What is square dancing? Dancers sometimes speak of it as friendship set to music, an enjoyable pastime, a fun way to exercise. It is much more. In the formative years of this nation, people worked hard during the week helping each other build homes and farms and towns. And after a week of labor and struggle, they celebrated together with a square dance. Square dancing began as and continues to be a model of community. A square is a picture of neighbors coming together to help each other overcome a challenge. The other dancers in your square are your neighbors. A square is a team. The objective is to be a team player. If everyone works together and helps others who are struggling, the team succeeds. Your corner is like a next door neighbor, there to help and be helped. From your perspective, he or she is the most important person in the square. Of course, everyone in the square is someone's corner. Everyone is important. The calls to which we dance are pictures of neighbors interacting with each other in everyday issues of life. We walk together, separate, join hands, circle in unity, and when all is said and done, we promenade "home" with our partner. And so square dancing is more than just a pastime. It is a model of community, an institution of American heritage, a picture of people working together to face and overcome challenges and issues of life. Few would disagree that today's challenges are greater than ever before. And so is the continuing need for square dancing. Over the years, square dancing has followed trends in culture. Modern square dancing reflects the American culture of today, with new trends in music, calls, and attire. | 
