Square Dance Draft

Join Us To Square Dance, Weekly At Riderwood

Lessons Begin With A Free OPEN House

Watch this video to see why so many residents square dance at Riderwood since 2002:

• Visit us Wednesday mornings in Studio 1 (Wellness Center, 2^nd Floor) between 10:15 AM to 11:50 AM.
• Send us an email to tell us of your interest.
• Talk with one of our dozens of square dancers

Learn To Square Dance at Riderwood

We welcome beginners (or to refresh your experience from decades ago).
We teach you the calls and pair you with an experienced partner (or, bring your own partner. Singles or couples, men and women, come!)
Want to try? Join us for a no-risk Open House, FREE for first-time dancers to discover square dance at Riderwood is fun, health-improving, and social. You will be square dancing within the first hour!
Lessons for beginners start with the FREE Open House. Email us now at squaredance@riderwoodlife.com so we alert you to our next Open House, FREE for beginners.

Beginners: Our Introductory Approach, Over 8 Consecutive Weeks

Lessons – Our introductory lessons for beginners come in three parts:

1. Start with 1-hour on 8 consecutive Wednesday mornings to learn the foundation calls, helped by experienced Riderwood dancers. You are familiar with some calls – Dosado; Circle Left; Forward and Back; Swing Your Partner; and Promenade. Veteran East Coast caller Kenny Farris sings, provides music you recognize, and teaches.
2. Reinforce your instruction on 8 Monday nights with a 1-hour relaxed-pace, no-music practice, led by residents who have square danced for years. Experienced dancers partner with our beginners to review the calls.
3. Review at home at your pace in your free moments. Video demonstrations, with explanations of the calls, are available for free on the Internet through your computer or phone.

Cost – The fee for the 8 consecutive hour-long lessons on Wednesday morning and reviews on Monday nights is $40, payable following the FREE Open House for first-time dancers. (This entire fee goes to our caller/teacher, non-refundable after the first lesson. No credit for a missed session.)
Participants limited – The number of beginners enrolled is limited to pair our experienced dancers as partners. Beginners are enrolled based on date of payment. Reserve a spot at any time. (If too many enroll, priority is given for the next introductory lessons.)

Following the Introductory Lessons, More Calls

When the introductory lessons conclude, beginners will have been taught 25 to 30 square dance calls. There’s more to learn in the weeks that follow.
The Wednesday morning lessons and Monday night reviews continue. The online video demonstrations support the learning.
Cost – Each subsequent Wednesday morning dance costs $5, all of which goes to the caller. The reviews on Monday night and the online videos are free.
Participation – The more regularly you attend, the faster you will enjoy and be comfortable on the dance floor. We know absences occur – appointments, vacations, illnesses, care giving. Be sensitive, please, to those who regularly attend who desire to master and progress to more calls rather than to repeat calls missed because of an absence. Study the online videos at home; attend the reviews on Monday nights.

Success! Square Dance On . . . After Lessons

With the completion of beginner lessons, your square dance repertoire will keep growing. Dance every Wednesday morning to calls you have been taught.

Our Square Dance Schedule at Riderwood (Effective September 9, 2026) Wednesday Mornings, Studio 1, Wellness Center, 2nd Floor Instruction and Dance, Called by Kenny Farris, $5/dance 10:15 AM – 11 AM – Experienced (Post-beginners) 11 AM – 12 Noon – Beginners, with experienced partners [Summer Wednesday morning schedule below] Monday Evenings, Chesapeake Room (downstairs), Montgomery Station Practice/Review led by residents (no music, no fee) 7 PM – 8 PM – Review for Beginners, with experienced partners Summer Wednesday Mornings 10:15 AM – Noon – Everyone dances together for 90+ minutes (Schedule subject to change, based on room availability)

Quick References – Click a highlighted link to help you square dance

Email to Riderwood Square Dance at squaredance@riderwoodlife.com
“Time to Square Up”, Riderwood Reporter, Sept. 2, 2024
“New Year’s Resolution: Start to Dance”, Riderwood Reporter, Jan. 8, 2024
“Eleven Residents Graduate Square Dance”, Riderwood Reporter, July 7, 2025
“Square Up for Beginner Lessons”, Riderwood Reporter, Aug. 25, 2025
“Try Square Dancing for Beginners”, Riderwood Reporter, Feb. 2, 2026
“Square Dance Welcomes Latest Grads”, Riderwood Reporter, July 12, 2026

Square Dance Calls and Families (Mainstream) Taught at Riderwood, with Links (Click) to Demonstration Videos

        Get Started Here:
                   Who’s Who in the Square – Head, Side, Man (Left of) Woman
                   Movement and Orientation – Square, facing walls, partner, corner
                   Forward and Back – move ahead and return
                   Make Lines – For breakdown of square
                   Thank You – At end of each dance set
This a list of Mainstream calls taught at Riderwood as designated by CallerLab, the square dance caller association, as of Sept. 1, 2026. The video lessons are courtesy of North Shore Squares, Evanston, Ill.

Square Dance Calls (Mainstream) Taught at Riderwood (Alphabetical), with Links (Click) to Demonstration Videos

Alamo Style / Balance	Promenade – Wrong Way Promenade
Allemande Left/RIght	Recycle (From Waves Only)
Backtrack	Reverse Flutterwheel (Men)
Bend the Line	Right and Left Grand
Box the Gnat	Right/Left Arm Turns
California Twirl	Right and Left Thru
Cast Off ¾	Roll Away
Centers In	Run / Cross Run
Chain – Ladies /(As Designated) Chain Across / Ladies Chain 3/4	Scoot Back
Chain- All Four Ladies Chain / All Four Ladies Chain 3/4	Separate
Chain Down the Line	Separate Around 1 or 2 to a Line
Circle Left / Right (1/4,1/2,3/4,Full)	Separate Around 1 or 2 and Go into the Middle
Circle of 4 Left/Right (1/4,1/2,3/4,Full)	Single Circle Left/Right (1/4,1/2,3/4,Full)
Circulate – Couples	Single Circle to a Wave
Circulate (Named Dancers)	Slide Thru
Circulate – All 8	Spin the Top
Circulate – Single File (Column)	Split Two
Circulate – Split	Star Thru
Courtesy Turn	Stars (Right / Left)
Dive Thru	Star Promenade
Dosado	Step to a Wave (and calls that follow a Wave)
Dosado to a Wave	Square the Set
Double Pass Thru	Square Thru (4,3,2) / Left Square Thru (4,3,2)
Extend	Sweep a Quarter
Ferris Wheel	Swing Your Partner
First Couple Go Left (or Right); Next Couple (Other)	Swing Thru / Left Swing Thru
Flutterwheel (Women)	Tag the Line (In / Out / Left / Right) / Tag the Line (All the Way) animation
Forward and Back	Tag the Line [Fraction] (¼, ½, ¾) and Half Tag the Line animation
Fold / Cross Fold	Touch a Quarter
Grand Square	Trade – Couples Trade
Half Sashay	Trade by Designated Dancers (e.g. Women, Men, Centers, Ends)
Hinge – Single	Trade By Right Hand / Trade By Left Hand
Hinge – Couple	Trade By
Ladies In, Men Sashay	U-Turn Back
Lead Right / Lead Left	Veer Right / Veer Left
Partner Trade	Weave the Ring
Pass the Ocean	Wheel and Deal
Pass Thru	Wheel Around / Reverse Wheel Around
Promenade – Couples Promenade / Promenade Halfway	Wrong Way Grand
Promenade – Single File Promenade	Zoom

        Get Started Here:
                   Who’s Who in the Square – Head, Side, Man (Left of) Woman
                   Movement and Orientation – Square, facing walls, partner, corner
                   Forward and Back – move ahead and return
                   Make Lines – For breakdown of square
                   Thank You – At end of each dance set
This a list of Mainstream calls taught at Riderwood as designated by CallerLab, the square dance caller association, as of Sept. 1, 2026. The video lessons are courtesy of North Shore Squares, Evanston, Ill.