The Bad News: Younger Dancers are less likely to take lessons if they have to commit for 12 to 20 weeks.

The GOOD NEWS: Modern clubs offer options that attract more people

& deliver the same results

One of the biggest challenges facing square dance clubs is not attracting interest—it's offering lesson formats that fit modern lifestyles. Many younger adults are looking for fun, social activities, and meaningful connections, but they are often reluctant to commit to six months or a year of lessons before they know whether they enjoy it. Busy schedules, family commitments, and countless entertainment options have changed how people participate in recreational activities.

Fortunately, clubs have more options than the traditional once-a-week lesson program.

Lesson Format Options That May Appeal to Younger Dancers

1. Traditional Weekly Lessons​
Weekly classes held before regular dances, with beginner tips included throughout the dance. This reduces stress on angels and allows them to support newcomers while attending a dance they would likely attend anyway.

2. Multiple Lesson Starts​
Offer beginner classes several times a year so newcomers don't have to wait months to get started.

3. Community Dances​
Low-pressure events where newcomers can participate immediately with minimal instruction.

4. Introductory "Try It" Nights​
One-night events designed to let people experience square dancing before committing to lessons.

5. Short-Term Beginner Courses​
Four- to eight-week programs that provide a quicker path to success than traditional lesson cycles.

6. Weekend Intensives​
Beginner workshops or boot camps that teach a large amount of material in one weekend.

7. SSD (Social Square Dancing) Programs​
A streamlined curriculum designed to get dancers participating sooner with less material to learn initially.

8. Open Enrollment Classes​
Lessons that allow beginners to join at any time rather than only at the beginning of a class cycle.

9. College and Young Adult Programs​
Lessons specifically scheduled and structured around college students and young professionals.

10. Family-Oriented Lessons​
Programs designed to allow parents, children, and multiple generations to participate together.

11. Learn-and-Dance Format​
A short lesson followed immediately by social dancing, allowing beginners to use what they learned right away.

12. Drop-In Beginner Sessions​
Standalone lessons where attendance is flexible and no long-term commitment is required.

13. Beginner Workshops Before Regular Dances​
A 30–60 minute introductory session before a regular club dance.

14. Themed Beginner Nights​
Lessons built around themes such as country music, holiday events, game nights, or community celebrations.

15. Hybrid Learning Models​
Online instruction combined with in-person dancing to reduce lesson time and increase flexibility.

The most successful clubs often combine several of these options rather than relying on a single annual lesson program.

Help Us Develop a GREAT Leadership Training Program!

Few opportunities have as much potential to influence the future of our activity as this survey. This button goes directly to the survey:

This survey takes five minutes, and most answers are required to submit it. We need hundreds of responses to know how best to meet everyone's needs.

Podcast Paused for the Summer

We'll be recording over the summer and back in September

If you missed a podcast, you can still listen to all of them!

New Guides and Resources!

All of our resource documents are free. Here is what's new:

• Accepting Differences: Not Everyone is the Same
• Attracting Men to Lessons
• Attracting Ages 18 to 30 to Lessons
• Reframing Retention: You didn't lose 13

*We recognize AI is controversial. It is a tool, and the impacts of AI on the future are unknown and unregulated.

Did you know that Mike Seastrom, caller extraordinaire, has written some great articles to help clubs navigate the future of square dancing? You can find them here: https://mikeseastrom.com/articles/​

We've posted a synthesis of what the 2026 winter/spring Podcast experts told us. Read Square Dancing at the Crossroads:

National Social Media Campaign!

“Busting myths. Welcoming dancers. Reviving the joy of dancing together.”

We tried something new. Over the last three weeks, our entire monthly budget of $300 was spent on Instagram. Why?

Instagram is by far the best way to reach the under-30 group. Very few of the younger dancers are on Facebook. It's about 50/50 for the 30-50 age group, which means we are reaching the same number of 30-50-year-old non-dancers as we did on Facebook. But the best news is, we get FAR more click-throughs to find lessons on Instagram. Please check the sites listed on our lessons page to make sure your club info is up to date. If you see a club that is no longer active, please let that site know. About 40% of the info on those sites is out of date. It's the club's responsibility to send in updated information. Those sites have no way to monitor which information is outdated.

The number of people we reached in three weeks: 8,500

People who clicked through to find lessons: 630!

Please consider donating to increase our reach to non-dancers.

100% of your donation directly increases the reach of this campaign.

Find out how much impact you can make here:​​

Every dollar allows us to introduce dancing to more people, faster—helping more clubs connect with new dancers and bringing new energy into the activity we love.

Together, we can show a new generation that square and round dancing are fun, social, healthy, and welcoming for everyone.

If you see one of our promotional interviews on your social media, please let us know!

Round Dance Promotional Interviews Available for Use Soon!

The videos are in draft, and we are tweaking for maximum effectiveness. They will be used in the national campaign to increase awareness of round dancing and build membership. A heartfelt thanks to the Colorado Round Dance Association, the interviewees, and specifically Denise Behrens, Cuer, and Rhonda, Round Dancer Extraordinaire, for their help and support in making this project successful.

You will also be able to use these interviews in your own social media campaign to advertise for lessons. For free! Here is a taste of the drafts: