When our pioneering ancestors first came to Canada they came for cheap or free land and were filled with hope of a better future for themselves and their families. The pioneers knew there would be lots of hard work but they were used to that in the old country where they came from.
The difference was that most benefits from working hard back home were passed on to the landlord or the king, but in Canada, your hard work was on your own land and benefits remained with you, your farm and family.
Pioneers worked from daylight till dark on their own farm or cutting trees at the camp in winter. They also took time to enjoy life after a hard day’s work by sharing the traditions they brought from the “old country.” Some could play a harmonica, a fiddle or the spoons. Some could remember some songs from home or they made up new ones. Some could dance a jig from Ireland, remember moves from the dance quadrille, or contredance from England or France.
The old French chatisse was eventually modified into what we today call the line dance. When our ancestors mixed these all together, we ended up with the Canadian square dance.
Early parties where our ancestors kicked up their heels were kitchen parties or house parties. The boys that could play music or call a square were always invited. Neighbours of all ages and cultures were welcome but as it is told in “The Log Driver’s Waltz”, no one was as light on their feet as farmers who had practiced tip toeing from log to log while working on the spring log drive.
Everyone who attended a house party a few times could sing and dance and really relax from a hard day’s work. As years passed and people had five cents to spend at a dance, dance halls appeared throughout the land. Our parents can still remember Burnham Hall in Norway Bay, Coronation Hall in Bristol, Murrells Hall, Hall 70, Fort William dance hall, Schock’s hall in Ladysmith, The Chutes dance hall near Fort Coulonge and a dozen other Saturday night destinations. The most famous dance hall was Danceland in Watrous, Saskatchewan.
All the dance halls that were built in Pontiac County had a hardwood dance floor on which dance hall wax was liberally shaken to provide a smooth gliding surface for the dancers.
The floor in Danceland was maple tongue and groove built on a cushion of horsehair. This horsehair cushioned floor is said to be the best dance floor in the world and one can dance all night without getting sore legs or feet. The famous scene from Dirty Dancing was even shot there.
Now most new halls are built with a cement floor, but not many people dance anymore. Only a few old halls and barns have retained a forgivable wooden dance floor. Most traditional dance halls had a row of benches lining both outside walls. These benches were where the wallflowers sat waiting to be asked up.
Although most squares are made up of four couples, (square dance) every night the square dance caller would call a Paul Jones when everyone who knew how to dance would pick someone from the opposite sex to dance. Once a partner was chosen, all the men would line up on one side of the hall and all the ladies on the other side, opposite their partner. The caller would then call simple dance moves which everyone would do the same way. It was a great way for everyone to learn to dance and also get the wallflowers integrated.
Only a few weekly square dances are held now and only a few couples are avid square dancers. Some families have kept square dancing and the art of calling alive in Canada. Some of these families have been teaching young enthusiasts how to square dance for generations, passing on the knowledge of dancing squares and waltzes and calling the hundreds of dances that their ancestors knew.
If you ever have a chance to participate in a square or Paul Jones, grab the chance to dance and relax the way your ancestors did.
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations. gladcrest@gmail.com
