Synopsis
From the founding of America’s dance culture to today’s square dance activity, follow the footsteps back in time to visit with some amazing people and dance events that depict the historical evolution of the modern American square dance. Based on real people and events, the historic stories are very readable and enjoyable style, revealing the lifestyles of those who contributed to bringing the joy of America’s cultural dance to others. You will witness how dance affected the rhythm and lifestyle across the United States and then to foreign countries. It explores pattern dances reflecting on how various dance styles influenced another and the progression of dance. You will experience the expansion across this country and how dance was influenced along the way. You are taken to the Appalachian Mountain area to witness the Kentucky running set and to New England’s quadrilles and contra dances. Memories of past dance experience is visited as its history comes alive through the evolution of dance traditions and a visit with our dance pioneers that influenced and impacted our lives. The time line on the evolution of the American Square Dance begins in Europe to the founding of America, through the Colonial times, the contribution of the African American influence and the western expansion, the depression period, the effect of the World War 11 and the growth that took place with the return of the American soldiers. We visit with George Washington and the political influence that took place at colonial dances, Eleanor Roosevelt dancing during the depression, Jimmy Carter bringing the Modern Western Square dance to the White House. Discover how the square dance brought democracy to Japan. Henry Ford’s efforts in the revival of dance to Lloyd Shaw’s western style impact on square dancing with his high school students Cheyenne Mountain School dancing tours. The building of roads and transportation improvements and the growth of the recording industries along with a proliferation of publications brought about a major growth in people getting together to dance. Dance choreography changes brought about the modern western square dance. Dance events and conventions flourished. You will visit with modern western square dance pioneers Charlie Baldwin, Bob Osgood and Stan and Cathie Burdick. This countries famous animator, Chuck Jones, involvement in square dancing is revealed. This book features many charts and timeline treasures listing movies that featured square dance scenes, square dance halls that came into being across the country and the many different dance gatherings. You will meet some of the women involved in square dancing. You will also visit delightful stories of the Brundage square dance family and the Tirrell round dance family. See how clothing trends followed our dance activity. Today’s Modern Western Square Dance will continue to evolve and change. You will learn what efforts took place to preserve the history of the square dance activity. You will see the background of how round dancing complimented square dancing. Every page brings with it the enthusiasm for dancing. You are taken on an adventure that will broaden your perspective on dance and will make you want to be a part of the future dancing experience. It will please the casual reader, dance leaders and the dancer along with historians with its insight and behind the scene stories. It is the most complete and informative book bringing together all in one place everything you will ever want to know about the pleasures and joy in the human relationship of dance. The historical documentation in this book brings the reader through the past years and creates the opportunity so that the future of social dance can continue to be a contributing factor.
About the Author
Richard Severance and his wife Judy have been in the square dance activity for 45 years. After he graduated from Henniker High School, Henniker, NH, Dick moved to Manchester, NH and living at the YMCA served as an officer of the Y’s Men’s Club. As an employee of the New Hampshire Insurance Co. he became treasurer of their Profile Club and a director in the Manchester Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1981 he was a Jaycee of the Year and in 1982 he was outstanding Jaycee Director and winner of a Speak- Up Jaycee Award. During his time with the Jaycees he received recognition for his leadership and promotional abilities for the Manchester Winter Carnival sponsored by the Jaycees as an annual winter week-long event. During this period of time he honed his leadership skills. Dick met and married his wife Judy and they raised six children. To date they have eight grandchildren. When the children were in their teens they were local teen square dance club advisors. Dick became employed by the Keller Group of Companies and served as the only non-family member of the Board of Directors to the Keller family group of companies. He started as office manager and advanced to become Corporate Treasurer and Secretary. Dick learned his trade in accounting and the legal field through correspondence courses from the LaSalle Extension University and the Blackstone School of Law. He was employed by the Keller Companies for 45 years until his retirement, being involved in every aspect of the business world. Dick and Judy started square dancing in 1971 with the Queen City Promenaders of Manchester, N.H. They have supported the Club as Chairpersons of many events, served a number of times as officers including twice as President. Dick authored and published the club’s membership newsletter for many years. From 1982-90 they served as representative to the Eastern District Square and Round Dance Association (EDSARDA). Dick made numerous educational presentations on club public relations at EDSARDA’s annual club management forums. He also wrote numerous square dance articles starting in 1981. His column titled “Square Beat” appeared in the Northeast Square Dancer magazine along with many other square dance publications. He also wrote a square dance column that appeared in the local newspaper, the Manchester Union Leader. Dick and Judy served in various chair positions for the New England Square and Round Dance Convention, an annual regional event, on four occasions.
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