About Square Dancing
Are you looking for a better way to exercise and stay fit and healthy?
Square dancing is an fun and easy way to exercise both mind and body
Keep fit, socialise, stimulate the mind, have fun, laugh and make new friends.
Local, State, National and International events held regularly
Square dancing is fun and friendship set to music
If you can walk, you can square dance
And it is inexpensive
Join the many thousands who have discovered the amazing benefits of Modern Square Dancing.
Here's six great reasons why you'll be glad you came:
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You'll find it's easy to learn - and lot's of fun.
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It's a cheap night out
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You'll enjoy making lots of friends.
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You'll feel great after exercising mind and body.
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You can dress to suit your budget.
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Clubs in most major centres with a choice of nights.
WHY SHOULD YOU TRY SQUARE DANCING ?
It is Universal - No matter where you go in the world square dancing is done the same. The movements have been standardized and are called in the same way, regardless of language. The dance programs used are all standardised and no matter where in the world you learn - you can still dance the same in other parts of the world. You may not be able to converse with some of the other dancers you meet - but you can interact with them.
Easy to learn - One of the first things we learn as children is how to walk. In next to no time you don't have to think about how to do it - you just do it. You don't worry about where your feet go - it's automatic. With most dance forms you then have to learn to place your feet in specific arrangements - you have to learn to walk in a different way which is un-natural. Not so with square dancing. Square dancing is based upon walking in defined directions for defined distances. Which is exactly what walking is. And as walking is one of the most natural things we do - square dancing becomes so easy to learn.
Low stress physical exercise - We all know that exercise is good for you. But it all seems like hard work, isn't there a form of exercise that is also fun and doesn't seem like hard work ? Yes there is - it's called square Dancing. Square dancing is done at about 126 beats per minute which is a natural rhythm for human activity, so you can burn as much excess body fat as can be achieved by jogging without "feeling" like you are exercising.
Entertaining - The caller is there to entertain you - to make dancers forget about the day to day worries of the world.
Music - Square dancing uses many different types of music, including country & western, rock, jazz, sing-a-longs, gospel.
Interactive - The dance pattern is directed by a caller. The sequences are generally made up "on the spot". Dancers have to listen to the caller to find out what's next. Callers also have to get a feel for the "mood of the dancers" and respond as required - know when to call something exciting and know when to call something more mellow. This two way interaction truly makes square dancing unique.
Fun - Ask any square dancer how much fun they have.
Friendship - Many people have made life-long friends at square dances. Many married couples first met at a square dance. And cultural background does not make a difference. In fact square breaks down many barriers between cultures.
Challenging and easy - (Sounds like and Oxymoron?) Square dancing has a selection of programs available to match your time and commitment desires. If you wish to attend easy dances - there is a program for you. If you wish to delve further into challenging dance routines - there is also a program for you. And several programs exist between those two extremes.
Mentally stimulating - Square dancing can not only exercise the body - but also the mind. You have to store a buffer memory in your brain to keep up with the ever changing dance patterns, which builds up your memory capacity through nental exercise.
Team based - You are working together in harmony with 7 other people plus the music.
Breaks down barriers - There are no cultural barriers. People from all parts of the world with all soughts of different ideologies meet on the dance floor. Square dancing helps to promote universal peace and co-operation throughout the world.
There are no losers - Everyone works together during the dance - the 8 dancers in the set work together with each other and with the caller. No-one competes - otherwise it doesn't work. As a result - there are no losers.
F.A.Q.
IS SQUARE DANCING HARD TO LEARN ?
No - With most other dance forms you have to learn where to place your feet. It is just so hard to concentrate "the left foot goes here - now the right foot here - followed by the left foot over there". With Square Dancing you don't have to worry about that. Square dancing uses normal walking steps - now what could be more natural than that ?
CAN I SQUARE DANCE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD ?
Yes - In fact square dancing is done in just about every country on this planet. What's more - because the terminology is a language all of it's own - the words used to cue the sequences are the same everywhere. So - you may not be able to talk with dancers in a foreign country - but you can dance with them. Besides - you all share a language that goes beyond the spoken word - "fun and friendship".
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN ?
It does take about 6 months to reach a standard where you can join others in the really big International events, but there are also dances organised for lesser experienced people. And anyway there is a similar lead time required with many other hobbies and sports before you can become involved with other clubs. However - with square dancing - you are actually dancing and enjoying yourself right from day one.
IS THERE MORE ?
Square dancing offers several programs for those who really want to "challenge themselves". It is your choice - you can either learn the "core movements" and occasionally attend clubs that just dance for recreation - or you can learn more and make it into a regular activity. There is no pressure.
BUT I'VE GOT 2 LEFT FEET !
It doesn't matter. You can walk can you ? Well that's all you need to do. Square Dancing concentrates more on listening to the calls given to you and following the directions given. And by the way - you must know how to smile.
I DON'T LIKE DANCING WITH THE SAME PERSON ALL NIGHT !
That's good - because in each bracket (or tip) - you will actually be dancing with 8 other people. And you are constantly changing partners !
I'M VERY SHY - I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK SOMEONE TO DANCE
Don't worry - you won't have to. You just get into the round up and you will end up dancing with 4 other people from the opposite sex before you know it.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMPETITIONS ?
Yes, but The competition is focussed on your own personal challenges of balancing "mind and body" health with fun. Square dancing is a win-win competition. It is a team effort between - The 8 dancers in each square - AND - The caller and all the sets being called to.
ARE THERE ANY REGIONAL DIFFERENCES ?
Actually, very little. The moves and programs danced are all standardised. There may be one or two styling differences, but they are easy to adapt to.
I DON'T HAVE A REGULAR DANCE PARTNER CAN I STILL COME ?
In most clubs it doesn't matter - we match you up with a partner. But you better check first with each club just as a courtesy.
What image comes to your mind when you think about square dancing ? If you're like most people you're probably thinking about a few farm folk in an old barn doing some crazy dance to a weird looking band playing "Turkey in the straw".Well things have changed over the years. Square dancing has been slowly evolving and changing with the times. Sure we still do some things the same - but most things have changed. Square Dancing in the new millenium looks and feels almost nothing like it use to. The music is different - we use all types of music - ranging from "Country and Western" music through to "Jazz", "Rock and Roll", through to "90's pop music". The moves are different - sure we still have some of the old moves like "Dosado" - but we have a lot of newer more interesting moves which are designed to create interesting dance patterns. To digress here a bit - Square Dancing shares a common heritage with the motor vehicle. They were both pioneered by Henry Ford. And just as the motor vehicle has evolved so much over the years - so has square dancing. In fact -comparing square dancing of the 2000's with square dancing in the 1920's is exactly like comparing a modern luxury car with a "Model T Ford". And that's why we call it "Modern Square Dancing"