From Intermediate to Advanced Square Dance: Essential Tips to Level Up Your Skills and Performance
Master the nuances that separate good dancers from truly exceptional ones
You've mastered the basics, you can confidently navigate Mainstream and Plus calls, and you feel comfortable on the dance floor. Now you're ready to take that next leap into advanced square dancing. This transition isn't just about learning more calls—it's about refining your technique, deepening your understanding, and developing the fluidity that makes advanced dancing so exhilarating.
Mastering the Mental Game
Intermediate dancers react to calls; advanced dancers anticipate formations. Start recognizing common sequences and how calls flow together. When you hear Spin the Top, don't just execute the call—visualize the resulting formation and prepare for likely next calls.
Listen to the caller's rhythm and phrasing. Advanced callers often set up specific formations that suggest particular call sequences. The more you dance, the more you'll recognize these patterns. This isn't about anticipating every call, but about understanding the logical flow that makes you prepared for whatever comes next.
Technical Precision and Body Awareness
Advanced dancing requires meticulous attention to technical details that intermediate dancers often overlook:
- Perfect Your Handholds: Maintain consistent, comfortable handholds that provide clear communication without being rigid. Your hands should convey intention to your partner and corner.
- Master Footwork Efficiency: Eliminate extra steps and shuffling. Each movement should be deliberate and economical. Practice smooth transitions between walking and turning motions.
- Develop Spatial Awareness: Always know your position relative to the entire square, not just your immediate partners. This becomes crucial when working with concepts like phantom dancers or asymmetric setups.
Performance Tip: The Art of Smoothness
Watch experienced dancers and notice how they make complex calls look effortless. The secret isn't speed—it's maintaining consistent momentum and avoiding abrupt stops and starts. Practice calls at different tempos to develop this fluidity.
Expanding Your Call Vocabulary Strategically
When moving from Intermediate (Plus) to Advanced levels, it's tempting to try to learn everything at once. Instead, focus on these priority areas:
- Master the Core A-1 and A-2 Lists: These form the foundation of Advanced dancing. Pay special attention to calls that change your facing direction or position in the square.
- Understand Concept Families: Rather than memorizing individual calls in isolation, learn how concepts like Trade, Circulate, or Counter Rotate work across different formations.
- Practice Call Identification: Work on instantly recognizing calls regardless of the caller's accent or calling style. This comes from listening to multiple callers and dancing to different recordings.
Developing Superior Partnership Skills
At advanced levels, your ability to work seamlessly with any partner becomes paramount:
Pay attention to visual cues from your partner's body language, hand pressure, and eye contact. Advanced dancers communicate through subtle physical signals that help prevent misunderstandings and smooth out execution.
Intentionally dance with both newer and more experienced dancers. Helping less experienced partners will improve your own clarity and precision, while dancing with experts will push you to elevate your game.
Mental Preparation and Continuous Learning
Advanced square dancing requires ongoing mental engagement:
- Review with Purpose: After each dance session, mentally review challenging moments. What calls caused confusion? Where did the square break down? This targeted reflection accelerates improvement.
- Study Between Dances: Use square dance apps and online resources to visualize calls and formations between actual dance sessions. Even 10 minutes of daily visualization can significantly improve your recall and execution.
- Attend Workshops and Clinics: Seek out learning opportunities beyond your regular club. Different instructors provide fresh perspectives that can unlock understanding of challenging concepts.
Your Journey to Advanced Dancing
Moving from intermediate to advanced square dancing is one of the most rewarding transitions in the activity. It's where the dance truly comes alive with creativity, connection, and challenge. Remember that progress isn't linear—some days will feel like breakthroughs, others like steps backward. Be patient with yourself, focus on consistent practice, and most importantly, keep the joy in your dancing. The advanced level awaits with new friendships, mental stimulation, and the sheer pleasure of moving in perfect harmony with seven other dancers.
See you on the dance floor!
