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Official State Dances

Official dances listed by adoption year. (List by state or year)
State Name Designated as YearList by adoption year
Oregon Square dance Dance 1977
Washington Square dance Dance 1979
Tennessee Square dance Folk dance 1980
Alabama Square dance American folk dance 1981
New Jersey Square dance American folk dance 1983
South Carolina Shag Official Dance 1984
Florida Square dance American folk dance of the State of Florida 1986
West Virginia Square dance Folk dance 1987
California Square dance Folk dance 1988
California West Coast swing dance Dance 1988
Oklahoma Square dance Folk dance 1988
Idaho Square dance American folk dance 1989
Arizona Square dance Folk dance 1990
Illinois Square dance American folk dance 1990
Massachusetts Square dancing Folk dance 1990
Arkansas Square dance American folk dance 1991
Texas Square dance Folk dance 1991
Virginia Square dance Folk dance 1991
Colorado Square dance Folk Dance 1992
Wisconsin Polka Dance 1993
Delaware Square dance American folk dance 1994
Maryland Square dance Folk dance 1994
South Carolina Square dance Official American folk dance 1994
Utah Square dance Folk dance 1994
Connecticut Square dance Folk dance 1995
Mississippi Square dance American folk dance 1995
Missouri Square dance American folk dance 1995
North Dakota Square dance American folk dance 1995
Georgia Square dance Folk dance 1996
Nebraska Square dance American folk dance 1997
Hawaii Hula Dance 1999
Louisiana Square dance American folk dance 1999
North Carolina Clogging Official folk dance 2005
North Carolina Shagging Official popular dance 2005
Kentucky Clogging Dance 2006
Delaware Square dance American folk dance 1994
Alaska [ None ]    
Indiana [ None ]    
Iowa [ None ]    
Kansas [ None ]    
Maine [ None ]    
Michigan [ None ]    
Minnesota [ None ]    
Montana [ None ]    
Nevada [ None ]    
New Hampshire [ None ]    
New Mexico [ None ]    
New York [ None ]    
Ohio [ None ]    
Pennsylvania [ None ]    
Rhode Island [ None ]    
South Dakota [ None ]    
Vermont [ None ]    
Wyoming [ None ]    
Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference (Volume One)

Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference (Volume One), by Ralph G. Giordano. 380 pages. Publisher: Greenwood (November 30, 2006)

Social Dancing in America examines the role of social dancing in daily life from the first settlements in 1607 through the birth of the nation in 1776 and into the beginning of the 21st century. This two-volume set provides a history of American social dances including the Virginia Reel, Square Dancing, the Lindy Hop, Rock 'n' Roll, the Twist, Disco, Breakdancing, and Hip-Hop. Social Dancing in America places social dancing in a historical, social, cultural, and political context.

Volume 1 explores the integral role that social dancing played in the lives of Americans from the first settlements in 1607 through the the 19th century, often in the most unlikely of ways. For example, readers may be surprised to learn that George Washington was a well-known aficionado of social dancing, and that he incorporated the etiquette and manners of dances such as the Minuet as a means of diplomacy to secure European allies during the Revolutionary War. After his death, Americans continued to celebrate his birthday with a grand ball that included dancing.
Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference(Volume Two)

Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference (Volume Two), by Ralph G. Giordano. 428 pages. Publisher: Greenwood (November 30, 2006)

Volume 2 places social dance in a 20th-Century context, illustrating how social dancing itself paralled the social, economic, and cultural traditions of each era. For example, segregation and the Jim Crow mentality was cemented in place all over the United States, and for much of the century, dancing and dance halls were strictly segregated. Segregation forced a mass migration north, and with it came the transformation of Delta Blues music into an American original—Jazz. Jazz gave birth to the Charleston, and later evolved into Swing, which created the Lindy Hop. Later, with the advent of television, programming such as American Bandstand, Soul Train, Dance Fever, and MTV greatly influenced dance styles and modern trends such as Rock 'n' Roll, Freestyle, Disco, Breakdancing, and Hip-Hop.