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 Pretoria Promenaders

Join in the fun and friendship of Square Dancing
Suitable for couples, families and singles
Introductory Course for Square Dancing
Every Tuesday Evening Time: 19:30 to 22:00
Monthly Fee R25 per person
Students Free

Square-dancing originated in the latter half of the nineteenth century in the New England states of the U.S.A. It spread throughout the world and is now also very popular in Germany, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands amongst other countries.

Professional callers are used to call the movements of which there are approximately 4800 although roughly only about two hundred and fifty are in common use. In South Africa we do not have any registered callers but use CDs and tapes of the calls and music. In this country there are only three clubs: "Pretoria Promenaders" and "Oklahomans" in Pretoria and "Shindig Squares" in Benoni.

The dancing is done with "squares" of 4 couples - two "heads" and two "sides". The callerr calls moves that the dancers have learned.  The calls are often interspersed in the words of popular songs.  The music is recorded or provided by some kind of orchestra and is typically of a Country and Western character.

The degrees of difficulty are graded as Basic, Mainstream, Plus, Advanced 1, Advanced 2, Challenge 1 and Challenge 2. In South Africa about 95% of the time only Basic, Mainstream, and Plus are used.

Barn Dancing uses the same calls and style but is not limited to squares of four couples.  It is very popular for parties for all ages.