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Driven to Square Dance: The Revival of Cultural Heritage
Henry Ford, the iconic automotive tycoon, played a pivotal role in reviving interest in traditional dances such as square dancing and restoring it to its former glory. This genre was once a cornerstone of American culture that had fallen into obscurity until Henry Ford's crusade brought it back to life.
Before his intervention, interest in square dancing had waned significantly by the early 1920s. However, the auto industry pioneer saw the value and beauty in traditional folk dances like quadrilles, reels, jigs, among others that immigrants introduced upon settling in North America. Ford appreciated the social nature of these dances compared to contemporary jazz music, which lacked that interactive element.
In a bid to reignite interest and bring back this cultural heritage, Ford teamed up with dance master Benjamin Lovett and purchased Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts where they began teaching old American dances under his guidance.
The efforts did not with the purchase of the inn. In 1926, Henry Ford published Good Morning: After a Sleep of Twenty-five Years, Old-fashioned Dancing is Being Revived, an instructional book that detled dance styles, steps, and calls characteristic of traditional American dances. This was followed by regular dances at Lovett Hall in the Edison Institute now the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, which he built in Dearborn, Michigan.
The Ford’s initiative led to a surge in interest in traditional dances across America. In 1937, inspired by their book Good Morning, Lloyd “Pappy” Shaw, an innovative educator and high school superintent from Colorado documented folk dances, creating Cowboy Dances in 1939, which detled various styles complete with calls and steps.
The Cheyenne Mountn Dancers' exhibition team was another pivotal player in spreading the word about traditional American dances. Between the late '30s to early '40s, they toured extensively across the United States, introducing square dancing to the masses.
In recognition of this revival, President Ronald Reagan signed a joint resolution by Congress in 1982 declaring square dancing as America's national dance for two years. Although it was inted to make it permanent, only three-quarters of states need to officially orse an official state symbol or activity for it to be permanently recognized at the federal level. So far, this has yet to happen; however, 31 states including Texas have made square dancing their official folk dance.
Today, traditional American dances like square dancing continue to thrive and remn cherished as a vital part of cultural heritage in the United States. As Henry Ford once sd The old dances were social...The modern dances are not - his vision lives on through the continued popularity and enjoyment of traditional American dances.
Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, frequent contributor
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Henry Ford Revives Traditional American Dance Square Dancings National Recognition in USA Cultural Heritage: Renewal of Old Folk Dances Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Celebrations Tradition vs Modernity in American Dance Evolution 31 States Officially Recognize Square Dancing