did everyone square dance in school?
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I know I did. Square Dancing was a required part of our curriculum where I grew up. It was a yearly staple in our gym class that everyone seemed to recoil from. Even the instructors seemed to be less than enthusiastic about it. I specifically remember kids in school that would pretend to be sick on the days that we had square dancing. They were afraid of catching the well known pandemic known scientifically as C00T1E5. Gasp! An activity that actually forced you to dance and hold hands with members of the opposite sex!
As I travel through life, I’ve remained curious about Square Dancing and if it was just my little schools in Oregon that required this, or if this is some kind of national conspiracy. So every once and a while, I’ll ask friends and family in my age group whether they were required to Square Dance in school. Surprisingly, the answer is usually ‘yes’. Indeed they were forced to do-si-do and promenade, etc. at school during their tender years.
This set off an alarm in the conspiracy theory department of my mind. Perhaps this was some sort of vast government plan to preserve our American heritage and culture through a national school Square Dancing program. What a bizarre requirement to impose on the youth of America. You’d think they might have chosen some other types of dancing as well, or in it’s place. Or perhaps some day someone in some little government office will push a button which will send subconscious messages to the citizens of the United States turning us all into Square Dancing zombies. Perhaps… but how would I ever know for sure?
As it turns out, in my family network, I happen to have someone that is involved with shaping and molding the minds and bodies of our children in the great state of California. She is an actual physical education teacher and was able to articulate exactly why we were all subjected to form of dance – at least in California. Apparently Square Dancing is an excellent activity to teach coordination. And it apparently teaches social interaction, forcing the boys to interact with the girls. And so, it shows up as a required curriculum across the state for these fine benefits.
I personally just think its a really strange thing. Although, thinking back, there were a lot of activities in gym class that were kinda weird. But most of them were a lot more fun than Square Dancing. Just a quick poll – were you forced to Square Dance in school? Comments welcome.
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May 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I not only went through that, but as an Elementary Ed. major (in Oregon)I was trained to teach it! I don’t know why I didn’t question it then, but you have a really good point. Also, I don’t think that these days kids need to be encouraged to be closer… I think many of them have the hang of it… more than we want!!!
May 15th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Okay, I will admit that I LOVED square dancing in school and went on to do a more advanced, hippy-style of dancing called Contra-dancing in college. And I further admit that I contradanced as recently as 5 years ago. Super Super fun!
I have my theories about square dancing though. I do think that we did it both as exercise and a cultural activity. In 1976, Oregon celebrated the Biennial and that was a big old deal. Maybe square dancing was tied to that somehow? Think of what we were doing then and into the early 80′s…. all watching “Little House on the Prairie” and then later, “Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman” and “Lonesome Dove”. Girls were wearing those dresses with big old lace collars (I can’t remember the names of those, but we all looked like pioneer throwbacks). Of course we were square dancing.
And in Willamina, we did the dancing in music, not in pe. I think that makes more sense, don’t you?
Love the squares! Can you do a left hand star? I can!
May 16th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Okay, so I liked square dance in school too. I enjoyed any activity that diverted from games with balls. I was so bad in PE. I never understood the rules of games, so dancing was a fun break. In Japan, most young people don’t know any traditional dance, which seems really sad. Dancing is a part of every culture, and we should really try to hold on to it. Don’t you think it tells a great story? I think it should be taught in history class.
May 16th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Ok, I guess I was a bit hard on the Square Dancing. I think I just found it a bit odd that there was this seemingly nationwide movement. Next time we get together for a family gathering we should all Square Dance!
May 16th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Man, I hated square dancing! Girls at that age are into dance. They walk around all day doing their little cheerleader moves. Boys just want to play ball, knock the crap out of each other, etc. The whole square dance thing was just lost on me.
May 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I think Square Dancing in school was great- and frankly, I think kids today should be forced to do it. If I had a nickel for every time some kid bumps into me in the hall at school- I would be a rich woman! Kids today are not only inept at relating to each other, but they don’t know where their bodies are at. The move through the world bumping into people and knocking things over. Square Dancing at least taught kids to move in an orchestrated way in a small space. To do a Texas Star, or an allaman-left, you have to know where you are and where you are going, and watch out for other folks.
I say, bring back the Square Dancing! Before it’s too late!
May 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Family square dance-off!
August 16th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I have square danced in school, at first i really though square dancing was square!
Then really got into it…….40+ years and i’m still doing it.
February 21st, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Yes – was taught in school, loved it! I am biased however – my father was a SD caller.
It is better today than back then – there are more moves and it’s done to all types of music and all over the world – check out Super Trooper Square Dance on You Tube by Anna Johansson – it’ll change your mind about it. You will still find the outfits at large dances and festivals, but it’s not required at local dance – as long as you are wearing clothes we will let you dance!
August 24th, 2010 at 5:16 am
This summer I square danced at a convention in Louisville. There were about 6000 square dancers, many from foreign countries. Canada of course, but also 40 or so from Japan, and some from England, Germany, France, etc. Many types of music, may different levels of dancing, lots of friendship and fun. Most dancers are “older” now, but the young ones seemed to have just as good a time. I hope more kids learn about this “team dancing” (for PE? it is aerobic) and join in the fun.