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P.O. Box 541 ● Prescott, Arizona 86302 Email:  info@Mile-HiSquares.org Last Updated Friday, April 06, 2012

Contacts

Lessons will be held at the Humbolt Unified School District

Dances will be held at the Washington School

The Annual Festival will be held at the Grace Sparks Activity Center (Old Armory)

Classes

SEPTEMBER THRU APRIL

Lots of New Friends - Fun - Great Exercise

Lessons will be held at the Humboldt Unified School District ● 6411 North Robert Road (Fain Intersection) ● Prescott Valley ● Arizona (Please Park in back and enter through the Cafeteria).  Classes will begin on Thursday, September 15th, 2011 with Beginners:  6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. and Plus 7:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.  Please phone either Carol 928-717-2471 or Mary 928-830-5523 for more details on lessons.    Families welcome.

Caller/Teacher

Bob Jones

Surprise, Arizona

824 East Gurley Street • Prescott, Arizona

Wood Floor
 

Humbolt Unified School District

 6411 North Robert Road (Fain Intersection)

Prescott Valley ● Arizona

Courthouse Plaza

120 South Cortez Street • Prescott, Arizona

(Corner of Gurley Street and Montezuma Ave)

(No Dance if it rains)

Club History

The origins of Square Dancing in Prescott go back almost to the city’s beginnings.  The initial formal group was called the “Post Card Squares” and consisted of 16 couples or 4 squares.  The name was changed in 1947 to the “Hoedowners.”   In 1948, they began performing on the Prescott Court House Square to live music.  In 1949, the club became the “Mile High Hoedowners” and established their annual “Spring Fling Jamboree”.  Their activities became so well known that in 1950 the square dancers traveled to Skull Valley for the making of the movie “Santa Fe”.  Skull Valley became ‘Dodge City’ and square dancing was part of the big celebration of the building of the railroad to Dodge City.  The club was paid $500 for their participation in the making of the movie.  A second club was started in 1952, calling itself the “Whipple Square Dance Club” and then the “Whiffle Tree Square Dance Club.”  In 1970, the two clubs joined together to become what is now known as the ‘Mile High Square Dance Club, Inc., a non-profit organization, who, in cooperation with  Prescott’s  Recreational Services, sponsors square dance lessons and the annual Spring Jamboree.  In 2010 the Mile-High Square Dance club is celebrating its 65^th year.

Square Dance History

Square dance is an American institution.  It has been our "official national folk dance" since President Reagan signed an act of Congress in 1982.  Square dance is a folk dance with four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square and initially done to live music.  The square dance movements are based on the steps and figures used in traditional folk dances and social dances of the various people who migrated to the USA.  The dances done in early America did not have a “caller,” or someone who yells out the moves to dancers, like square dancing today.  Without the announcing systems of today, in each group, there would be at least one extrovert, the hail-fellow-well-met, the life-of-the-party type, with a knack for remembering the dance figures. With typical Yankee ingenuity, the settlers let this person cue or prompted dancers in case they happened to forget what came next.  Late in the 19^th century square dancing was replaced by couple’s dances like waltzes and polkas in city ballrooms. But square dancing still thrived in rural areas.  In the early 1920’s, Henry Ford became interested in the revival of square dancing as a part of his early New England restoration project.  He promoted it among his factory workers and their families. Mr. Ford sponsored square dance programs in many schools. Square dancing was also brought to numerous college and university campuses at Mr. Ford's expense. He thought having square dancing in schools helped children learn manners, exercise, values and grace. Ford sponsored a Sunday radio program that was broadcast nationwide.  Square dance especially expanded in the decade following W.W.II. Many American GIs had been introduced to square dancing at USO cantinas. After the war ended, large numbers of them turned to square dancing in pursuit of wholesome recreational activity.  Around the 1950s modern square dancing was standardized. Lessons, which are still taught today, comprise of 69 standard moves. When the Western attire of slacks and petticoats became the norm, it was considered casual compared to the formal tuxedoes and ballroom gowns of the time.  Today dancing attire is even more casual with men often wearing jeans and women prairie skirts.  Today, there are thousands of square dance clubs located in nearly every community of America. Visiting other clubs has become a major aspect. Square dancing is an excellent example of an authentic American folk custom. Its rural origins are vague, and its development and diffusion are difficult to trace.  Square dancing remains a solid and enduring piece of American folk tradition. As dancers themselves are fond of saying, "Square dancing is friendship set to music."   Square dancing is done in many countries around the world, but where ever it is held, the calls are always in English!