History of Square and Round Dancing
This article goes back to dance in Primitive Societies and traces the path of dancing forward though the May Games of the Middle Ages including Morris Dancers, Church Choral Dancing, the GErman Allemande, English Longways Dancing, French Contredanse, the Austrian Landler that developed into the Waltz, the Bohemian Polka, the Varsouvienne from Poland, and the French Quadrille.
We cross the ocean and continue in North America with the melding of these dances as settlers spread across the New World. It discusses the influence of Henry Ford and Lloyd Shaw in the development of Modern Square Dancing and the many new Round dance rhythms of the 20th century. Finally it traces the changes brought by modern technology after World War II and the explosion of new round dance rhythms.
Nova Scotia History
This article discusses the development of modern square and round dancing in Nova Scotia.
Between Tip Articles
Until its recent demise, the Federation Newsletter Between Tips regularly reported recent dance events and included tributes to dancers, leaders and clubs. It also had occasional historical articles about Nova Scotia dancing or dancers. Here is a quick index with links to the longer articles.
Nova Scotia Club History
This is a quick summary of all known square and round dance clubs that have danced in Nova Scotia. They are sorted by region.
Nova Scotia Provincial Festivals
Provincial Festivals have been held in Nova Scotia during the summer of odd numbered years since 1983.
| Year | Region | Location
| 1983 | South Shore | Shelburne
| 1985 | Cape Breton | Sydney
| 1987 | Central | Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax
| 1989 | Valley | Acadia University, Wolfville
| 1991 | Fundy | Glengarry Best Western, Truro
| 1993 | Highland | Saint Francis Xavier University, Antigonish
| 1995 | South Shore | Bridgewater
| 1997 | Cape Breton | Sydney
| 1999 | Central | Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax
| 2001 | Valley | Old Orchard Inn
| 2003 | Fundy | Glengarry Best Western, Truro
| 2005 | South Shore | Burridge Community College, Yarmouth
| 2007 | Central | Cole Harbour Place
| |
|---|
Canadian National Conventions
Canadian National Conventions have been held during the summer of even numbered years since 1978. Halifax welcomed dancers from across Canada and around the world during the summer of 1982 and again in 1994. Plans are being laid for a third such event in 2010.