The southern square dance is a dance that is called, or cued, to prompt the dancers as they move through the figures of the dance. Southern square dancing in Virginia emerged from the blending of several cultural traditions during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. French quadrilles, introduced during the American Revolution and popularized through dancing schools and resort ballrooms, contributed figures such as the “Grand Right and Left” and the “Promenade,” as well as the verse-chorus structure that characterizes many square dances. Scots-Irish settlers in the Shenandoah Valley brought reels and circular set dances that emphasized simple, repetitive figures and visiting-couple formations that required no dancing classes and made dance accessible to all classes. Enslaved and free Black musicians played a central role in the development of the tradition by providing dance music, adapting the fiddle from earlier African musical practices, and introducing the custom of calling dance figures, which helped dancers navigate increasingly complex routines. By the nineteenth century, square dancing had become a popular social activity across Virginia, serving as entertainment and a space for courtship and community-building in both Black and white communities. Dances such as the Virginia Reel gained widespread popularity, and square dances accompanied work gatherings, celebrations, and resort entertainments. Traditional square dancing persisted into the twentieth century, adapting to new venues such as community halls and schools and coexisting with the rise of Modern Western Square Dancing. In 1991, Virginia designated the square dance, including the Virginia Reel, as the official state folk dance. Today, traditional and modern forms of square dancing continue to be practiced throughout the commonwealth.
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