Sashay RVA
Image Source: Ozark County Times
Do you remember those awkward moments in PE class when you had to learn to do si do and sashay? I grew up in a place where dancing was essential to your being, and whether you grabbed your grandma or your wife, you can be sure you’d be on the dance floor before the night is over. From what I know now, these days, Square Dancing is no longer taught in PE and I wondered how alive this tradition is these days. It seems like the tradition of people dancing together has become obsolete, unless you’re donning leather over at Fallout or waltzing the night away at some cotillion, the act of dancing cheek to cheek or hand to hand is hard to find.
So what is square dancing? Square dancing is a traditional American folk dance with European roots brought over by the settlers and then modified over time with the intermingling of different cultures. It consists of four couples fitting into the corners of a square. Usually square dancing is associated with country folk, but these traditional dances primary stem from Scottish/Irish, French and English origins. There are many types of square dances depending on what region you live in and in Virginia, Square Dance was designated as the official folk dance in 1991.
Square Dancing is made up of different “calls” from “callers”. Callers shout or sing out the instructions to the dancers to follow and often entertain the crowd. Here are a few calls you may or may not have heard of, but are most common:
Circle Left: All eight dancers join hands and walk in a left circle
Allemande Left: Everyone face their corner, take a left forearm with their corner and circles around until they are facing their partners again, Drop arms.
Do Si Do: Face your partner, step past each other passing right shoulders and without turning around step back to back then back up passing left shoulders until you are in front of your partner again.
Promenade: Couples in a skater's position, men on the ladies left side, and slightly behind her, take hands and walk together in a counterclockwise circle until you reach your home position. (Starting Position)
Swing: Couples in a ballroom dance position, circling in a clockwise direction a full 360 degrees or until facing the line of dance. Man twirls the lady under his arm to finish the swing.
Weave the Ring: Everyone face their partner and walk forward in a circle formation passing each other with alternating shoulders, starting with the right. Stop when you get to your partner.
Here’s a little video presentation from RVA Squares featuring Grant Hunnicut as the Caller.
I was actually surprised to find some Square Dance clubs here in RVA and now my interest is peaked. It may not be 7th grade PE, but looks and sounds like a good time. If you are interested in promenading into one of these groups, here are a few suggestions around town.