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Maryland State Symbols State Bird - State Butterfly - State Crustacean - State Dog State Flower - State Tree - State Boat - State Folk Dance State Drink - State Sport - State Fossil Shell - State Reptile State Theater - State Cat - State Fish - State Flag Team Sport of Maryland |
Maryland State Folk Dance Square Dancing |
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In 1994, Square Dancing was designated the State Folk Dance. This dance form grew from dances of various cultures: the Morris and Maypole dances of England, ballroom dances of France, Church dances of Spain, and folk dances of Australia, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Russia, and other nations. Square Dancing has been a popular folk tradition since 1651. The square dance is an American institution. It began in New England when the first settlers and the immigrant groups that followed, brought with them their various national dances, which we now call folk dances, but which were the popular dances of the day in the countries of their origin - the schottische, the quadrille, the jigs and reels and the minuet, to name a few. After a week of toil in building new homes and carving homes out of virgin forest, the settlers would gather in the community center on Saturday evening and enjoy dancing their old-world favorites. As the communities grew and people of different backgrounds intermingled, so did their dances. As the repertoire increased, it became increasingly difficult for the average person to remember the various movements. In almost any group, however, there would be at least person with a knack for remembering the dance figures. The settlers let this person cue or prompt them in case they happened to forget what came next. Quite often he would learn the dances of other communities and he would teach them to the group. |
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