The Society of Folk Dance Historians (SFDH)

The Society of Folk Dance Historians (SFDH)

Square and Folk Dancing
By Henry Greene

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BACKGROUND

Information: A book.

Square and Folk Dancing, by Henry L. "Hank" Greene.

Published by New York: Harper & Row; Toronto: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1984. Piano arrangements of square dance music by Vincent Maffei.

REVIEW

This folk/square dance instruction and teaching book uses a teaching progression of folk dances following Lidster and Tamburini's Folk Dance Progressions, going from simple to complex and grouping dances by step patterns. This approach is sound but sacrifices ethnic styling for simplicity in learning. Dance selection reflects dances popular in the 1960s, and dance step terminology follows the physical education literature rather than the recreational international folk dance literature.

The square dance notation, also sound, follows Don Armstrong's 1973 Caller/Teacher Manual for Contras. The addition of lyrics and music for singing calls is a welcome change from the usual square dance literature.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1: HISTORY

How Square Dancing Started
Growth of Square Dancing in the Cities
The Modern Square Dance Movement: The Emergence of Callerlab
The Folk Dance Picture

2: SQUARE DANCING: FOR THE STUDENT

Construction of a Square Dance
How to Use Square Dance Records
Styling of Square Dance Movements
Dancer Etiquette

3: SQUARE DANCING: FOR THE TEACHER/CALLER

Organizing a Square Dance Group
Introductory Teaching Suggestions
Calling Techniques
Hash Calling
One-Night Stands
Public Address System

4: FOLK DANCING

How to Interpret a Folk Dance Description
Frequently Used Folk Dance Steps:
    The Two-step
    The Schottische
    The Polka
    The Waltz
How to Add Grace and Style to Folk Dance Steps
Additional Suggestions for Teaching Folk Dancing
Cueing
Suggested Group Formations for Teaching

5: SQUARE DANCE SINGING CALLS: FOR THE STUDENT AND TEACHER

Red River Valley
Buffalo Gals
Comin' 'Round the Mountain
El Rancho Grande (version 1)
Turkey in the Straw
Marching Through Georgia
Darling Nellie Gray
Honolulu Baby
Pistol Packin' Mama (version 1)
Polly Wolly Doodle (version 1)
Polly Wolly Doodle (version 2)
Mañana
Pop Goes the Weasel
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
Solomon Levi
Pistol Packin' Mama (version 2)
Rig a Jig
Oh Susannah
My Pretty Girl
Irish Washerwoman
Life on the Ocean Wave (version 2)
El Rancho Grande (version 2)

SOME CONTEMPORARY SQUARE DANCE CALLS

Houston
Easy on My Mind
I Don't Live There Anymore
If They Could See Me Now
After the Lovin'

6: SQUARE DANCE PATTER CALLS: FOR THE STUDENT AND TEACHER

Swing the Man from Arkansas
Two Little Ladies Form a Ring
Gentlemen Jig
Split the Ring
Duck for the Oyster
Birdie in the Cage
Lady Go See
Grapevine Twist
Four in Line
Forward Six, Fall Back Six
Forward Up and Back
Swing and Take Her Along
Four Gents Star
Forward Up Four, Six, Eight
Lady Go Halfway Round Again
Circle Round the Circle
Texas Star
Ladies Grand Chain
Wagon Wheel (version 1)
Charleston Arch
Three Ladies Chain
Heads Advance, Sides Divide
Susie Q
Wagon Wheel (version 2)
Chain Six Bits
Coe Star

7: POPULAR FOLK DANCES: FOR THE STUDENT AND TEACHER

Patty Cake Polka (American)
Military Schottische (American)
Csebogar (Hungarian)
Put Your Little Foot (American)
Hot Pretzels (American)
Hora (Israeli)
Oklahoma Mixer (American)
To Tur (Danish)
Teddy Bears' Picnic (English)
Jessie Polka (American)
Road to the Isles (Scottish)
Seven Steps (German)
La Rinka (English)
St. Bernard Waltz (English)
Lili Marlene (American)
Mayim, Mayim (Israeli)
Tropanka (Bulgarian)
Eide Ratas (Estonian)
Boston Two-Step (English)
Nebesko Kolo (Yugoslavian)
Harmonica (Israeli)
Koroboushka (Russian)
Miserlou (Greek)
Glowworm (American)
Cotton-Eyed Joe (American)
Varsouvienne (Swedish)
Lech Lamidbar (Israeli)
Kohanochka (Russian)

MIXERS
Turkey in the Straw
Pistol Packin' Mama
Rig a Jig
Patty Cake Polka
Oh Susannah
Irish Washerwoman

8: SENIOR CITIZENS: HOW DANCES SHOULD BE REVISED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS

SQUARE DANCE GLOSSARY

FOLK DANCE GLOSSARY

SOURCES OF SQUARE AND FOLK DANCE RECORDS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

DOCUMENTS

Henry Greene, an article.
Square Dance, a dance family.
Square Dance Terminology, an article.
Square Dancing, an article.

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