Square Dance
Square dance is a folk dance that originated in the United States. The various dance figures that are used in square dancing, based on traditional folk dances of the various peoples who have immigrated to the United States. Some of these dances are Morris Dance, English Country Dance and the quadrille. Square dance is danced by many people around the world; to Germany, he came through the American occupation after the Second World War.
Square dance is danced in groups of four couples who start on the four sides of a square ( English Square) are. The figure sequences are indicated by announcements (calls) of a caller ( caller ) in spoken or sung form. These calls are standardized worldwide - so can a dancer from Germany at any time without difficulty dancing along with dancers from other countries.
Different types of Square Dance
There are two different types of square dance:
- Western square dance also " Modern Western Square Dance " or " Modern American Square Dance " called. This modern form of square dancing is danced worldwide and is also the official folk dance of most states in the United States.
While there are fixed predetermined choreography with the traditional square dance, the order of the figures in the modern square dance is more or less spontaneously, solely the caller knows which figure is danced next. Depending on the choreographic art prepared figure combinations are used or decided spontaneously, which figure has the desired effect.
The music of the two forms is also different. In the traditional square dance music is traditional " country dance" music: mainly Irish and Scottish jigs and reels as well as folk music from Quebec or Cape Breton ( Canada ), England, Scotland and other countries. The music is almost always played by a traditional dance music band. In western square dance, the music is a mixture of many types of music, from pop to traditional and modern country music, Broadway musicals, pop, etc. The music is rarely played by a band, but is recorded and the caller sings live it.
The traditional and the modern Western square dancing have a number of calls in common, but there are small differences in execution:
Dissemination
The traditional square dance is danced only sporadically today. The Modern American Square Dance on the other hand experienced since the 90s, a real boom. In addition to the U.S. and Canada, where the dance had its roots and therefore was traditionally very strong, it spread also in some non-US countries heavily from. In Europe, these are especially Sweden, Denmark, England, Germany and the Czech Republic. Outside of Europe, Australia and Japan to call.
Related types of dance
- Round Dance is an American form of ballroom dancing, in which also the figures are announced; the announcer referred to herein as Cuer. It is danced in pairs on a large circular path. Figures and rhythms are from Waltz, Rumba, Paso Doble, etc. known.
- Clogging is a variation of tap dance. It is danced individually or in formations.
- Contra Dance is similar to the traditional square dance; However, the couples do not form a square, but two long rows with more than four couples who face each other.
Square dancers often dance and round dancing, clogging or contra dancing. In square dance events, so-called "specials " frequently Square and Round Dance Tips are offered in exchange. On even larger events such as festivals and Jamborees often Square Dance, Round Dance and Clogging and sometimes contra dancing is offered in parallel.