If you've ever tapped your foot to the steady rhythm of a fiddle and wondered what it would feel like to move with the music, Topton City has an answer waiting for you. Square dancing here isn't just a nostalgic pastime—it's a living tradition that fills the community hall on Friday nights, brings neighbors together, and welcomes newcomers with open arms. Whether you're lacing up your dance shoes for the first time or returning to the floor after years away, this guide will help you understand the steps, find your place in the community, and experience square dancing the Topton way.
What Is Square Dancing?
At its core, square dancing is a social dance form featuring four couples arranged in a square, each couple facing the center. A caller leads the dancers through a sequence of movements, often set to live fiddle, banjo, or guitar music. The caller doesn't just announce steps—they shape the energy of the dance, matching their instructions to the tempo and mood of the song.
Unlike choreographed dance styles, square dancing is improvised in the moment. You don't memorize routines ahead of time. Instead, you learn a vocabulary of moves and respond to the caller's directions as they come. That combination of structure and spontaneity is what makes it so engaging.
Basic Square Dance Steps Every Beginner Should Know
These four moves form the foundation of nearly every square dance. Practice them until they feel natural, and you'll be ready for anything a Topton caller throws your way.
Do-Si-Do
Face your partner and step forward, passing right shoulders. Continue around each other back-to-back, then pass left shoulders as you return to your starting position. No hands are needed for this one—just smooth, confident footwork and awareness of your partner's position.
Swing Your Partner
Take a ballroom dance hold or link elbows with your partner. Using a buzz step—small, quick steps in place—rotate together smoothly. The lead provides gentle guidance, and the follow matches the momentum. The swing is one of the most joyful moments in any square dance, so relax into it and let the music carry you.
Promenade
Partners join hands with the right hand on top and the left hand underneath, at chest height. Walk forward together in a clockwise direction around the square, maintaining a smooth, matching stride. The promenade is your chance to catch your breath, smile at your partner, and prepare for the next figure.
Allemande Left
Give your left hand to your partner's left hand. Walk a half-circle around each other, keeping a slight tension in the arms for control, then return to your home position. Despite its French name, this move is straightforward once you've tried it a few times.
Advanced Moves for Confident Dancers
Once the basics feel automatic, you'll start encountering more complex figures. These moves add variety, challenge, and visual excitement to the dance.
Star Through
Two dancers face each other and form a brief star shape by joining right hands. One dancer then ducks under the joined hands while the other steps around, allowing both to pass through to new positions. Precise timing is essential—all eight dancers in the square may be executing star throughs simultaneously.
Right and Left Through
Two couples face each other across the square. The dancers on the right pass each other by the right shoulder, then wheel around to pass the opposite dancer by the left shoulder, ending in exchanged positions. This move creates a satisfying, flowing momentum that ripples through the entire square.
Square Dancing in Topton City: Where to Go
Topton City isn't just a backdrop for this article—it's a place where square dancing genuinely thrives. Here's where locals gather to dance.
Topton Community Hall
The heart of the local scene. On the first Friday of every month, the hall opens its doors for beginner-friendly dances with instruction built into the evening. No partner or experience is required. Wear comfortable shoes with smooth soles, and arrive a few minutes early to meet the caller.
Jim Hargrove, Topton's Legendary Caller
Jim Hargrove has been calling square dances in Topton City for more than two decades. Known for his patience with newcomers and his encyclopedic knowledge of traditional figures, Jim teaches weekly beginner classes on Tuesday evenings at the community hall. Many longtime dancers credit him with getting them through their nervous first nights on the floor.
Topton Fall Fiddle Festival
Each October, the annual Fall Fiddle Festival draws musicians and dancers from across the region. The weekend features square dance exhibitions, open dances for all skill levels, and workshops on Appalachian fiddle styles. For many Topton residents, this festival marks the highlight of the social calendar.
What to Expect as a Newcomer
Walking into a square dance for the first time can feel intimidating, but Topton's community is famously welcoming. Here's what you should know before you
