Welcome
To the Wonderful World of Modern
Square Dancing!
Information Booklet – March 2017
The mission of “Square Dancing” is
“Friendship set to Music”
Important Facts
Square Dancing is meant to be FUN. Don’t worry if you can’t pick up a move instantly. No-one expects you to!
Being human, means sometimes you will have “two left feet”. Even experienced Dancers make mistakes! It just adds to the fun.
We are all Different
So don’t feel you must be perfect. Just enjoy it. We all find some moves easy and some hard, and it’s different for everyone. So if everyone seems to know a move except you, don’t worry. Especially don’t go home and worry. Just enjoy the fun, laugh at your mistakes. Go home relaxed and looking forward to your next session.
There are also resources and tools to help you between lessons such as booklets (available from the club), apps (e.g. Taminations) and websites (YouTube etc.).
What to do when a square breaks down?
Do NOT panic!
Do NOT blame yourself!
Do NOT blame anyone!
It happens frequently!
How to Resume Your Square
In a Hoedown
In a singing Call
What to Wear
Beginners need to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. (No thongs please). Ladies may prefer to wear skirts to help learn skirt work. It is preferred that men wear long sleeves.
Mainstream Dancing Dress Codes:
Men:- long sleeved shirts – open or buttoned neck worn with Bolo, Western Ties or Cravats, long trousers or shorts and long socks.
Ladies:- Full skirts and petticoats, tops and blouses, no bare midriffs or backs, closed in comfy shoes.
We are flexible with our dress code on Club nights, open neck club Tee-shirts are available to purchase.
However, should we be hosting a special dance or visiting another club full square dance attire is to be worn.. Club skirts are available on loan.
Etiquette
When Square Dancing you never dance alone. We need and help each other throughout the dance.
Do Do’s
Here are a number of unwritten rules we practice:
No No’s
Fancy Moves
Dancers often add extra swings or turns to enhance their dancing fun. These are optional and will come with experience.
I’m getting there!
I’m getting there!
What is an "ANGEL"
To assist learners, we have experienced dancers dancing in a beginners square and these experienced dancers are called ‘ANGELS’. If you enjoy square dancing, then you will appreciate those who helped you learn along the way. You may wish to become an angel once you have experienced a year as a mainstream dancer.
What is a “CONVERTIBLE”
We all need dancing partners and have found that more women than men wish to learn square dancing. The solution is for two solo ladies to team up. One learns the right hand dancer traditionally (female) and one learns the left hand dancer traditionally (male) moves. Some ladies then exchange roles and others are happy to stay as the right hand dancer.
If you learn both roles then you are known as a ‘CONVERTIBLE’, cool name.
You will have more fun dancing as a ‘convertible’ than staying home.
Tips for Smooth Dancing
How to Move
Keep the beat with your feet – all moves have set numbers of steps designed to fit the beat. Take small steps especially inside the circle, so the outside dancers who have further to go can keep up.
Your Body
Keep your elbows bent and your back straight. Keep squares small and moves compact to prevent rushing. Keep your touch and hand holds light and gentle.
Don’t be a Bully
In swings, move together. Swing to your partner’s physical capabilities. Take special care not to drag the lady’s arm backwards when her arm is over her head. In waves stand back from facing dancers so you can drop your hands easily. In arm turns don’t push opposite dancer’s hand back as you move forward.
Be a Smoothie
Dance smoothly, gently and on the beat, it makes it much easier. You can do fun moves and fancy twirls without hurting anyone.
World Wide Dance Moves
Square dance calls are standard around the world. Once learnt, you can dance in any country, all callers call in English, regardless of where you might be dancing.
There are several levels of Square Dance moves.
Basic
You will learn the basic moves. There are approximately
50 – 60 moves which you learn throughout the year.
Mainstream
The next level! Most square dance nights cater for mainstream dancers. Once you reach this level, you can dance at other clubs, attend festivals and travel the world.
Plus
For many mainstream is enough. You can get all the fun and socializing you want at mainstream level. However, some enjoy learning new moves. They go onto learn another set of moves called Plus. It doesn’t make them better dancers, or set them apart. They enjoy learning new moves.
You will enjoy Plus more if you know your mainstream very well. Most clubs like you to dance a year at mainstream level after your graduation before you attempt Plus.
A1&A2
The “A” level is a further group of moves which a few people enjoy learning. There are also further levels but are rarely danced.
Rounds
Round dancing is associated with square dancing. It is more like ballroom dancing and you dance as couples.
Clogging
Clogging is another form of tap dance but with double taps on heels and toes. It is a solo activity and our club runs classes to learn this activity.
Graduation
To celebrate you becoming a Mainstreamer, the Club holds a special welcoming ceremony called graduation. It symbolizes graduation into the main body of square dancers.
Square Dance Club Structure
There are two kinds of Clubs: Caller Run and Committee Run
Caller Run
All matters, including income and expenditure are the responsibility of the Caller.
Committee Run
E.Z. Squares is a committee run organisation, with a Constitution and an Annual Reporting system to the Office of Fair Trading.
E.Z. Squares is a classified as a “non-profit” organisation.
E.Z. Squares callers are invited to have input into the dancing matters.
E.Z. Squares committee organizes the club’s agenda with the consent of the members.
E.Z. Squares organize social events and at times subsidize functions.
Our Club
Our Name: E.Z. Squares Caboolture Dance Club (Inc) (pronounced Easy Squares). Started formally in December 1989, it ran informally for a year beforehand.
A carpet snake is our emblem, for the reason that
‘Caboolture’ in Aboriginal language means
‘Place of Carpet Snakes’
Our Callers/Cuers:
Senior Caller: Glenn Wilson.
Co-Caller: Elaine Davis
Clogging Cuer: Stephen Hope
Dances (as of Feb 2017)
Squares:-Tuesday 7:00pm – 9.30pm
Clogging:- Sunday 5:00pm – 9:30pm
Newsletter/Review
We issue a bi-monthly newsletter free to all members, additionally have available for loan the quarterly Review
issued by the National Square dance Society of Australia
Visit our Square Dancing website:
http://ezsquarescaboolture.weebly.com
Or
E.Z Square Facebook Page
E.Z. Squares Dance Club Inc.
Governing Bodies
All recognized clubs encourage members to become individual members of the Queensland Square Dance Society.
This entity runs three annual events per year. These events are usually hosted by a club somewhere within the Queensland boundaries. A National body oversees Australian Square dancing, hosting an Annual National Convention, in a different State each year. Rounds and Clogging also have their Governing Bodies.
E.Z. Squares Yearly Events
To the Wonderful World of Modern
Square Dancing!
Information Booklet – March 2017
The mission of “Square Dancing” is
“Friendship set to Music”
Important Facts
Square Dancing is meant to be FUN. Don’t worry if you can’t pick up a move instantly. No-one expects you to!
Being human, means sometimes you will have “two left feet”. Even experienced Dancers make mistakes! It just adds to the fun.
We are all Different
So don’t feel you must be perfect. Just enjoy it. We all find some moves easy and some hard, and it’s different for everyone. So if everyone seems to know a move except you, don’t worry. Especially don’t go home and worry. Just enjoy the fun, laugh at your mistakes. Go home relaxed and looking forward to your next session.
There are also resources and tools to help you between lessons such as booklets (available from the club), apps (e.g. Taminations) and websites (YouTube etc.).
What to do when a square breaks down?
Do NOT panic!
Do NOT blame yourself!
Do NOT blame anyone!
It happens frequently!
How to Resume Your Square
In a Hoedown
- Take your partners hand.
- Head Ladies take your Corner’s hand.
- Form lines at sides of Square.
In a singing Call
- Take your partner’s hand, reform your square and wait for Left Allemande or Swing and Promenade
What to Wear
Beginners need to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. (No thongs please). Ladies may prefer to wear skirts to help learn skirt work. It is preferred that men wear long sleeves.
Mainstream Dancing Dress Codes:
Men:- long sleeved shirts – open or buttoned neck worn with Bolo, Western Ties or Cravats, long trousers or shorts and long socks.
Ladies:- Full skirts and petticoats, tops and blouses, no bare midriffs or backs, closed in comfy shoes.
We are flexible with our dress code on Club nights, open neck club Tee-shirts are available to purchase.
However, should we be hosting a special dance or visiting another club full square dance attire is to be worn.. Club skirts are available on loan.
Etiquette
When Square Dancing you never dance alone. We need and help each other throughout the dance.
Do Do’s
Here are a number of unwritten rules we practice:
- Always say “Hi” to all in the square.
- When Squares form, please join the nearest square.
- Thank all in the Square after each bracket.
No No’s
- Never argue with other dancers or the Caller.
- Never push, pull or shove a dancer into place, if help is needed a simple hand gesture is usually enough.
- Don’t walk through a formed Square, always go around.
Fancy Moves
Dancers often add extra swings or turns to enhance their dancing fun. These are optional and will come with experience.
I’m getting there!
I’m getting there!
What is an "ANGEL"
To assist learners, we have experienced dancers dancing in a beginners square and these experienced dancers are called ‘ANGELS’. If you enjoy square dancing, then you will appreciate those who helped you learn along the way. You may wish to become an angel once you have experienced a year as a mainstream dancer.
What is a “CONVERTIBLE”
We all need dancing partners and have found that more women than men wish to learn square dancing. The solution is for two solo ladies to team up. One learns the right hand dancer traditionally (female) and one learns the left hand dancer traditionally (male) moves. Some ladies then exchange roles and others are happy to stay as the right hand dancer.
If you learn both roles then you are known as a ‘CONVERTIBLE’, cool name.
You will have more fun dancing as a ‘convertible’ than staying home.
Tips for Smooth Dancing
How to Move
Keep the beat with your feet – all moves have set numbers of steps designed to fit the beat. Take small steps especially inside the circle, so the outside dancers who have further to go can keep up.
Your Body
Keep your elbows bent and your back straight. Keep squares small and moves compact to prevent rushing. Keep your touch and hand holds light and gentle.
Don’t be a Bully
In swings, move together. Swing to your partner’s physical capabilities. Take special care not to drag the lady’s arm backwards when her arm is over her head. In waves stand back from facing dancers so you can drop your hands easily. In arm turns don’t push opposite dancer’s hand back as you move forward.
Be a Smoothie
Dance smoothly, gently and on the beat, it makes it much easier. You can do fun moves and fancy twirls without hurting anyone.
World Wide Dance Moves
Square dance calls are standard around the world. Once learnt, you can dance in any country, all callers call in English, regardless of where you might be dancing.
There are several levels of Square Dance moves.
Basic
You will learn the basic moves. There are approximately
50 – 60 moves which you learn throughout the year.
Mainstream
The next level! Most square dance nights cater for mainstream dancers. Once you reach this level, you can dance at other clubs, attend festivals and travel the world.
Plus
For many mainstream is enough. You can get all the fun and socializing you want at mainstream level. However, some enjoy learning new moves. They go onto learn another set of moves called Plus. It doesn’t make them better dancers, or set them apart. They enjoy learning new moves.
You will enjoy Plus more if you know your mainstream very well. Most clubs like you to dance a year at mainstream level after your graduation before you attempt Plus.
A1&A2
The “A” level is a further group of moves which a few people enjoy learning. There are also further levels but are rarely danced.
Rounds
Round dancing is associated with square dancing. It is more like ballroom dancing and you dance as couples.
Clogging
Clogging is another form of tap dance but with double taps on heels and toes. It is a solo activity and our club runs classes to learn this activity.
Graduation
To celebrate you becoming a Mainstreamer, the Club holds a special welcoming ceremony called graduation. It symbolizes graduation into the main body of square dancers.
Square Dance Club Structure
There are two kinds of Clubs: Caller Run and Committee Run
Caller Run
All matters, including income and expenditure are the responsibility of the Caller.
Committee Run
E.Z. Squares is a committee run organisation, with a Constitution and an Annual Reporting system to the Office of Fair Trading.
E.Z. Squares is a classified as a “non-profit” organisation.
E.Z. Squares callers are invited to have input into the dancing matters.
E.Z. Squares committee organizes the club’s agenda with the consent of the members.
E.Z. Squares organize social events and at times subsidize functions.
Our Club
Our Name: E.Z. Squares Caboolture Dance Club (Inc) (pronounced Easy Squares). Started formally in December 1989, it ran informally for a year beforehand.
A carpet snake is our emblem, for the reason that
‘Caboolture’ in Aboriginal language means
‘Place of Carpet Snakes’
Our Callers/Cuers:
Senior Caller: Glenn Wilson.
Co-Caller: Elaine Davis
Clogging Cuer: Stephen Hope
Dances (as of Feb 2017)
Squares:-Tuesday 7:00pm – 9.30pm
Clogging:- Sunday 5:00pm – 9:30pm
Newsletter/Review
We issue a bi-monthly newsletter free to all members, additionally have available for loan the quarterly Review
issued by the National Square dance Society of Australia
Visit our Square Dancing website:
http://ezsquarescaboolture.weebly.com
Or
E.Z Square Facebook Page
E.Z. Squares Dance Club Inc.
Governing Bodies
All recognized clubs encourage members to become individual members of the Queensland Square Dance Society.
This entity runs three annual events per year. These events are usually hosted by a club somewhere within the Queensland boundaries. A National body oversees Australian Square dancing, hosting an Annual National Convention, in a different State each year. Rounds and Clogging also have their Governing Bodies.
E.Z. Squares Yearly Events
- Social Events
- Party Nights with a theme on months with 5 Tuesdays
- Visits to other Clubs
- Our combined Birthday/Graduation - November
- Christmas Party Dance - December
- Our Christmas Function for the whole club.