If you arrive at the McBaine City Community Center at 6:45 p.m. on a second Friday, you'll hear it before you see it: the scrape of leather soles on the wooden floor, the tuning of a fiddle, and caller Jim Harrelson's voice warming up the room. For twelve years, Jim has been turning nervous first-timers into confident dancers at "Beginner Boots & Bows." This guide will get you ready to join them.
What Is Square Dancing in McBaine?
Square dancing is a folk tradition where four couples arrange themselves in a square, each couple facing the center. A caller leads the dancers through sequences of steps, usually set to live fiddle-and-guitar music. McBaine's local style leans Western square dance—fast-paced, friendly, and forgiving of mistakes. No partner? No problem. Regulars rotate squares to make sure newcomers always have a place.
3 Steps Every Beginner Needs
Not all steps are equally easy. Start with these three, ranked from simplest to most physically demanding.
1. Promenade (Easiest)
Partners join right hands at shoulder height—the man's right hand holding the woman's right hand, or a palm-to-palm grip in gender-neutral squares—and walk forward side by side, facing the same direction. You'll move counter-clockwise around the outside of the square. Think of it as a victory lap: relaxed, social, and a chance to catch your breath between more complex figures.
2. Do-Si-Do (Moderate)
Two dancers approach each other, pass left shoulders, circle back-to-back in a clockwise direction, and return to home position without turning around. The key is the back-to-back pass: you should be close enough to feel the movement but not so close that you collide. Keep your eyes forward, not on your partner, to avoid dizziness.
3. Swing Your Partner (Most Active)
Face your partner, join both hands, and rotate together in a small, quick circle. Bend your elbows to create a stable frame, and let your feet do small, shuffling steps rather than large pivots. If you're prone to dizziness, spot a fixed point on the wall or ask your partner to slow the rotation. This step is where square dancing feels most joyful—and where beginners most often lose their balance, so pace yourself.
How to Master the Rhythms
Square dancing runs on 8-beat phrases. The caller delivers instructions during one phrase, and you execute them during the next. Here are three concrete ways to internalize that timing before your first dance:
- Clap it out: Listen to any fiddle tune in 4/4 time and clap on beats 1, 3, 5, and 7. Most calls land on the off-beats, so feeling those gaps helps you anticipate instructions.
- Practice the Allemande left waltz rhythm: If you encounter a waltz-tempo tip, the 3-beat measure means your turns complete faster. Try stepping in a small circle at home to a 3/4 recording.
- Arrive early for the walkthrough: Jim Harrelson leads a free 30-minute walkthrough before every Beginner Boots & Bows night. You'll practice the night's calls without music, then dance them with the band.
What to Expect at Your First Dance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where and when? | McBaine City Community Center, 512 Elm Street. Every second Friday, 7–9 p.m. |
| How much? | $5 at the door; your first night is free. |
| Do I need a partner? | No. The community rotates dancers so everyone participates. |
| What should I wear? | Comfortable clothes and smooth-soled shoes. Avoid rubber soles—they grip the floor too tightly and strain your knees. |
| What kind of calling will I hear? | Mostly "singing calls," where the instructions are sung to a familiar tune. Later in the evening, Jim may switch to "hash calling": rapid-fire spoken instructions for experienced dancers. Beginners are welcome to sit out hash tips and watch. |
Why McBaine Dancers Keep Coming Back
Square dancing here is less about perfection and more about connection. You'll remember the steps eventually, but you'll remember the person who caught you when you turned the wrong way, or the stranger who became your corner partner, long after the music stops.
Lace up your dancing shoes and stop by 512 Elm Street this Friday. The floor is open, the fiddle is tuned, and Jim's already got your square waiting.
*Next up: the history of square dancing in McBaine City—from its 1920s barn-dance roots to the modern community
