Square dancing is a fun, social, and energizing activity that brings people together through movement, music, and rhythm. Whether new to square dancing or looking to improve your skills, learning simple square dance steps is the perfect way to get started and make every dance enjoyable. The key to mastering square dance is understanding the basic moves and how they flow with the music. In this guide, we’ll explain the essential square dance steps instructions to help you confidently step onto the dance floor.
Why Square Dancing is Great for Beginners
Square dancing is a fantastic way to engage your mind and body. It combines choreographed steps with partner interaction and group formations, making it enjoyable and rewarding. What makes square dancing especially appealing to beginners is that it’s highly structured and repetitive, making it easy to learn once you’ve grasped the basics.
The music plays a massive role in square dancing, setting the tempo, rhythm, and mood for every move. Understanding music for square dancing can make following the steps natural and fun. Each tune follows a pattern that helps dancers know when to move, spin, or turn. So, let’s dive into the basics and get you on the dance floor confidently!
Essential Square Dance Steps Instructions
Before you start, it’s important to note that square dancing typically involves groups of eight dancers—four couples working together as a square. The formation, the calls from a caller, and the music for square dancing all come together to guide you through the dance. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of some simple square dance steps to get you moving:
- The Basics – Promenade Step
The promenade is often the first step that sets the rhythm for square dancing. It’s usually the starting point and involves walking in a circular motion around the dance floor with your partner.
- Instructions:
Promenade: The promenade involves walking in a circle around the square with your partner in a skaters’ position. Dancers’ left hands are joined in front, with the woman’s left hand, palm down, resting on the man’s left hand, palm up. Right hands are similarly joined with the man’s right forearm over the woman’s left forearm. The promenade should feel smooth and continuous. Focus on matching your partner’s pace.
- The Circle
The circle is a fun and easy introductory move that helps dancers get used to moving together.
- Instructions:
Circle: Dancers join hands with adjacent dancers to form a circle and move the circle in the indicated direction, or to the left if no direction was given. The amount to circle may be a specified distance (for example, “Circle Left 1/2 Way”) or until the next command is given (for example, “Circle Left … Circle Right”).
- Right and Left Thru
This move introduces basic turns and crossing patterns, essential building blocks in square dancing.
- Instructions:
- With your partner, move in a straight line toward another couple (moving in one direction).
- Dancers extend right hands to each other, and perform a Pass Thru action, releasing handholds as they pass each other.
- Dancers then perform a Courtesy Turn with their partners.
- Stay in sync with the music, guiding you through the timing.
- Dosado
The Dosado is a well-known square dance move that involves facing dancers.
- Instructions:
Walking a smooth circular path, dancers walk forward, passing right shoulders, slide sideways to the right, walk backwards, passing left shoulders, and slide slightly to the left to return to their starting position. This move is excellent for practicing spatial awareness and coordination with the music for square dancing.
- Swing
The swing is one of the most engaging square dance moves, incorporating rhythm and playful interaction between partners.
- Instructions:
- Dancers step forward and slightly to their left, use a ballroom hold, and rotate clockwise as a unit for four or more beats of music. As dancers end the swing, the woman continues turning to her right (unrolling along the man’s right arm) until she is facing the same direction as the man.
- Swing each other gently in a circular motion, maintaining eye contact and flowing together with the beat.
- Keep your arms relaxed, and don’t be afraid to enjoy the moment!
- Promenade Home
This is a final move to bring dancers back to their original starting position after completing a sequence.
- Instructions:
- Walk in a circular motion, leading back to your original position.
- Keep the flow of the promenade steady and in rhythm with the music for square dancing.
- The Grand Square
The grand square is a captivating formation that involves all eight dancers (four couples) in the square.
Instructions:
- The designated dancers turn to face their partner. All dancers then perform the following series of steps, each of which takes one beat of music.
- Step (count 1), Step (count 2), Step (count 3), Step-Turn In (count 4) Step (count 5), Step (count 6), Step (count 7), Step-Turn In (count 8) Step (count 9), Step (count 10), Step (count 11), Step-Turn In (count 12) Step (count 13), Step (count 14), Step (count 15), Step-Pause to Reverse (count 16) Step (count 17), Step (count 18), Step (count 19), Step-Turn In (count 20) Step (count 21), Step (count 22), Step (count 23), Step-Turn In (count 24) Step (count 25), Step (count 26), Step (count 27), Step-Turn In (count 28) Step (count 29), Step (count 30), Step (count 31), Step-You’re Home (count 32)
- At all times during Grand Square, every dancer is facing another dancer either nose-to-nose or across the square. On “Step(1), Step(2), Step(3), Step(4)” dancers who are facing nose-to-nose take 4 steps backwards away from each other. Dancers who are facing across the square take 4 steps forward until they are nose-to nose. On the 4th Step-Turn In dancers turn in place 90 degrees during the step to face another dancer nose-tonose or across the square. Like the other Steps, this takes one beat. This continues for each group of 4 steps. On “Step-Pause to Reverse” dancers take the 4th Step and then prepare to reverse directions without turning. The next “Step” will be in the opposite direction, as dancers start to retrace their steps. On “You’re Home” those dancers designated to “face” at the start of the call face back in, making a squared set. The others take the last (fourth) Step and freeze in place.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Square Dancing
- Listen to the Music: When square dancing, pay attention to the music. The beat will guide you through the steps and help you sync your movements.
- Stay Relaxed: Square dancing is meant to be fun, so keep your movements fluid and relaxed. Tension can make it harder to coordinate with your partner.
- Practice Regularly: The more you practice these square dance steps instructions, the more natural they’ll feel. Don’t rush—take your time to build confidence.
- Watch and Learn: Videos of square dancing are an excellent resource. They provide visual guidance, helping you understand the flow of moves and the tempo of the music.
Conclusion
Square dancing is a joyful and inclusive activity that anyone can enjoy once they’ve learned the basics. Following these simple square dance steps and tuning into the music for square dancing, you’ll soon feel comfortable stepping onto the dance floor and moving in harmony with others. It’s not just about dancing—building connections, expressing joy, and immersing yourself in the lively rhythms that make square dancing unique. So grab a partner, listen to the calls, and let the music for square dancing guide you into a world of fun and movement!