Square Dance is an American folk dance.
In square dancing, four couples stand opposite each other in a square and wait for the caller to call out. The figures to be danced are announced by the dance master (caller) and are always rearranged. This is what makes square dancing so interesting, because no two dance rounds are the same.
Once you have learned the 70 or so basic figures, you can dance along immediately, as square dancing is taught and danced in the same way all over the world. “It is called in English, the calls are the same internationally and you can dance at any club or festival around the world. Knowledge of English is good, but not necessary – there are many square dancers around the world who do not speak English.
All you need is a love of movement, a sense of community and a good mood. No dancing skills are required. Everyone can join in and is welcomed as a friend. Square dancers come from all professions and social classes. However, there are certain rules that everyone must adhere to, such as regular training, concentration when dancing and respect for fellow dancers. If a dancer is not careful, the square “collapses”. It is therefore also first-class concentration training, togetherness and a social, community-building event.
Round Dance is originally an American form of ballroom dancing – a couple’s dance in which the dancing couples perform the dance steps simultaneously along the edge of the dance floor to the step announcements of the dance leader (cuer, cuerin). Depending on the dance floor, the resulting shape can look circular. This is where the term “round” comes from.
Round dance is choreographed ballroom dancing, but no dances are learned by heart. The cuer announces the dance steps to the music shortly before the dance is performed. There are many different rhythms: Bolero, Cha Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Jive, Mambo, Merengue, Paso Doble, Quickstep, Rumba, Samba, Slow Two Step, Tango Two Step, Waltz, West Coast Swing and a few more. Cuen offers certain advantages: The leader doesn’t have to constantly think about which figure to lead (dance) next. And the follower does not have to worry about not recognizing the lead. Because the dance leader announces each figure and guides the couple through the choreography, the couple can concentrate on the steps and enjoy the music.