Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is square dancing?
A. Square Dancing is an American folk dance and California's Official State Folk Dance. In this type of dance, eight people dance together as a group. They begin by standing in a square (hence the name) with a partner, in a place called “home.” Then the group moves to music and makes different formations which are called out by a "caller.” The calls range from simple elbow turns with a partner, tapping hands, joining hands and circling, to more complex formations. All eight dancers move simultaneously, dancing with each of the other dancers in the square. Since the choreography is called out during the songs, you don't have to memorize long routines, just listen to the caller and soon you will be back “home!”
Q. Do I need a partner to Square Dance?
A. While bringing your own partner is helpful, it is not necessary. Single dancers have a lot of fun square dancing too. We use a rotation system to match single dancers with a new partner for each set of songs. For classes, each student is assured a dance partner because our regular club members participate as "angels" and will partner with students to help them learn. If you want to bring someone along, consider inviting a relative, friend, neighbor, or co-worker. Since square dancing is done in groups, you don't have to think of it as being a "date."
Q. What if I “can’t dance?”
A. If you can count to 8 and tell your left from your right most of the time, then you can square dance! If you can play Twister, Simon Says, or do the "Hokey Pokey," you can square dance. Unlike other forms of dance, it doesn’t matter how your feet move, whether your weight is on your heel or toe, or which foot you are standing on. It doesn’t matter where your partner’s feet are either. All you have to do is get your body to a certain position in the square. If you get confused, the other dancers will help guide you to the right place. One club member called it, “dancing for engineers.” Many people who have been unsuccessful at other types of dance find square dancing is much easier and a lot more fun. Give it a try!
Q. Do I need to wear that fluffy skirt?
A. Only if you want to wear it at a traditional dance. Lessons or classes are very casual. People wear whatever is comfortable. Some people come to class wearing shorts or jogging suits, or the clothes they wore to work. Some prefer a western look with boots and jeans. As dancers add more style to the moves, the women have many opportunities to “twirl their skirt.” If this appeals to you, the skirt can be of any style, and as long or short as you desire, just remember to wear some fancy underpants because they will show! Click here to read instructions on how to sew a simple circle skirt.
Q. Do I have to hold hands with strangers?
A. Only for a short while, soon they will be the hands of your friends! Square dancing is a very social activity, but it is more wholesome than the kind of dancing you would find at a nightclub. It is customary for each dancer to greet all of the other dancers in the square with a hug or handshake. You will touch hands with other dancers to form arches or stars, pull dancers by with a handshake, and “promenade” with the gentleman’s hand around the lady’s waist. During instruction it may seem like you are touching for an awkward long time, but once you are dancing they are just momentary handholds. Click here to watch some videos.
Q. Didn't I learn to square dance in elementary school?
A. Maybe, but you probably only knew a few simple calls. It is a lot more fun when you learn more steps, when you are dancing with people who enjoy it, and when you aren’t worried about catching “cooties!”
Q. I'm on a budget right now. Is it expensive?
A. It is just $6 for each lesson. It’s a real bargain compared to a gym membership or a movie, and it is a LOT MORE FUN!!! Once you’ve completed square dance classes, attending a dance is typically about $8 per person for over two hours of fun, socializing, exercise, and refreshments!
Q. Is square dancing good exercise?
A. Yes! Any kind of dancing is good physical exercise, but square dancing is also great mental exercise! It’s a low-impact, aerobic workout that requires no jumping, or running, so it’s easier on the joints. An evening of square dancing is the equivalent of walking or hiking about 3-5 miles. If you have more energy, you can add more flourish to your dancing to make it even more of a workout. Square dancing improves flexibility, muscle tone, coordination, and memory. One young dancer said it even helped her with her math homework! Most square dancers also do a lot of laughing, and we all know laughter is great medicine. Click here to learn more about the health benefits of square dancing.
Q. What if I’m not in very good physical shape?
A. It’s easy to start slow. We dance for two songs at a time, the equivalent of about a 10 minute walk. There is naturally a short break after every two songs to form new squares, so you can sit down, catch your breath, use the restroom, get a snack or drink, or socialize. If you need a longer break you can sit out the next set and watch until you are ready to dance again. As with any new exercise, check with your doctor first.
Q. What if I don’t like country music?
A. Modern square dancing is done to all kinds of music. Each caller has his or her own favorites, including some country and folk songs, but you might also hear anything from the latest pop song, to Elvis or the Eagles, or the “It’s a Small World” Disney theme song. Square dancing is best done to upbeat music, so you are less likely to hear the depressing drinking songs you might associate with country music. Often you are having so much fun laughing and talking you might not even notice what music is playing.
Q. Am I too young or too old to square dance?
A. People of all ages square dance. Young dancers have great fun learning to square dance, as well as teenagers, college students, twenty and thirty somethings, middle aged folks, and seniors, some of whom are quite fit, physically and mentally, thanks to years of dancing. If you want to make sure there are people your age to dance with, we encourage you to bring all your friends. We currently limit our weekly class to ages 12 and older, but we can arrange special one-time events for younger children.
Q. Does anyone else square dance?
A. Yes! There are square dancers all around you! On any weekend you could choose from several different square dances to attend in Southern California. People square dance all over the United States, and in many other countries around the world where they say all the calls in English. There are even square dance cruises, square dance camp-outs, and square dance conventions that draw thousands of dancers. Come find out why so many people love square dancing!
Q. What if I missed the starting date of class?
A. Our class stays open to new dancers for the first three weeks. After that you are welcome to come to the class and check it out. If you have some previous dance experience you still might be able to "catch up." If you decide it is too late to join the current class, please contact our club presidents, class coordinators, or publicity/web site managers and they will be glad to send you information about when our next class will start.
A. Square Dancing is an American folk dance and California's Official State Folk Dance. In this type of dance, eight people dance together as a group. They begin by standing in a square (hence the name) with a partner, in a place called “home.” Then the group moves to music and makes different formations which are called out by a "caller.” The calls range from simple elbow turns with a partner, tapping hands, joining hands and circling, to more complex formations. All eight dancers move simultaneously, dancing with each of the other dancers in the square. Since the choreography is called out during the songs, you don't have to memorize long routines, just listen to the caller and soon you will be back “home!”
Q. Do I need a partner to Square Dance?
A. While bringing your own partner is helpful, it is not necessary. Single dancers have a lot of fun square dancing too. We use a rotation system to match single dancers with a new partner for each set of songs. For classes, each student is assured a dance partner because our regular club members participate as "angels" and will partner with students to help them learn. If you want to bring someone along, consider inviting a relative, friend, neighbor, or co-worker. Since square dancing is done in groups, you don't have to think of it as being a "date."
Q. What if I “can’t dance?”
A. If you can count to 8 and tell your left from your right most of the time, then you can square dance! If you can play Twister, Simon Says, or do the "Hokey Pokey," you can square dance. Unlike other forms of dance, it doesn’t matter how your feet move, whether your weight is on your heel or toe, or which foot you are standing on. It doesn’t matter where your partner’s feet are either. All you have to do is get your body to a certain position in the square. If you get confused, the other dancers will help guide you to the right place. One club member called it, “dancing for engineers.” Many people who have been unsuccessful at other types of dance find square dancing is much easier and a lot more fun. Give it a try!
Q. Do I need to wear that fluffy skirt?
A. Only if you want to wear it at a traditional dance. Lessons or classes are very casual. People wear whatever is comfortable. Some people come to class wearing shorts or jogging suits, or the clothes they wore to work. Some prefer a western look with boots and jeans. As dancers add more style to the moves, the women have many opportunities to “twirl their skirt.” If this appeals to you, the skirt can be of any style, and as long or short as you desire, just remember to wear some fancy underpants because they will show! Click here to read instructions on how to sew a simple circle skirt.
Q. Do I have to hold hands with strangers?
A. Only for a short while, soon they will be the hands of your friends! Square dancing is a very social activity, but it is more wholesome than the kind of dancing you would find at a nightclub. It is customary for each dancer to greet all of the other dancers in the square with a hug or handshake. You will touch hands with other dancers to form arches or stars, pull dancers by with a handshake, and “promenade” with the gentleman’s hand around the lady’s waist. During instruction it may seem like you are touching for an awkward long time, but once you are dancing they are just momentary handholds. Click here to watch some videos.
Q. Didn't I learn to square dance in elementary school?
A. Maybe, but you probably only knew a few simple calls. It is a lot more fun when you learn more steps, when you are dancing with people who enjoy it, and when you aren’t worried about catching “cooties!”
Q. I'm on a budget right now. Is it expensive?
A. It is just $6 for each lesson. It’s a real bargain compared to a gym membership or a movie, and it is a LOT MORE FUN!!! Once you’ve completed square dance classes, attending a dance is typically about $8 per person for over two hours of fun, socializing, exercise, and refreshments!
Q. Is square dancing good exercise?
A. Yes! Any kind of dancing is good physical exercise, but square dancing is also great mental exercise! It’s a low-impact, aerobic workout that requires no jumping, or running, so it’s easier on the joints. An evening of square dancing is the equivalent of walking or hiking about 3-5 miles. If you have more energy, you can add more flourish to your dancing to make it even more of a workout. Square dancing improves flexibility, muscle tone, coordination, and memory. One young dancer said it even helped her with her math homework! Most square dancers also do a lot of laughing, and we all know laughter is great medicine. Click here to learn more about the health benefits of square dancing.
Q. What if I’m not in very good physical shape?
A. It’s easy to start slow. We dance for two songs at a time, the equivalent of about a 10 minute walk. There is naturally a short break after every two songs to form new squares, so you can sit down, catch your breath, use the restroom, get a snack or drink, or socialize. If you need a longer break you can sit out the next set and watch until you are ready to dance again. As with any new exercise, check with your doctor first.
Q. What if I don’t like country music?
A. Modern square dancing is done to all kinds of music. Each caller has his or her own favorites, including some country and folk songs, but you might also hear anything from the latest pop song, to Elvis or the Eagles, or the “It’s a Small World” Disney theme song. Square dancing is best done to upbeat music, so you are less likely to hear the depressing drinking songs you might associate with country music. Often you are having so much fun laughing and talking you might not even notice what music is playing.
Q. Am I too young or too old to square dance?
A. People of all ages square dance. Young dancers have great fun learning to square dance, as well as teenagers, college students, twenty and thirty somethings, middle aged folks, and seniors, some of whom are quite fit, physically and mentally, thanks to years of dancing. If you want to make sure there are people your age to dance with, we encourage you to bring all your friends. We currently limit our weekly class to ages 12 and older, but we can arrange special one-time events for younger children.
Q. Does anyone else square dance?
A. Yes! There are square dancers all around you! On any weekend you could choose from several different square dances to attend in Southern California. People square dance all over the United States, and in many other countries around the world where they say all the calls in English. There are even square dance cruises, square dance camp-outs, and square dance conventions that draw thousands of dancers. Come find out why so many people love square dancing!
Q. What if I missed the starting date of class?
A. Our class stays open to new dancers for the first three weeks. After that you are welcome to come to the class and check it out. If you have some previous dance experience you still might be able to "catch up." If you decide it is too late to join the current class, please contact our club presidents, class coordinators, or publicity/web site managers and they will be glad to send you information about when our next class will start.