The very first square I ever called was "First Night Quadrille" for a monthly contra dance.

For a crowd with mostly new dancers or inexperienced with squares crowd I like to use “A simple Square” or “Sheehans Reel”. They are lots of fun.

All of these are in the New England Dancing Masters books.

When I call squares for a regular contra dance these days, I like to do southern style squares, for a variety of reasons, I like them better.

I started out calling contras back in 1998, but these days, I’m am mostly calling modern western squares on a weekly basis.

When practicing the squares, practice the walk thru just as much as you practice actually calling it and the delivery of the calls.

When practicing the walk thru, walk it as one of the dancers and walk it for each of the different dancers so you can feel it.

When you call it, visualize the movement of the dancers and follow a single dancer in your head, for example, the number 1 man.

You will want to learn to remember his partner and it’s helpful to know his corner too.

Practice until it all flows naturally and sounds natural too, not memorized like a robot.

I can’t agree more and stress enough what Tom said about learning to watch a key couple now, as you call contras/ECD. Make that a priority. It is vital to calling squares. It is a skill that I am still working on, a skill that is one of my big weaknesses, after all these years.

From: <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of "Tom Hinds twhinds@earthlink.net [trad-dance-callers]" <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com>
Reply-To: <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, February 1, 2016 at 9:29 AM
To: <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [trad-dance-callers] Request starter squares ("Of course everybody knows this dance")

John,

I applaud you for taking an interest in calling squares. The type/
particular square that you should call depends on the situation.

For newish dancers I like a very simple visiting couple square like
couple one bow and swing, visit couple 2 circle left, visit couple 3
circle left etc.

First night Quadrille is a good one to do with many different groups.

But before calling your first square I suggest you do a significant
amount of work so that you're prepared. Better to be over prepared
than under. There's much more you need to know when calling a square
when compared to calling a contra.

CDSS carries a large number of books, recordings and other resources
that will interest you. Bob Dalsemer published a book on calling NE
Quadrilles and I have one on Calling NE Squares.

Your library may have some books that contain some useful information
and material. I've gotten tons of dances from various libraries.

There must be tons of square dances on youtube.

If you have the time, take some beginning lessons that the MWSD folks
offer and steal every routine and combination that you can. Just
visit once and you'll learn tons. You won't benefit from the classes
latter in the year because of the difficulty level but the early
lessons (not the very first couple) will give you a good background.

When you go dancing carry a recorder with you and record others with
their permission of course.

The technique that you want to develop if you haven't already is to
go cardless AND watch the dancers very carefully. When you call a
contra or ECD, notice who's paired with who and follow them while
they dance. You still need to watch everyone else so alternate
between your main couple and the crowd. This skill will pay off when
calling a square and in my opinion is a requirement. Watching the
dancers in this way is incredibly easy to do but at the same time
impossible! You have to remember to do it while performing all of
the other things that callers need to do. More juggling!!!!

Tom