Umm, dancing?? Not so sure about that!

If you can walk, you can square dance. Admittedly some folks dance with more style than others, but you will also get smoother with practice.

I square danced in grade school; do I really need to go to the lessons?

Yes, for a couple reasons. There are different styles of square dancing and you may not remember as much as you think! If you do remember and it’s the same style, you’ll be a star pupil!

I used to dance then took a long break from square dancing. Do I need to start at the beginning?

It really depends. The class coordinator will help you decide where to start. If there are enough students in this category, sometimes they will be in their own class which will progress at a rapid pace to refresh everyone’s memory.

Do I need a partner?

Nope! Of course, if you want to bring a partner that’s great. If not, we will find someone for you to dance with.

Do I need to memorize a bunch of choreography?

Nope! The caller tells you what to do. You will need to learn individual calls though. During a lesson you will learn several calls, use them and review them in the next lesson. Initially this seems a bit daunting but it is new to you, after all! You’ll catch on!

How big of a commitment is this?

It can be what you want it to be, to some degree. Typically, a club will offer lessons weekly as well as dances in the evenings, usually twice a month. To be able to come to the beginning level dances, you need to know enough calls and be able to do them. This would involve roughly 13 weeks, completing the beginning level called CTM (for Condensed Teaching Method). Then if you want to continue, many clubs offer Mainstream and Plus levels. You would need to complete Mainstream classes to attend a Mainstream level dance and then Plus classes to attend Plus level dances. There is also a program called Social Square Dancing (SSD) which is a combination/subset of CTM and Mainstream calls. Once you know those calls, you can go to an SSD dance. Some folks just go to lessons and don’t come to dances and others (once they are proficient) just come to dances. Many people do both.

How many calls will I learn?

Our CTM course is 56 calls, Mainstream is 35 additional calls and Plus is an additional 30 calls. Yes, that sounds like a lot! But you learn them one at a time and over many months.

What if I miss a week of class?

Attending classes consistently helps you learn more quickly and easily. The lessons build on each other and what was taught previously is reviewed. But life happens and if you miss a week, we’ll help you catch up. Missing many weeks though, it might make more sense to try again at another session.

What about my kids? Can I bring them?

Maybe! We’ve had parents and kids dance together. Generally, kids who are middle school age and up who want to be there do best. They need to be comfortable dancing with other people as well as their parent and of course able to listen and follow directions. And patience with their elders is a plus since the kids pick things up quicker than the older folks!

I am really not a fan of country music.

Who said country music is used exclusively in square dancing? It’s surprising how many styles of music can be used in square dancing. We’ve danced to adult alternative, classic rock, pop, show tunes, Americana, folk, patriotic, classical and yes, country is in the mix.

Do I need to bring anything with me to a class?

Comfortable clothing and shoes you can move in (typically flipflops are not a good choice) are a great idea along with a water bottle. Patience and a sense of humor are also great to have – you will make mistakes along with everyone else!

What about special clothes?

No worries there! For classes, comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in are great. For dances most square dance clubs in our area of Southeastern PA tend toward casual dress, with some of the ladies wearing skirts. Sometimes clubs have theme dances when folks are encouraged to wear specific colors or type of clothing (Hawaiian shirts for example). Traditional square dance attire consists of a long sleeved western style shirt with a bolo tie with long pants for the guys and a peasant style top with a full skirt for the ladies, complete with petticoat underneath. A version of this type of outfit is typically worn at a square dance weekend/convention (yes, they do exist) or at a special dance (anniversary of a club or a holiday dinner dance). Some of our dancers like to dress up and some don’t, so it is quite likely that what you own already is fine.

How much does this cost?

Costs vary by club but typically lessons are under $10 a class. Dances are typically around $10 per person with a reduced cost if you are a member of the club hosting the dance. Compared to many activities, this is quite reasonable.

I’m still a bit nervous about this.

No worries! For most clubs, your first class is free. Many offer a “Fun Night”, specifically for folks to give square dancing a try for free. It will give you a taste of what is involved. At the beginning of each session the first class is free if you couldn’t attend fun night. After the first class or two, it makes more sense to wait until the next session to try it out. To ease your mind during lessons, our experienced dancers assist our class callers so that a guide is usually nearby. These helpers are called angels in the square dance world and they love to help our students!

I won’t know anyone.

You might be surprised! There may be people you know from other activities. Or you might not know anyone, yet. Square dancers are a friendly bunch and meeting new people is always interesting and fun. We’ve had singles meet their future spouse as well as dancers finding people with a common interest (i.e. music, gardening, biking, etc.). Enlarge your circle of friends by getting in a square!

What if I need more help?

There are plenty of people who can help you. The caller will go over a challenging call with you and more experienced dancers will be happy to help you.

Is this one of those activities with confusing vocabulary?

It’s not too bad but you can learn some lingo!

Is square dancing really that fun?

YES!! That’s the short answer. We took a break during the pandemic and for many people it was a truly joyous experience to return to square dancing. You will make new friends, get some more movement into your day, mentally challenge yourself and yes, have fun! Click here to see for yourself!

Where can I learn? Contact Ted at (267) 645-9599 or email us