"We have neglected our own American folk dances which
correlate well with our early American History. We have found this year in
teaching the early American dances, th: t unwholesone barriers between
boys and girls are gradually being broken down, Certain behavior
problems have teen solved, the causes of unsocial attitude are being
detected, which gives us an opportunity to develop a code for wholesome
living."

~~ Floy Kensinger
Principal Nettleton, Chester Park
Schools

We have found that the best introduction to such a program
is through the medium of American Singing Games, Because of their
rollicking nature and their native appeal, we have found that those games
found in "Skip to My Lou" published by Girl Scouts, Ince, 14 West 49th
Street, New York City, priced at 10¢, fulfill the needs of such a programe
We have proceeded with our Social Dancing Program with the following
materials

1. “Turn the Glasses Over" ~ is a good game to use to open a
progrem of social dancing. In this dance there is an odd boy and everyone
must grab a partner at the end of the music or be left oute The music to
this game is so catchy and the words so nonsensical that it is learned in
@ very short period. :

ee "Four in a Boat" — has usually been the next step. In this
game boys and girls have to choose partners and it must be done in such a
hurry that they have their partners before they realize it has happened.

36 “Sandy Sand! — introduces the Grand Right and Left, where
partners are mixed up and a different one found each time,

4. The "Kentucky Round Dance."

5e The Square Dance ~ the children in Duluth have had a great
deal of fun cut of the old fashioned square dance. It is a good form of
dancing to be used early in the Socinl program because there are no
definite "steps" to be learned. They really are only drills. Children
quickly develop into "callers,"

6 The Schottische has an unusual appeal since it is danced in
sO many nations. During the first semester the women in the department of
Physical Education in Duluth conducted a dance group every Monday nighte —
Anyone who was interested was invited to attend. Some evenings there were
as Many as seventy in attendance, The group decided on the type of
dancing it would like and teachers were found, A native of Sweden taught
the Schottische which you will see demonstrated today. In some schools
the children have learned the Swedish words and sing as they dance. In
one part of the Schottische we introduced the closed position for ballroon
dancing and our greatest hurdle has been madee