BAASDC
A Short History.
To most people square dancing is probably seen as an American pursuit. However, square dancing has its roots in Europe. People from virtually every European country, including England, emigrated to the "new land" during America's first 200 years. They took with them their customs, languages, skills and their dances.
From the grand European balls of 200 years ago came the Quadrille figures. A number of the music books of the early to mid 1800's contain not only the tunes but calls as well, indicating that the Quadrilles were prompted or cued.
Country dances direct from England had a great bearing on the evolution of American square dancing. These dances started in one big ring with the dancers circling left or right, swinging, inter-weaving and promenading around the circumference of the circle. Added to these were the Contras; English country dances which comprised long lines of facing dancers.
At first, grouped into ethnic concentrations in different parts of the country, the new Americans enjoyed their dances in the pure forms of their homelands. However, as people spread across the land, migrated west and moved from one city to another, the various forms of dance became more and more integrated.
In the 1940s the American forces took square dancing back to its roots. This caused a great surge of interest in the UK where it became a popular hobby for tens of thousands. Its growth was helped by the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) square dancing during a visit to Canada in the early 50s.
Today there are more than 200 square dance clubs in the UK and 9000 worldwide. As all the terms are in English our dancers can square dance and travel the world.
"Square Dancing is Fun and Friendship set to music"
Webmaster Paul Amor