Square Dancing Is Coming Back to Show Low — Here’s What to Expect This Summer
Lessons start June 9th. First three lessons: $1. No experience, no partner, no problem.
If you think square dancing is something your grandparents did in a dusty barn while a fiddle screeched in the corner, you are not alone — and you are completely wrong.
White Mountain Square Dance is opening the floor again this June in Show Low, and what’s happening at the White Mountain Square Dance Hall on Tuesday and Thursday nights is nothing like what you’re imagining. Think Uptown Funk. Think Thriller. Think Blue Monday, Good Vibrations, Moves Like Jagger, and Prince — called to the beat of one of the most social, physically engaging activities you can do in the White Mountains.
If that surprised you, good. Keep reading.
What Is Modern Square Dancing?
Modern square dancing — sometimes called contemporary or Western square dancing — uses the same foundational calls as traditional square dancing but set to whatever music gets the room moving. At White Mountain Square Dance, that means a playlist that would fit equally well at a backyard party or a fitness class.
Recent tracks from the floor include Uptown Funk, Thriller, Blue Monday, Good Vibrations, Chic Le Freak, Walking on Sunshine, Moves Like Jagger, and Conga. The caller — the person directing the dance — weaves these songs into a rotating set of calls that keep everyone moving, laughing, and occasionally pretending they knew what they were doing all along.
It is high-energy. It is social. And it is genuinely fun in a way that most adults have forgotten existed.
Do I Need Any Experience?
Zero. None. Absolutely not. If you can walk, you can square dance.
Every season at White Mountain Square Dance begins with beginner lessons open to total newcomers. The calls are taught progressively — you learn a small set each night and build from there. Within a few sessions, moves that felt impossible become second nature.
Nobody will judge your two left feet. In fact, the people who stumble the most in week one are often the ones who can’t stop smiling by week three.
Do I Need a Partner?
No. Show up alone, show up with a friend, show up as a family. Partners rotate throughout the evening — that’s part of what makes square dancing uniquely social compared to other partner dances. You’ll interact with every person on the floor before the night is over.
That said, couples consistently tell us that square dancing gives them something most date nights don’t: a shared challenge, real laughter, and the kind of connection that comes from doing something together that neither of you expected to enjoy.
What Does It Cost?
This is where we like to make people do a double take.
First three lessons:$1 each. That is not a typo.
After that:$5 per person per lesson.
Family rate:$15 per lesson for the whole family — capped. Bring everyone.
Lessons run Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the White Mountain Square Dance Hall, 1105 Old Hwy 160, Show Low, Arizona.
The $1 introductory price exists because we know something you don’t yet: once you try it, you’ll be back. We’re that confident.
When Does It Start?
The first lesson of the summer season is Tuesday, June 9th, 2026. Lessons run every Tuesday and Thursday for approximately 10 to 12 weeks.
Doors open at 6:00 PM. Come a few minutes early on your first night — the caller will walk you through the basics before the music starts.
Who Goes to These Things?
Couples looking for something to do together that isn’t dinner and a movie. Families with older kids who want a screen-free night out. Men who were dragged by their wives and are now the ones who don’t want to leave. Retirees who have been dancing for years and newcomers who showed up once on a whim and came back every week.
The White Mountain Square Dance community in Show Low is one of those rare groups where different ages, backgrounds, and skill levels all end up on the same floor, laughing at the same mistakes, and genuinely glad they showed up.
That’s not marketing language. That’s what happens when you put people in a room with good music, a great caller, and a dance that requires you to work together.
What Should I Wear?
Comfortable clothes you can move in. Soft-soled shoes are ideal — avoid heavy boots or rubber-soled shoes that grip the floor. Beyond that, there’s no dress code. You don’t need western wear. You don’t need anything special. Just show up.
Ready to Try It?
The floor opens June 9th. Your first three lessons are $1 each. No experience required, no partner needed, and no reason not to try something that might genuinely surprise you.
Where the White Mountains Come Together.
For more information:
facebook.com/whitemountainsquaredance
White Mountain Square Dance Hall · 1105 Old Hwy 160, Show Low, AZ 85901
Lessons begin June 9th · Every Tuesday & Thursday · 6:00–8:00 PM