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Have you ever wondered why square dancing was such a big part of your childhood in the American public school system?

Set's in order.

The National Square Dance magazine presents a glimpse at the national recreation.

So many people.

Rainy days in the school gym, learning how to promenade and California twirl.

Why square dancing, though? Why that particular skill?

I spent a big chunk of my childhood in cowboy country, and I don't recollect even a single

barn dance being thrown. There we were, trained and ready to Alloman left and swing,

all dressed up and nowhere to docy dough.

As a little kid, square dancing was a blast. As a middle schooler, it was an embarrassing

nightmare. And as a grown-up, I'm like, wait, that's why they made us learn how to square

dance. And when you find out why, I think you'll agree that the United States of America really is just one giant fever dream.

And they got a small beam of light against the mirror.

True, weird, stuff.

28. True, weird stuff. 28 states in this country have declared square dance, their official state dance, in case you were thinking it was some he-haul-flavored relic of the deep south.

Nope, it's everywhere. Connecticut and Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington

State. And I'm not even going to pretend to be cool. I loved square dancing as a kid,

probably because someone was hollering out exactly what to do and when, which is super

helpful for those of us who lack rhythm and talent, but just love getting

out on the dance floor.

Listen to this mad patter from famous square dance caller, Joe Casey, and tell me you don't

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