Many people have done something that was called Square Dancing when they were at primary school. Unfortunately the material used by most schools has not been updated since the early 50's, so this has little to do with New Square Dancing.

There were movements called 'swing your partner' and 'do-sa-do', but they are not quite the same as those of New Square Dancing.

New Square Dancing uses a variety of lively up-beat music to suit all tastes. Dress code for beginners is neat casual (jeans, slacks, skirts etc.). Some traditional square dancers also do New Square Dancing. Many of those people dress up in traditional square dance attire, so we end up with a variety of clothing styles at our weekly dances.

It is not so strenuous that you sweat through excercise, but it is energetic enough that you will tone up, and maybe even lose weight.

In each 20 minute dance bracket, we start by getting a line of boys and a line of girls facing the front, then we pair everyone up using a fun dance called a round-up. If you and someone else want to dance together for a particular bracket, you can ensure you get paired by getting near the front of the line.

Everything you need to know to dance is taught to you. Most of it is so easy we can teach it on the fly without even stopping the music; for example, the first two moves are 'join hands in a circle and circle to the left' and 'everybody walk up to the middle and tap your feet'. The next move is 'back out and make a circle'. As you dance we call lots of little fun things to make you laugh, and each week you learn a little more.

The classes progress at a leisurely pace and much of the lesson is taken up with social dancing. This keeps everyone entertained, and reinforces the moves that are taught so that they become automatic.

You do not need to learn lots of names and definitions. Most people find they just do the moves long before they actually remember the names.