubs there so they decided to start one. This article describes their efforts to get things rolling. |
2024-07-18 | CBC Radio News | Calgary, Alberta | Canadian National Square and Round Dance Festival 2024 | This 6-minute radio interview with Lorne Smith was broadcast on CBC Radio News the week before the start of the 2024 Canadian National Festival in Calgary. He provides a positive description of what square dancing and the festival are all about. |
2024-07-12 | CTV News | Calgary, Alberta | Canadian National Square and Round Dance Festival 2024 Video #1
Canadian National Square and Round Dance Festival 2024 Video #2 |
These short news clips with Lorne Smith and Dawn Gilchrist were broadcast on CTV Television before and during the 2024 Canadian National Festival in Calgary. They provide a positive description of what square dancing and the festival are all about. |
2024-06-26 | WISN ABC News | Milwaukee, WI | Square dancing takes over the Baird Center in Milwaukee | This short written piece plus video promotes the US National in Milwaukee. They provide a positive description of what square dancing and the festival are all about. |
2024-04-26 | Arizona Daily Star | Saddlebrooke, AZ | Dancing Makes You Smarter | This article outlines some of the recent studies showing the cognitive benefits of square dancing. |
2024-04-21 | ABC Channel 7 Chicago Daily Herald | Chicago, IL |
Arlington Heights square dancing club celebrates 75 years ‘Friendship set to music’: Arlington Heights square dance club turns 75 |
The first link goes to a two minute TV news clip profiling the 75th anniversary of Arlington Squares. Some good interviews highlighting the benefits of square dancing. The second link goes to a print article about the same event that contains some different information and more detail. |
2024-04-05 | WGN Channel 9 | Chicago, IL | Swing your partner! Square dance among seniors is sweeping the state | A three minute news clip profiling how square dancing is blooming in seniors recreation centers in Illinois. |
2024-03-28 | AAA State of Play | Online | Swing Your Partner: The Basics of Square Dancing | This online article contains a brief synopsis of square dancing, its history, and many pointers to resources containing further information. |
2024-03-22 | Palo Alto Online | Palo Alto, CA | The ‘reel’ deal: Meet the Peninsula’s longtime LGBTQ square dance club | This article provides a profile and history of the El Camino Reelers, a LGBTQ square dance club in Palo Alto California. |
2024-03-03 | BNN | Chicago, USA | Reviving Square Dance: Chicago Project Draws Younger Crowd, Combats Aging Participant Base | This article discusses the U Can Square Dance project in Chicago which aims to ignite a resurgence in square dancing, blending tradition with modern appeal to attract a new generation. |
2024-01-20 | Medical News Today | Website | Why dancing may be better for weight loss than other forms of exercise | This article discusses several recent studies that have examined the efficacy of dancing as a form of exercise to support weight loss. Some of them did specifically examine square dancing. |
2024-01-19 | CNN | USA | The Impact of Dance on Brain Health | This 2-minute video from CNN talks about the general scientific consensus that dancing, regardless of its form, is beneficial for brain health and cognitive function. |
2023-08-13 | North Shore Record | Wilmette, IL | To join the area’s latest dance craze, just swing your partner round and round | Excellently written article about North Shore Squares that includes information about what square dancing is and the social bonds and fun involved. |
2023-08-13 | Wisconsin State Journal | Madison, WI | Square dancers let the good times roll in Middleton | Article about the Wisconsin State Festival shows some dancing video clips and has interesting historical information with an emphasis on social connections. |
2023-07-08 | CTV Ottawa Morning Live | Ottawa, Ontario | Interview and demo about IAGSDC convention in Ottawa Hundreds of square dancers in Ottawa |
Two 5-minute items interviewing people from the 40th IAGSDC convention in Ottawa, Canada. The first has a brief demo getting the TV hosts into the dancing. |
2023-07-08 | CBC Ottawa | Ottawa, Ontario | Over 700 LGBTQ square dancers and allies gather in Ottawa | Three minute TV news clip about the 40th IAGSDC convention in Ottawa, Canada. |
2023-06-23 | Fox 10 News | Mobile, AL | Over 2,000 folks dance at National Square Dance Convention in Mobile | Three minute TV news clip about the 72nd US National convention in Mobile. |
2023-06-14 | Fox 21 Morning News | Colorado Springs, CO | Local Square Dancing Club bringing awareness to the sport; Accepting new members | Positive TV news clip about the Waggin’ Wheelers Square Dancing Club and caller Jeff Palmer. |
2023-05-19 | Vision Times | New Jersey | Square Dancing: Traditional, Healthy, Wholesome, and a Hoot! | Positive and informative article including some history and benefits of square dancing. |
2023-05-11 | Rancho Bernardo News Journal | San Diego, CA | Wranglers Square Dance Club celebrates 50 years in Rancho Bernardo | The Wranglers celebrate their golden anniversary. Article has lots of positive information about square dancing and a nice profile of caller Buddy Weaver. |
2023-04-29 | Altoona Mirror | Altoona, PA | Hakuna Matatas | This story describes some recent events in the life of the Hakuna Matatas Handicapable Square Dance Club with caller Cory Geishauser. The Hakuna Matatas are known worldwide and have been an inspiration to new handicapable square dance clubs all over the globe. |
2023-04-12 | Leduc Rep | Leduc, Alberta | Leduc Square Dance hosts STARS fundraiser | This story is about an annual fundraiser dance the Happy Homesteaders Square Dance holds to support a local air ambulance service. This year they raised $3000. This kind of activity keeps square dancing in the public eye. |
2023-02-11 | myRGV.com | Alamo, TX | They’re back: Winter Texans are returning to the Valley to dance | This article talks about the annual flock of dancers that migrate to the Rio Grande Valley to spend their winter. It focuses on groups called by Joe Saltel and provides a number of glowing testimonials by dancers. |
2023-01-28 | Yahoo / Hits Radio | US | Jennifer Coolidge offers one piece of advice to couples planning their wedding (Yahoo article) ----- Video of interview (5 minutes) |
In this interview Jennifer Coolidge says the most fun she ever had at a wedding was square dancing at the wedding of Billie Eilish's parents. |
2023-01-25 | The West Australian | Australia | Australia Day Honours: Bridgetown square dance caller Steven Turner receives Order of Australia Medal | Steve Turner, a well known and prominent Australian square dance caller, receives the very prestigious Order of Australia. The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens. |
2023-01-11 | The Sentinel | Harrisburg, PA | Pa. residents compete in Farm Show square dancing | This article describes 2023 edition of the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show Square Dance Competition in which 42 squares competed. |
2022-12-16 | KSNW TV | Hutchinson, KA | Hutch High’s unique Christmas holiday tradition | This piece describes a tradition that has endured for over 50 years at Hutchinson High: starting the Christmas break with square dancing. |
2022-12-12 | KFLD Newstalk Radio | Pasco, WA | Why did Washington State schools teach square dancing to kids? | This report includes text and video explaining the rationale behind teaching square dancing to kids in Washington schools in the 1980's. While no longer part of the standard school curriculum, there are still some who are keeping the tradition alive by teaching classes at local community centers or even hosting special events dedicated solely to square dancing. |
2022-11-02 | Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta keeps moving with the intricate footwork of square dancing | Some history of square dancing in the Atlanta area from the perspective of dancers in Peachtree Squares and Hotlanta Squares. |
2022-09-25 | Sun Journal | Auburn, ME | ‘Friendship set to music’ — The call of square dancing | This piece talks about an exciter night for beginners and has some good information about the appeal and history of square dancing. |
2022-09-21 | Tallahassee Democrat | Tallahassee, FL | Dance your way to better health: Learn square dancing with Capital Twirlers | This piece advertises the start of Elmer Sheffield's Capital Twirlers beginners classes. It has a lot of good information about health benefits and other positive aspects of square dancing. |
2022-08-18 | CBS 8 | San Diego, CA | Square dancing convention kicks off in San Diego | This 2-minute piece goes over the 2022 USA West Convention and provides a positive description of square dancing. It features interviews with dancers, organizers, and callers. |
2022-06-01 | Sunshine Coast News | Brisbane, Australia | If you can walk, you can learn this dance that leads to fun, fitness and friendship | The Suncoasters Square Dance Club, which has operated for more than 50 years, provides square dancing options for learners and experienced dancers. The article features interviews with club members about how they got into dancing and what they enjoy about it. |
2022-05-15 | Calgary Herald | Calgary, Alberta | Dance adds verve to life at any age | This article outlines the health and social benefits of square dancing and other forms of dance. |
2022-03-24 | Rogers Community TV | Ottawa, Ontario | Square Dance Ottawa | This clip contains a great promotional interview with Wendy VanderMeulen that does a good job of describing square dancing, what it is, and how it works. Also contains some footage of young people dancing. |
2022-01-27 | Alpena News | Michigan | Swing your partner ‘round and ‘round! | This square dance group in Michigan dances to a caller in California! This article describes how that works. |
2021-12-30 | TEDxObserver | England | Dance and the Mind | Dr. Peter Lovatt, also known as Dr. Dance, is a dance psychologist whose work shows how humans are transformed by movement. In this 2012 TEDx Talk, Dr. Lovatt describes an experiment involving patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. He explains how dance provides social, physical, and cognitive benefits. While not specific to square dancing, it's easy to extrapolate how square dancing would work to confer these benefits. |
2021-12-21 | The Hutchinson News | Hutchinson, KS | Hutchinson students get in the swing of the season with a traditional square dance | Celebrating a tradition in its 53rd year, Hutchinson High School students on Friday laughed, bounced and danced in place anticipating the start of the next song. More than 200 students per hour enjoy the tradition of square dancing put on by Hutchinson High School's physical education department and the Senior Leaders group during the week before Christmas break. |
2021-09-30 | Fox8tv.com | Pennsylvania | Hakuna Matatas Handicapable Square Dance Club | This 6-minute TV piece profiles the Hakuna Matatas, a handicapable square dance club founded by Cory Geishauser in 2005. |
2021-09-16 | Fox34.com (KJTV) | Lubbock, TX | Square dancing may be one of Lubbock’s best-kept secrets | This news item on the Lubbock Fox TV outlet highlights beginner classes sponsored by the Lubbock-area Square and Round Dance Federation (LASRDF). The 5-minute video and accompanying transcription constitute a good advertisement for square dancing. |
2021-08-09 | Dickson Post | Dixon, TN | Dickson senior square dancers exercise their minds | How members of the Dixon Senior Center benefit from their weekly square dance regimen. |
2021-07-27 | Toronto Star | Toronto, ON | Study says dancing helps slow progression of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease | This article discusses a recent study showing that dancing can significantly slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease. While it does not specifically focus on square dancing the insights it provides obviously apply to square dancing. |
2021-07-01 | Western Nebraska Observer | Kimball, NB | Hip To Be Square | This article talks about the restart of the Oregon Trail Dance Club after the pandemic. It contains a lot of good quotes and descriptions of the square dance activity. |
2021-06-27 | WAPT Chan 16, WLBT Chan 3 | Jackson, MS |
WAPT Clip 1 WAPT Clip 2 WLBT Clip |
The links point to 3 short TV news clips about the 70th Annual National Square Dance Convention held in Jackson in June, 2021 (the first after the pandemic) |
2021-06-22 | San Diego Union-Tribune | San Diego, CA | From the Archives: Square dancers take over San Diego carrier 65 years ago | This is a reprint article from 1956 describing a trail-in event to the fifth National Square Dance Convention. The aircraft carrier Kearsarge welcomed an invasion of 6,300 square dancers to its flight deck for an evening of square dancing. |
2021-06-07 | Tallahassee Democrat | Tallahassee, FL | Be there or be square: Twirl your way to better health | This article announces classes for Tallahassee Capital Twirlers, starting June 7, 2021. It provides a good description of the activity, and the fun and health benefits that are derived from it. |
2021-05-10 | The Times-Picayune | New Orleans, LA | Square dancing provides health, good fun and sometimes, even a wife | This article reports on the 28th anniversary dance of Ozone Squares held on May 1, 2021, in the later days of the pandemic. |
2021-04-22 | FOX10 News Item | Mobile,AL | Learn to Square Dance in Mobile | Caller Ted Kennedy is interviewed by Studio10 host Chelsea on the startup of square dance lessons in Mobile in April 2021. |
2021-04-13 | KQED PBS Item | San Francisco, CA | In the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ Square Dancing Scene, You’re ‘Instantly Welcome’ | Lengthy piece describing square dancing in general and the history of LGBTQ+ dancing in the Bay area in particular. It also talks about Zoom dancing during the pandemic. Many existing clubs are mentioned, and several leaders and callers are interviewed and quoted. |
1980-12-31 | Phil Donahue Show | Chicago, IL | Lee Kopman on Phil Donahue Show (video) | Lee Kopman has created more calls used in contemporary square dance than any other individual, some 350 or more. In 1980, he appeared on the Phil Donahue Show and presented this program of square dancing, joined by dancers from New York, Chicago, Ohio and Wisconsin. Assisted at the mic by caller Dave Taylor, who calls for a group of young dancers, Kopman provides lucid responses to the host's questions, and he provides clear demonstrations of the differences between traditional and modern square dancing. |
1989-01-22 | phili.com | Philadelphia, PA | Only The Dancing Is Square | Reporter's story on how square dancing wasn't what he expected |
2002-09-15 | New York Times | New York, NY | Swing Your Partner and Try to Remember All Those Steps | General article on square dancing |
2007-12-10 | Chicago Tribune | Chicago, IL | New generation of square dancers intrigued by its math concepts | College students discover the puzzles and math underlying Challenge square dancing. Math professor David Schmitz invited caller Sandie Bryant to spend a couple of weeks teaching his students around 100 calls, emphasizing the geometry and other underlying math elements. |
2013-05-04 | Regina Leader-Post | Regina, SK | Dancing the test of time | History of square dancing in Saskatchewan. |
2013-09-03 | Fairfield Ledger | Fairfield, IA | The Square Dance Revival in Fairfield | Square dance resurgence in Fairfield, Iowa |
2013-10-15 | US Army | ?? | Square dancing as easy as A-B-C | An account by US Army veteran Mike Smithers about how he found square dancing and eventually became a caller. |
2014-01-01 | Iowa Source | Fairfield, IA | Jerry Story's Calling | Profile on Jerry Story |
2014-05-09 | KQED News Blog | Berkeley, CA | Abstract Math Concepts Spring to Life at UC Square Dancing Club | Student dancing at UC Berkeley |
2014-07-24 | Daily Xtra | Ottawa, ON | Allemande left, do-si-do | Profile of Date Squares in Ottawa, Ontario |
2014-07-24 | Marin Independent Journal | San Rafael, CA | Square dancing club keeps twirling in San Rafael | Profile of dancing at Tam Twirlers |
2014-08-21 | Nevada Appeal | Carson City, NV | A brief history of square dancing | |
2014-08-22 | KQED News Blog | Fresno, CA | World’s Oldest Square Dance Caller Keeps Central Valley Dancing | Profile on Ernie Kinney |
2014-09-02 | Comox Valley Echo | Comox, BC | Square dancing makes you smarter and healthier | Discussion of health benefits |
2014-09-07 | Daily Telegram | Adrian, MI | Square dancing club offers family-friendly fun, fitness for all ages | Discusses health and social benefits of belonging to Maple City Swingers |
2014-09-07 | Estevan Lifestyles | Estevan, SK | They love to call a good dance | Discussion of health benefiits of square and round dancing |
2014-09-08 | Journal News | Martinsburg, WV | Group provides fresh take on square dancing | Chronicles the story of a new club forming. |
2014-09-08 | Daily Courier | Prescott, AZ | Square-dancers try to rebuild 60-year-old club | Profile of Mile-Hi Squares efforts to rebuild their club. |
2014-09-14 | Camarillo Acorn | Camarillo, CA | Square dancing is far from being square | Buckles and Bows Square Dance Club is undergoing a resurgence in popularity |
2014-09-14 | Tallahassee Democrat | Tallahassee, FL | Square dance calling takes Elmer Sheffield to faraway places | Profile of Elmer Sheffield and his recent trip to Japan |
2015-01-22 | Tullahoma News | Tullahoma, TN | Don't be a square – dance! | Profile of Estill Springers Square Dance Club and general info on square dancing. |
2015-03-05 | Newsday | New York, NY | Square dance legend on LI still has the moves | Profile of Lee Kopman |
2015-03-16 | Medical News Today | Loneliness and social isolation linked to early mortality | Does not discuss square dancing per se but relevance is obvious | |
2015-03-25 | Wall Street Journal | New York, NY | Having a Ball: Young New Yorkers Revive Old Dance Craze | Contra dancing offers an inclusive atmosphere where participants can work up a sweat, do a little courting |
2015-06-06 | River View Observer | Riverview, NJ | Lord of the Square Dance Howard Richman gets Dancers Swinging | Profile on Howard Richman and square dancing in New Jersey |
2015-06-06 | Salina Journal | Salina, KS | An old form of dance reaches a new generation | Starts as profile of 6-year old Damien Smith who is a caller, but develops into a discussion of square dancing as a worldwide activity. |
2015-10-05 | Kirkland Reporter | Kirkland, WA | Kirkland's square dancing club mixes hip hop, charity and pajamas for fun | Article on Samena Squares and general benefits of square dancing |
2015-11-01 | Quartz (Bronwyn Tarr Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford) | (Online News Outlet) | Science says dancing with friends is good for your health | Article on health benefits accruing from music and dance (not square dancing in particular, but emphasising dancing in groups). |
2016-01-01 | Scan Club Newsletter | San Diego, CA | Dancing to Good Health | Article on health benefits from a health care institution. |
2016-08-15 | Ventura County Star | Camarillo, CA | Square dancing to Maroon 5? In Thousand Oaks, that’s not square at all | Article on square dance resurgence in Ventura County. |
2016-09-27 | Tuckahoe ?? | Tuckahoe, VA | Still Swinging | Article on 50th anniversary of Tuckahoe Square Dance Club |
2016-11-29 | WJON AM1240 | St Cloud, MN | National Square Dance Day Encourages You to Get Up and Do-Si-Do [VIDEO] | Short video essay on Tom Allen and the Beaux and Belles square dance club. Good testimonials promoting the activity. |
2016-12-07 | Santa Maria Times | Santa Maria, CA | Square dancing returns to the Grange Hall (video included) | After the death of her husband, Don, in July, Yvonne Martin needed an outlet. She belonged to a knitting group, but wanted something more, something that kept her connected with Don. She honed in on square dancing. This article includes pointers to a short video. |
2017-02-21 | Ukiah Daily Journal (Carol Brodsky) | Ukiah, CA | Swing your partner! Square dancing returns to Ukiah | This article focuses on caller Lawrence Johnstone but discusses a lot of background and history of dancing in the Bay area. |
2017-02-24 | Palo Alto Weekly (Patrick Condon) | Palo Alto, CA | Gay square dance group forms bonds among its members | Article describing how all the clubs in the Bay area help to bind the local LGBTQ community together. |
2017-03-29 |
New York Times (Gretchen Reynolds) Denver Post (Monte Whaley) Colorado State University Source (Jeff Dodge) |
New York, NY Denver, CO Denver, CO |
Walk, Stretch, or Dance? Dancing May Be Best For the Brain Dancing May Help Fend Off Aging in the Brain Study: Dancing may offset some effects of aging in the brain |
These three articles, one from the New York Times, one from the Denver Post, and one from the Colorado State University Source, discuss the results of a scientific study that indicates dancing seems to have beneficial effects for the aging brain. The actual study they refer to was published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience on March 16, 2017 |
2017-04-12 | KJZZ NPR Radio (Annika Cline) | Phoenix, AZ | Not Your Grandpa’s Hoedown: Square-Dance Calls Get A Remix | This radio piece was broadcast on NPR. It was recorded at the 44th CALLERLAB convention in Mesa, AZ in April 2017. It provides a reasonably realistic portrait of how MWSD evolved to where it is today, and finishes with comments from a new 16-year old caller explaining how she got into it and why it appeals to her. The link points to both a written transcript and an audio file of the 4-minute piece. |
2017-06-21 | Vice (Sean Egan) | New York, NY | America's Gay Square Dancing Underground Wants You to Join Them | This article in Vice presents a positive description of the gay square dance movement with a focus on Times Squares in New York. |
2017-09-18 | ABC News Australia (Samantha Turnbull) | Australia | Forget Tinder, baby boomers say Gen Y should take up square dancing | Square dancers say young Australians should be ditching their smart phones in favour of real life connections on the dance floor. More than 200 dancers converged on the northern New South Wales city of Lismore last week for the 38th annual state Square Dance Convention. Square and Round Dance Association of NSW president David Todd said part of their goal was to attract more young dancers to the pastime. |
2017-10-06 | Clark County Today.com (Suzan K. Heglin) | Vancouver, BC | Jim Hattrick still going strong calling square dancing in Vancouver | Jim Hattrick has been calling for 58 years. This piece in ClarkCountyToday.com describes his career and includes general information on square dancing and recruiting and training dancers. |
2018-03-14 | Northwest Boomer and Senior News (Deb Allan) | Oregon | Go Dancing on page 3 of the March 2018 web edition | This article, titled Go Dancing on page 3 of the March 2018 web edition, describes a successful club and dance hall in Springfield, Oregon. Of particular interest is how local clubs banded together to purchase and operate the dance hall. (You will probably need to zoom in to read the text.) |
2018-03-14 | The Maryville Forum (Jessika Eidson) | Maryville, MO | Square dancing could improve cognitive and social abilities | Square dancing is not only a lot of fun and a great form of exercise, for older (60-79) adults, it could help prevent cognitive decline. One study done by the University of Colorado found that white matter (the tissue on which messages can be send through the central nervous system) improved in integrity after 6 months of moderate, social exercise. |
2018-08-09 | The Denver Post (Shaban Athuman, Mark Jaffe) | Denver, CO | For Some Locals, It's Hip To Be Square Dancing | This excellent article in the Denver Post does a great job of describing Modern Western Square Dancing and the current efforts of clubs in Denver to attract new members. |
2018-09-01 | 55 PLUS (Colleen M. Farrell) | Rochester, NY | Square Dancing: Fun for Singles, Couples | This article in 55 PLUS magazine describes the stories of some enthusiasts who say square dancing keeps them mentally and physically active. |
2019-02-27 | Argus-Courier (Clark Miller) | Petaluma, CA | Square dancing makes local comeback in Petaluma | This article describes the efforts of Dan Lyke to re-establish square dancing in the Petaluma area. It provides a positive description of the nature of MWSD and outlines some of the challenges square dance groups face in today's social environment. |
2019-07-04 | KYWTV (CBS affiliate) | Philadelphia, PA | Belle's Run 2019 Square Dance Convention Takes Over Philadelphia | This 3-minute piece does a nice job of depicting square dancing in general and gay square dancing in particular at the 2019 IAGSDC convention in Philadelphia |
2019-07-05 | WHYY (PBS Radio, Peter Crimmins) | Philadelphia, PA | Swing those partners: Gay square dancers gather in Philadelphia | This 3-minute audio piece describes the 2019 IAGSDC convention in Philadelphia. It talks about both dancing and calling and provides good information. |
2019-07-08 | Philadelphia Inquirer (Brandon T. Harden) | Philadelphia, PA | ‘It’s the world’s best-kept secret’: International LGBTQ square-dancing convention held in Philly for the first time | This piece about the 2019 IAGSDC convention (Belle's Run) in Philadelphia features interviews with Sandie Bryant and several dancers and organizers. |
2019-07-11 | AP (Natalie Pompilio) | Philadelphia, PA | Gay square dancers add new spin to centuries-old dance style | This piece about the 2019 IAGSDC convention (Belle's Run) in Philadelphia has some nice quotes from dancers and organizers about square dancing and LGBTQ dancing in particular. |
2020-01-03 | UofL News (Haeli Spears) | Louisville, KY | UofL researchers study dancing as treatment for veterans with PTSD | Researchers at the University of Louisville and Western Connecticut State University did a pilot study focused on Dancing Well, a local non-profit organization which hosts the Soldier Project. The Soldier Project brings veterans with PTSD together for group dancing and community. The study was aimed at exploring the hypothesis that dancing provides benefits to PTSD patients. |
2020-01-17 | Times Record (Hannah LaClair) | Topsham, ME | Square dancing tradition alive in Topsham | This piece is a profile of the SAGE Swingers, a 50 year old club in Maine. It provides a synopsis of the benefits and pleasures of square dancing, as well as a discussion of some of the hurdles the activity faces. |
2020-01-31 | Capital Gazette (Jack Chavez) | Maryland | Fort Meade: Swinging squares brings modern square dancing to the community | This profile of Swinging Squares featuring caller Virgil Forbes provides a good positive treatment describing the club and the square dance activity. |
2020-02-01 | Albany Democrat Herald (Sandra J. Bean) | Albany, NY | Interfaith Voices: An antidote for despair: dancing | This evocatively written article does an excellent job of describing the mental and emotional experience of square dancing, and the benefits that flow from it. |
2013-11-18 | San Diego TV | San Diego, CA | Learn to Square Dance With Buddy Weaver (Video) | Clip for UTSan Diego TV program with caller Buddy Weaver, San Diego Square Dancerss and TV Hosts |
2020-05-14 | Chicago Tribune (Myrna Petlicki) | Chicago, IL | Glenview square dance club takes activities online | This article describes how Glenview Squares is staying active and keeping their members engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
2020-06-05 | the Fence Post (Marty Metzger) | Bellvue, Colo | Such fun being virtually square (dancing) | This article describes how the Lemonaders virtual square dance group came together during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep square dancing alive in their area. |
2009-12-16 | Wall Street Journal | New York, NY | Strictly Come Square Dancing: Historian Digs Into Dance's History | This article from the Wall Street Journal in 2009 give a brief overview of the history of square dancing. |
2020-09-07 | Salt Lake City Channel 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | TV News Item | This video from Channel 13 in Salt Lake City provides a positive report on square dancing. It was done during the pandemic and shows people dancing outdoors wearing masks and gloves, with good commentary by Suzi Page. |
2020-10-30 | St. Albert Gazette | St. Albert, Alberta | Alberta-based virtual square dances go viral | This article describes how virtual Zoom dances run by Lorne Smith in Calgary, Alberta have attracted participants from around the world. |