May 14, 2022

The Early History of Set Dance Prompting

with Richard Powers

2-4pm EDT

online via Zoom

$10 is suggested but any amount is appreciated.

Donations support these events, leaders, musicians, and the Folk Arts Center.

Buy access to this presentation in the SOFA section of the FAC Music Shop.

About the Program

Was square dance calling an American innovation? How far back do the roots of prompting go, and in what country? Were contra dances always called? No? Why not? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this vivid presentation by Richard Powers, illustrated with hundreds of historic images, plus videos of reconstructions of these dances.

About Richard

Richard Powers is a full-time instructor in dance history and contemporary social dance forms at Stanford University Dance Division, Department of Theater and Performance Studies. His principal focus since 1975 has been social dance forms, from the Renaissance to today. Specializations include 19th century American and European social dance, dances of the Ragtime Era and Jazz Ages, and currently evolving vernacular dance forms.