We dance New Mainstream Square Dancing
The Circle 8’s Club teaches and dances the New Mainstream 2026 program consisting of 50 calls. This program is the standard square dance curriculum used throughout much of the modern square dance world. Circle 8’s teaching schedule is designed to cover all 50 calls within the dance season. Our approach emphasizes understanding and dancing skills rather than memorization of specific sequences. Oh…and to enjoy ourselves!
Our teaching is designed to provide new dancers with a structured and enjoyable pathway from their first lessons to full participation in Mainstream square dancing
Our Primary Objectives
1. Learn the Fundamental Skills of Square Dancing
New dancers are introduced to the basic concepts that make square dancing work. These include:
- Dancing comfortably with a partner.
- Understanding formations such as couples, lines, waves, and columns.
- Recognizing handholds and body flow.
- Learning timing, teamwork, and spatial awareness.
- Developing the ability to listen to and respond to a caller’s instructions.
Rather than memorizing routines, dancers learn individual movements and concepts that can be combined in many different ways.
2. Build a Foundation of Standardized Calls
The New Mainstream Program teaches a carefully selected set of square dance calls that form the foundation for the full Mainstream program.
Each call has a standardized definition approved by CALLERLAB, allowing dancers to dance successfully with callers and clubs throughout North America and many other parts of the world.
The program introduces calls progressively, beginning with simple movements and gradually advancing to more complex concepts. Dancers learn not only how to execute individual calls but also how calls fit together within the dance.
3. Prepare Dancers for Full Mainstream Participation
The ultimate goal is to develop confident dancers who can:
- Dance an entire evening of Mainstream square dancing.
- Participate in club dances, festivals, and conventions.
- Dance successfully with different callers.
- Enjoy square dancing anywhere the CALLERLAB Mainstream program is used.
Components of the New Mainstream Square Dance Program
- Basic Movement Skills
Dancers learn:
- Walking and turning smoothly.
- Maintaining proper handholds.
- Working cooperatively within a square.
- Staying aware of position and formation.
- Dancing to the music and timing.
2. Formation Recognition
Dancers become familiar with common formations such as:
- Squared Set
- Facing Couples
- Lines
- Waves
- Columns
- Circles and Stars
Recognizing formations quickly is an important part of becoming a successful square dancer.
3. Call Execution
Dancers learn the proper execution of the calls included in the New Mainstream curriculum.
Instruction focuses on:
- Correct movement.
- Proper timing.
- Efficient pathways.
- Smooth transitions between calls.
4. Teamwork and Courtesy
Square dancing is a cooperative activity. We encourage:
- Helping fellow dancers.
- Maintaining square integrity.
- Dancing safely.
- Supporting less experienced dancers.
- Contributing to an enjoyable experience for everyone.
5. Dancing by Sight and Sound
As dancers gain experience, they learn to:
- Listen carefully to the caller.
- Recognize formations quickly.
- Anticipate movement flow.
- Recover from mistakes.
- Continue dancing confidently when challenged.
These skills are often more important than simply knowing the definitions of the calls.
What Success Looks Like
A dancer who has successfully completed the New Mainstream Program should be able to join a Mainstream dance with confidence, understand the common formations and calls, respond comfortably to a variety of callers, and enjoy dancing as an active member of the modern square dance community.
The New Mainstream Program is not simply a list of calls to memorize. It is a comprehensive learning system that develops the knowledge, skills, confidence, and teamwork needed to participate fully in modern square dancing.
Useful Resources for Learning and Visualizing Dance Movements
We highly recommend Taminations as a resource to learn and review the calls. It includes the written definition for movements and plays an animation for each call. Free Taminations apps are also available for smartphone or PC from the Google Play as well as the Apple and Microsoft stores.
If you prefer watching real people dance, videos of square dance lessons with demos of the movements are available on the internet.
YouTube videos of mainstream lessons are also available from @cyberpoint.
The official Definitions and List of New Mainstream Calls are available for download on the CALLERLAB website.
