"Square dancing is friendship set to music," says author Betty Casey. Just take four couples, old or young, put 'em on a good floor, turn on the music, and you're all set. Whether you've done it before or you're just starting out, this book tells you everything you need to know--85 basic movements used all over the world, the spirited calls unique to square dancing, the costumes and equipment that are best, and music (from "Red River Valley" to "Mack the Knife") that will set your feet in motion. Down-to-earth details and anecdotes give a taste of the good times in store for you. Find out how native folk dances grew out of European quadrilles, jigs, and fandangos. Open this book and get ready to: "wipe off your tie, pull down your vest, and dance with the one you love best." This book includes: 50 basic movements, 35 advanced movements, variations, dances that are a part of the American heritage, Contra and Round Dances, polkas and reels, and calls, past and present.

Generations of Texans have believed that “to dance is to live.” At rustic “play parties” and elegant cotillions, in tiny family dance halls and expansive urban honky-tonks, from historic beginnings to next Saturday night, Texans have waltzed, polkaed, schottisched, and shuffled their way across the state. In Dance across Texas, internationally known dance instructor and writer Betty Casey takes an informal look at the history of Texas dancing and, in clear diagrams, photos, and detailed instructions, tells “how to” do more than twenty Texas dances. Previously, little had been recorded about the history of dancing on the frontier. Journal and diary entries, letters, and newspaper clippings preserve enticing, if sketchy, descriptions of the types of dances that were popular. Casey uses a variety of sources, including interviews and previously unpublished historical materials, such as dance cards, invitations, and photographs, to give us a delightful look at the social context of dance. The importance of dance to early Texans is documented through colorful descriptions of clothing worn to the dances, of the various locations where dances were held, ranging from a formal hall to a wagon sheet spread on the ground, and of the hardships endured to get to a dance. Also included in the historical section of Dance across Texas are notes on the “morality” of dance, the influence of country music on modern dance forms, and the popularity of such Texas dance halls and clubs as Crider’s and Gilley’s. The instruction section of the book diagrams twenty-two Texas dances, including standard waltzes and two-steps as well as the Cotton-Eyed Joe, Put Your Little Foot, Herr Schmidt, the Western Schottische, and such “whistle’” or mixer dances as Paul Jones, Popcorn, and Snowball. Clear and detailed directions for each dance, along with suggested musical selections, accompany the diagrams and photos. Dance and physical education teachers and students will find this section invaluable, and aspiring urban cowboys can follow the easy-to-read diagrammed footsteps to a satisfying spin around the honky-tonk floor. Anyone interested in dance or in the history of social customs in Texas will find much to enjoy in this refreshing and often amusing look at a Texas “national” pastime.

An authentic collection of over 75 contra square dances, their origins and lore and how to dance them.

From the founding of America's dance culture to today's square dance activity, follow the footsteps back in time to visit with some amazing people and dance events that depict the historical evolution of the modern American square dance. Based on real people and events, the historic stories are very readable and enjoyable style, revealing the lifestyles of those who contributed to bringing the joy of America's cultural dance to others. You will witness how dance affected the rhythm and lifestyle across the United States and then to foreign countries. It explores pattern dances reflecting on how various dance styles influenced another and the progression of dance. You will experience the expansion across this country and how dance was influenced along the way. You are taken to the Appalachian Mountain area to witness the Kentucky running set and to New England's quadrilles and contra dances. Memories of past dance experience is visited as its history comes alive through the evolution of dance traditions and a visit with our dance pioneers that influenced and impacted our lives. The time line on the evolution of the American Square Dance begins in Europe to the founding of America, through the Colonial times, the contribution of the African American influence and the western expansion, the depression period, the effect of the World War 11 and the growth that took place with the return of the American soldiers. We visit with George Washington and the political influence that took place at colonial dances, Eleanor Roosevelt dancing during the depression, Jimmy Carter bringing the Modern Western Square dance to the White House. Discover how the square dance brought democracy to Japan. Henry Ford's efforts in the revival of dance to Lloyd Shaw's western style impact on square dancing with his high school students Cheyenne Mountain School dancing tours. The building of roads and transportation improvements and the growth of the recording industries along with a proliferation of publications brought about a major growth in people getting together to dance. Dance choreography changes brought about the modern western square dance. Dance events and conventions flourished. You will visit with modern western square dance pioneers Charlie Baldwin, Bob Osgood and Stan and Cathie Burdick. This countries famous animator, Chuck Jones, involvement in square dancing is revealed. This book features many charts and timeline treasures listing movies that featured square dance scenes, square dance halls that came into being across the country and the many different dance gatherings. You will meet some of the women involved in square dancing. You will also visit delightful stories of the Brundage square dance family and the Tirrell round dance family. See how clothing trends followed our dance activity. Today's Modern Western Square Dance will continue to evolve and change. You will learn what efforts took place to preserve the history of the square dance activity. You will see the background of how round dancing complimented square dancing. Every page brings with it the enthusiasm for dancing. You are taken on an adventure that will broaden your perspective on dance and will make you want to be a part of the future dancing experience. It will please the casual reader, dance leaders and the dancer along with historians with its insight and behind the scene stories. It is the most complete and informative book bringing together all in one place everything you will ever want to know about the pleasures and joy in the human relationship of dance. The historical documentation in this book brings the reader through the past years and creates the opportunity so that the future of social dance can continue to be a contributing factor.