FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Here we answer the questions we are asked most often about square dance and our club night. If your question isn't listed, just call Marion at +49 172 9152722 · WhatsApp.

What is square dance?

Square dance is a dance in which four couples form a square together and are guided live through the figures (calls) by a caller, so there is no fixed, rehearsed choreography. The calls are standardised in English worldwide (the CALLERLAB standard), but with us everything is explained in German. You dance to music ranging from country to pop, with the caller calling or singing the figures to match.

How do you learn square dance?

You learn square dance in what is called a beginner class, where the calls are built up step by step until you can dance confidently at the Mainstream level. A full class run-through to Mainstream traditionally takes on the order of about 30 evenings; with the 2026 reform of the programmes, getting started will become quicker. The best way to start is to sign up by phone for a taster visit, and we will explain everything else in person.

Can I join without a partner?

Yes, square dance is explicitly possible without a fixed partner – in clubs, dancers rotate constantly, so over the course of an evening you dance with different partners. Singles are deliberately welcome with us; having a steady dance partner is not a requirement for joining in.

Do I need to speak English?

No, English skills are not a requirement for square dance. While the calls are standardised in English worldwide, since they are named according to the CALLERLAB standard, with us they are explained in German, so you learn what they mean without needing to speak the language.

Is square dance difficult?

Square dance can be learned step by step, which makes it manageable for anyone who enjoys taking part. You start with the Basic/Mainstream programme of around 68 cumulative calls and can then progress at your own pace through Plus up to A1 and A2 – rank and titles we leave at home.

How long does it take before I can dance along?

Before you can dance confidently at the Mainstream level, you should expect on the order of about 30 class evenings. With the CALLERLAB reform, which takes effect on 1 September 2026 and merges Basic, Mainstream and SSD into a new, leaner Mainstream programme with a maximum of 50 calls, this entry period is expected to become shorter.

What do you wear? Do I need a petticoat?

No, a petticoat or other traditional outfit is not necessary – there has been no such requirement since around the year 2000. Traditional clothing such as a skirt/petticoat or a western shirt is still popular with many dancers, but comfortable everyday clothes are also fine everywhere. For a taster visit, just come as you feel comfortable.

What does it cost?

A first taster visit with us is possible after signing up by phone; we then discuss everything else about costs in person. Just get in touch beforehand by phone at +49 172 9152722 (or WhatsApp) with Marion.

What age is square dance suitable for?

Square dance has no age limit; it is common to see a range from teenagers to well over 80 years old. In our club, correspondingly different age groups dance together in the very same squares.

What is the difference to line dance?

The difference lies in the structure: in line dance, you dance rehearsed, fixed step sequences in rows without a caller, whereas in square dance four couples form a square and follow the spontaneous, live-called figures of a caller. Square dance is therefore less predictable and lives from reacting to the calls.

What does the caller do?

The caller calls out the figures (calls) live during the dance, which the four couples in the square then move to, driving the flow and energy of the dance. At our club nights this role is taken by Gerhard Maier, who calls or sings the figures to match the music.

How many dancers form a square?

A square consists of four couples, that is eight dancers, who together form a square. Within this square, the caller then guides the group live through the various calls.

What music do you dance to?

You dance to a wide range of music from country to pop and current charts, with the caller singing or calling the figures to match whatever music is playing. What music is played on a given evening depends entirely on the caller and their choice.

When and where is club night?

Our club night is generally every Thursday from 7:30 pm at the Pfarrsaal St. Jakob, Hauptstr. 10, 92266 Ensdorf. On the first Thursday of every month there is additionally an A1 club night with an A2 preview, for which advance sign-up is always required. You can find all further details on our club night page and under schedule.

Can I just drop by?

No, please do not just drop by unannounced – sign up for a visit beforehand by phone with Marion at +49 172 9152722 (or WhatsApp); this applies to guests in general as well. This way we can make sure that your preferred date really is a club night and that there is a free spot in a square. We are happy to explain everything else about joining in on the Join Us page.

What do Mainstream, Plus, A1, A2 mean?

Mainstream, Plus, A1 and A2 are dance levels under the CALLERLAB standard that build on one another and each include more calls: Mainstream cumulates around 68 calls, Plus around 100, Advanced A1 around 145 and A2 around 180. With us, Mainstream through A1 is danced, plus an A1 club night with an A2 preview on the first Thursday of every month. More on this can be found on the Dance Levels Explained page.

Is square dance also a sport?

Square dance is first and foremost a sociable dance, but it keeps you moving throughout the whole evening, so it also has an athletic side. A long-term study by Verghese et al., published in 2003 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a markedly lower risk of dementia with regular dancing (in general, not specifically square dance).

Is there square dance in the Czech Republic too?

There is currently no square dance club of its own directly in western Bohemia around Pilsen; the nearest clubs are in Karlovy Vary, Prague and České Budějovice. From Pilsen it is about 1¼ to 1½ hours to Ensdorf, from Tachov around 1¼ hours and from Domažlice around 1½ hours by car. Since the calls are English and standardised everywhere, you can dance along with us using the figures of a level you already know – more on the For Czech Dancers page.