Articles -- Informative - Dancer Hints and Handouts

A Guide to Learning Western Square Dancing for Traditional Dancers www.dosado.com by William B. Ackerman
About Festivals www.mixed-up.com by Charleen Bunjiovianna: You might want to try a weekend festival!
Advice for Angels www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle: The success of the class depends as much on the attitude of the club as on the talent of the students.
Club Duties and Responsibilities www.penrod-sq-dancing.com
Dancing and Studying Hints www.ceder.net by Vic Ceder reprinted from The Ceder Chest of A1 and A2, C1 and C2, and C3A and C3B Square Dance Definitions books.: A list of dancing and studying hints made available through Vic & Debbie's published definition book series, the Ceder Chest of Square Dance Definitions. This material is copyrighted.
Don't cry over broken squares...fix them! www.danceinfo.org by Allan Hurst: Ever danced in a square that suddenly broke down? Ever wish there was a way to fix things and keep on dancing with the rest of the hall? Take heart - this article illustrates several different ways to keep on dancing!
Everything About Dancing That Nobody Ever Talks About www.prismnet.com by Dave Goldman
Good Contra and Square Dancing Defined www.io.com by Paul Tyler
Ground Rules for Square Dancing www.penrod-sq-dancing.com: Ten rules to help enjoy dancing.
Hand Positioning www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle
Handholds - Why and How www.dosado.com by Orlo Hoadley
Helpful Dancing Tips by Debi Bliss: A few tips on improving dancing.
Helping in a square fortytwo.ws by Clark Baker: The issue of unsolicited helping while square dancing is very complex. The net gain from helping a square (the gains from getting more material minus the loss due to ill will and bad feelings) may not be as large as you think.
Lost Squares www.squaredancecalgary.com reprinted from Callerlab press release March 2002: A recommended procedure for returning to dancing once a square has broken down.
Rules of Square Dancing by Tom Gray: Square Dancing made easy with 13 rules.
Some Square Dance Jargon www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle
Square Dance Angels www.penrod-sq-dancing.com reprinted from NSDCA, Minnesota: Simple rules for class angels.
Square Dance Attire www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle
Square Dance Etiquette www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle: Here are a few tips on square dance behavior--customs peculiar to square dancing, as well as common sense reminders to respect your fellow dancers.
Square Dancing Etiquette Revisited by Charles Young: When we were introduced to BASIC level square dancing, we were presented with a list of the "10 Basic Rules of Square Dancing Etiquette" which included items like "Always use a deodorant" and "Don't drink before attending a dance." After many years of dancing, we have additional items to add to the list, based on observations of behavior that is questionable.
Suggestions for Square Dancers www.penrod-sq-dancing.com: Square dancing etiquette, expectations, and recommendations.
Swinging Tips www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle: How to "Swing your Partner".
Ten Commandments for Square Dancing www.penrod-sq-dancing.com
The Joy of Angelling www.danceinfo.org by Allan Hurst: Being a club angel: what's in it for you? Some of the answers in this article may surprise you. (Keep in mind that even students with only a couple of months under their belts, can benefit from angelling a new Basic class.) There have been excellent articles on how to angel, and on appropriate behavior for both angels and students in a square dance class. Rather than discuss how to angel, let's examine why it's important for dancers to angel.
The Pleasure Principle www.squaredance.bc.ca by F. William Chickering: A Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Square Dance Behavior.
What Makes a Good Dancer www.mixed-up.com by Bill van Melle: There is more to square dancing than just knowing the calls.