Comments on: did everyone square dance in school?

By: Susan Dewey

Susan Dewey — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:16:43 +0000

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.

By: Illinois girl

Illinois girl — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:16:06 +0000

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!

By: Jody Morvent

Jody Morvent — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:00:43 +0000

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.

By: Anne Parmeter

Anne Parmeter — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:36:10 +0000

Family square dance-off!

By: Kirstin Parmeter-Nusser

Kirstin Parmeter-Nusser — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:36:00 +0000

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!

By: Uncle Rick

Uncle Rick — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:00:34 +0000

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.

By: ben

ben — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:25:07 +0000

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!

By: Anne Parmeter

Anne Parmeter — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:36:01 +0000

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.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:16:30 +0000

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!

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:52:28 +0000

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!!!