Remember to tell the dancers that they’re doing a great job!

Elvis sings on The Ed Sullivan Show, but is only shown from the waist up.

Yet another day to feature Elvis songs. If we work at it, we might find some Elvis connection for every day of the year.

Relevant Records

• A Fool Such As I (Blue Ribbon 255)
• Good Luck Charm (Rhythm 161)
• Hound Dog (Silver Sounds 162)
• Blue Suede Shoes (Quadrille 913)
• Stuck on You (Silver Sounds 157)
• Blue Hawaii (Square Fare 102)
• It’s Now Or Never (Blue Ribbon 263)

Drinking songs, anyone?

Could use any protest or civil right songs. There aren’t a lot in the square dance record repertory, but there are a few that can be used. “I Shall Not Be Moved” is a gospel song, but it was adopted by the civil rights movement as “We Shall Not Be Moved.”

Relevant Records

• I Shall Not Be Moved (Quadrille 910)

The day to break out your Elvis songs, your Elvis wigs, your Elvis Las Vegas suits. There are lots of square dancing covers of Elvis hits; here are the ones that I own:

• A Fool Such As I Blue Ribbon 255
• It\’s Now Or Never Blue Ribbon 263
• Hound Dog Silver Sounds 162
• Blue Christmas Royal 310
• Stuck on You Silver Sounds 157
• Blue Suede Shoes Quadrille 913
• Blue Hawaii Square Fare 102
• Good Luck Charm Rhythm 161

Then there are the songs about Elvis or that mention Elvis; here are two:

• Black Velvet Desert Recordings
• Elvis and Andy ESP 195

Relevant Records

• A Fool Such As I (Blue Ribbon 255)
• Elvis and Andy (ESP 195)
• Good Luck Charm (Rhythm 161)
• Hound Dog (Silver Sounds 162)
• Blue Suede Shoes (Quadrille 913)
• Stuck on You (Silver Sounds 157)
• Blue Hawaii (Square Fare 102)
• It’s Now Or Never (Blue Ribbon 263)
• Blue Christmas (Royal 310)
• Black Velvet (Desert Recordings)

How about breaking out the old “one now, one later” routine. Then you could procrastinate on the later, all the way to the singing call…or the next tip…

I did a quick web search on “one now one later” and found only one square dance reference: Square Dance Teaching Points – Glossary / NOL.

The basic idea is you say something like “Do two scootbacks, one now and one later.” The dancers do one scootback. A little while later, you say “It’s later!” and the dancers are supposed to remember to do the other scootback.

Maybe “road” songs: On the Road Again, Country Roads

Use songs that were Bette Midler hits. I have The Rose, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Wind Beneath My Wings, Do You Want To Dance.

Relevant Records

• Rose (The) (Rhythm 181)
• Wind Beneath My Wings (My Hero) (Silver Sounds 112)
• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B (Chicago Country 47)