Learn to square dance
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
In modern square dancing eight people form a square and move to a caller's instructions. Clubs teach from CALLERLAB's programme lists, which it says are recognised throughout the world, so what you learn in one club works in another.
ModerateUnder £100 / $130MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
These are real people who did this, as reported by the outlets named. We opened each one before linking it. None of them is connected with this site.
Basic, Mainstream and Plus
CALLERLAB sets lists of calls that clubs teach in order. The Basic programme began in 1969 and now covers the first 51 calls; Mainstream adds 17 more. A new Basic and Mainstream list took effect on 1 September 2026.
Plus is the next step after Mainstream. The California Council of Square Dancers notes that the 2026 Plus list, the worldwide standard from 1 September 2026, has 50 numbered calls beyond Mainstream. Testvale Squares in Hampshire concentrates on Basic to Mainstream and moves dancers on to Plus when the caller thinks they are ready.
Some UK clubs also teach Social Square Dancing, a standalone programme that BAASDC says takes around 13 weeks at two hours a week.
What beginners pay
| Club | Class | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Testvale Squares, Totton, Hampshire | Friday evenings, 7pm to 9.30pm; the club says it is "always bringing on new dancers" | £3 a session, including tea or coffee and a biscuit |
| Tech Squares, MIT, Massachusetts | Three-month class on Tuesdays, 8.15pm to 10.15pm; the autumn 2026 class began on 15 September | About $15 for non-MIT students; $60 to $120 for non-students; MIT students free |
| Bluebonnet Squares, Spring, Texas | Monday-night beginner Mainstream block, 28 September 2026 to 18 January; first two lessons free | $70 a person, $120 a couple, $150 at most for a family |
Check registration with Bluebonnet before planning on its 2026 block, and Tech Squares says its prices may change each semester. Testvale's first Friday of the month is a dress-up night, but dance clothes are optional.
How to start
- Find a club near you through the British Association of American Square Dance Clubs (BAASDC) club list in the UK, or a regional council or club website in the US.
- Ask when the next beginners' class starts. Both US clubs we looked at began theirs in September, while Testvale Squares in Hampshire says it is "always bringing on new dancers".
- Wear casual clothes and comfortable shoes. You do not need a partner.
Where to go
- BAASDC: A-Z club details (UK) UK
- BAASDC: looking for square dancing? UK
- Testvale Squares (Totton, Hampshire) UK
- California Council of Square Dancers: learn to dance US
- Tech Squares at MIT: beginners (Massachusetts) US
- Bluebonnet Squares: lessons (Spring, Texas) US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
Show the links
Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do you need a partner to square dance?
No. Tech Squares says you do not need a partner because partners change for each dance, and Testvale Squares welcomes couples and single dancers alike.
How long does it take to learn square dancing?
A beginners' class usually runs for a few months. Tech Squares runs a three-month class, Bluebonnet Squares runs from late September to January, and BAASDC says Social Square Dancing takes around 13 weeks.
What is the difference between Mainstream and Plus square dancing?
They are CALLERLAB lists of calls. Mainstream builds on Basic, and Plus adds 50 numbered calls beyond Mainstream in its 2026 version.
What do you wear to square dance lessons?
Casual clothes and comfortable shoes. Tech Squares has no dress code, and Bluebonnet Squares suggests comfortable, casual street wear.
Where this comes from: CALLERLAB, Dance Programs; CALLERLAB, Resources for the Basic and Mainstream Program; California Council of Square Dancers, Plus; California Council of Square Dancers, Learn to Dance; BAASDC, Looking for Square Dancing?; BAASDC, A-Z Club Details; Testvale Squares, Home; Tech Squares, Beginners; Bluebonnet Squares, Lessons. Opened 12 November 2026.
Read next
Sarvjeet Kaur took up archery with her son as coach and came home from Abu Dhabi with gold
How Sarvjeet Kaur, a retired businesswoman from India, came to archery on a counsellor's suggestion, learned it from her son, and won gold and bronze at the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026; and how to book a beginners' course or train towards your first competition.
Twenty-three hours across three Hawaiian channels made Ted Lomicka the first man to finish the Maui Nui swim
How a Tennessee healthcare executive who came to open water through triathlon swam three Hawaiian channels non-stop, through a night and alongside a young humpback, and how to start swimming in open water or build towards a long swim yourself.