Square Dance Steps

Inspired by folk dancing, square dancing is a hit amongst older generations at festivals and fairs. Square dancing dates back to 17th century England and consequently became popular all over Europe. Square dancing involves 4 pairs in a square formation. Square dance steps and movements are derived and based on steps and figures in traditional folk dances of people from different origins migrating to the USA. Want to learn square dancing steps? Coming up!

Basic Square Dance Steps

Ladies Chain
This step involves ladies being singled out by the caller going towards each other and then holding hands, only right ones. They then pass through, dropping their right hands after which their left hands are placed in each other's.

Allemande Left
This step is done when those couples at the corners of the square face each other and hold left hands. After that they walk around each other and come back to their original position. Similarly, an allemande right is done where the dancers hold the right hand.

Handhold
One of the most simple steps for kids is the hand hold. It is nothing but a step where one hand of a dancer is in another dancer's hand. If this grasp is broken, the handhold comes to an end.

Promenade
Simply put, this is one of those square dancing steps where partners cross hands and then they walk counter clockwise, to their original positions.

Balance
Here, the partners hold hands and hop on their left foot at the same time. Then this is followed by crossing over to the right, and hopping on the same foot again crossing over to the left. You might find this movement similar to a grapevine step in an upbeat jazz dance.

Set
Dancers in two lines face each other, the convention is that females fall in a line and males in the other. For infusing more fun in this step it needs 6 to 8 couples.

These were the basic steps. Now here is a low down on some formations. These formations may resemble country dance as country dance too has evolved from the stream of folk dance.

Formation #1

• Face the center of the room and stand with your partner at your side.
• Hold your arms up in the quintessential dancing position (for men) and hold your skirt with both hands (for women).
• Face your partner and step forward and then the man will pass the woman as she stands at his right shoulder.
• Then without turning around the man will move in a circle around her which will have his left shoulder passing hers.
• The man will take a step backward then stand in his position and face the woman.
• The woman will mirror the man's movements, thus ending up facing him.

Formation #2

• Now, considering that there are 6 or 8 couples, step ahead with the couple with you towards the couple standing directly across.
• Now move to your right for permitting the woman from the couple opposite to pass you on the right side.
• From the opposite couple, the man should take the woman's hand and then spin with her till you are facing the opposite side where you originally stood.
• The woman who is your partner will go about and do the same, she will move to the right of the man from the opposite couple and take a spin with him.
• After this place your left hand on the shoulder of your partner, take her right hand and turn her counterclockwise.
• While you turn her counterclockwise, step back till you do that and till you both face the middle of the room.
• The other couple will follow suit and will finish on the side from which you started.

To learn square dance steps, all you need is coordination with your partner and an innate grace. If you have that, well then you can set the dance floor on fire!