07/15/2026
Preamble - July 15, 2026:
The B.C. Square & Round Dance Federation is hosting our National Square, Round & Clog Dance Convention this week, running Wed. July 15 through Sat. July 18, 2026. It's taking place at the city of Penticton in the Okanagan Valley, located in the province's south-central interior.
The non-dancing public is welcome to attend as spectators daily between 10 am and 10 pm (7pm to 10pm on Wed. July 15).
Futhermore, "try it" lessons in various dance forms will be featured on Saturday July 18 at the Convention Centre for absolute newcomers with clog dance instruction from noon to 1 pm then square, contra and clog dancing between 1:30 & 4:30 pm .
Reproduced here is a public notice placed on many South and Central Okanagan Valley Facebook groups.
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DISCOVER A WONDERFUL GROUP OF SOCIAL RECREATIONS
THIS WEEK IN PENTICTON! CONSIDER LESSONS THIS FALL.
Posted July 14, 2026
Close to 600 dancers are coming to town and YOU’RE invited to see them and, notably, attend the Saturday afternoon “Try It” sessions!
Scheduled for the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre Wed. July 15 through Sat. July 18 inclusive is the 24th biennial Canadian National Square, Round and Clog Dance Convention. That venue is located at 273 Power Street - map link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pLS4YHzhtaXp5Ekw9 .
It's a volunteer-run, non-competitive dance festival, just for fun and learning, that attracts dancers from across the country and parts of the world.
Last having taken place at Calgary in 2024, this Convention will welcome participants from Canada, the United States, China, Germany, Malaysia and Australia. More than 70 callers and cuers will lead the fun.
The convention is presented by the Canadian Square & Round Dance Society and hosted by the British Columbia Square & Round Dance Federation, both non-profit groups.
THREE DANCE STYLES TO BE ENJOYED
(be sure to look at the video links describing each dance form at the end of this article)
As the convention title indicates, three different dance forms will be featured utilizing various halls in the convention centre in order to allow dancers to enjoy the particular program or curriculum of interest to them within a given dance style.
The dance forms include:
- today's style of square dancing
- round dancing, which is choreographed ballroom done to live cues
- clog dancing, a flat-foot shuffle enjoyed in shoes with double taps
THE CONVENTION SCHEDULE
Commonly identified as Festival 2026, it will open with a big "Trail In" dance from 7 to 10 pm on Wednesday night (July 15) in "Salon A" at the convention centre.
Spectators are welcome that evening and to come see the dancing between 10 am and 10 pm Thursday July 16 through Saturday July 18 inclusive, excepting meal break times.
The Festival’s General Schedule can be viewed on the event's main web page at:
https://festival2026.squaredance.bc.ca/
Or, access a PDF format version of the schedule at this link:
https://festival2026.squaredance.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-NATIONAL-FESTIVAL-schedule.pdf
Most notable is that Saturday July 18 will be a most special day, especially for the public!
SEE SQUARE DANCING IN THE LAKE
As a special fun event, accomplished square dancers will assemble in their swimsuits at a spot along Okanagan Lake beach to dance IN Okanagan Lake, just offshore. Spectators are welcome.
They'll be recreating an event that once took place during the long-running B.C. Square Dance Jamboree in Penticton. Called the "Aqua Ducks," participants will square dance in the water to instructions from a caller on the shore. Of course, some of those calls will be adapted for water fun, such as "Dive Through" and "Splash Your Partner!"
The fun event will take place between 12:30 and 1:30 pm on Saturday July 18, probably at the section of Okanagan Lake beach across from the end of Power Street (the same street on which the convention centre is located a few blocks over). Organizers plan to have a 12-foot high yellow inflatable duck in sunglasses positioned along the beach to mark the location.
Several years ago, the former cable tv system known as "ShawTVOkanagan" produced a feature about the Aqua Ducks event. It gives you a good idea of what you'll see at Okanagan Lake Beach in Penticton at 12:30 pm on Saturday July 18. See that on YouTube at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu7rxPe-wNU (2 min's, 45 sec's)
“TRY IT” SESSIONS FOR THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY
Of particular note is that on Saturday July 18 in the convention centre there will be "TRY IT" sessions for the public. Perhaps you have family, friends or neighbours who might be interested in an introduction to one or more dance forms. (Since Round Dancing is a little more complex, it won't be one of the Try It options.)
Here's the "TRY IT" program:
- Clog dancing - Noon to 1 pm in meeting rooms 1, 2 & 3
- Square dancing - 1:30 to 2:30 pm in Ballroom #2
- Contra dancing - 2:30 to 3:30 pm in Ballroom #2
- Line dancing - 3:30 to 4:30 pm in Ballroom #2
Note that at 6:30 pm Saturday there will be a Closing Ceremony featuring, from 6:45 to 7:00 pm, a special performance by a "Heritage Dance" group. That will be followed by dancing in the various halls but will wrap up with all dancers moving at 9 pm to "Salon A" for a final hour of Mainstream program square dancing, wrapping up at 10:00 pm.
Below is a listing of the dance forms and the various programs within each. Several photos are attached for reference. Also below is a separate listing of videos that may introduce you to dance forms not familiar to you.
ABOUT EACH DANCE FORM AND THEIR MAKEUP
Square dance programs will include:
- Social Square Dancing - probably blended with the Mainstream program in the same hall
- Mainstream
- Plus
- Advanced
- Challenge
Round dancing is choreographed ballroom dancing that's done to live cues from a "cuer." All the dance pairs move in unison counterclockwise around the dance floor. The round dance is considered a "companion dance" to square dancing because many square dances include a round dance between the square dance "tips" (a patter call followed by a singing call).
Round dancing during the convention will be presented in various halls in order to present these "phases" of complexity:
- Phase II (most widely enjoyed)
- Phase III
- Phase IV
- Phase V
- Phase VI
Clog dancing is a flat foot shuffle that's eventually done in shoes having double taps, one at the toe and another at the heel. Sometimes you dance as a single and other times you interact with other cloggers. Clog dance programs include:
- Beginner
- Easy Intermediate
- Intermediate (the level that's most comfortable for the majority of dancers)
- Advanced
VIDEO PRODUCTIONS THAT EXPLAIN THE DANCE FORMS
Here’s a listing of videos that will introduce you to dance forms not familiar to you:
Square dancing videos:
Square Dance Promotional Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub8G1diRztU (3 min's, 40 sec.'s)
Hatch Brothers Call Mountain Music - A just-for-fun square dance event at an otherwise competitive weekend dance for youth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpBz4adN45o (3 min's, 35 sec's)
Round dancing is choreographed ballroom dancing that's done to live cues from a "cuer." All the dance pairs move in unison counterclockwise around the dance floor.
Round dancing videos:
Round Dancing Explained - Produced by You2CanDance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DdCDxP8JyU (1 min, 54 sec's)
Round dancing fun, Saturday night - A just-for-fun round dance event - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gokk8Lx2Mc (3 min's, 26 sec's)
Clog dancing is a flat foot shuffle that's eventually done in shoes having double taps, one at the toe and another at the heel. Sometimes you dance as a single and other times you interact with other cloggers.
Clog dancing videos:
What Is Clogging? - A quick history | YouDance.com - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btCCKwGUuG4 (1 min, 46 sec's)
(also see)
What are dance counts? - The 8 count, Clogging | YouDance.com - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h7lwU-fG6M (5 min's, 53 sec's)
Competition-level clog dance display: Fontana 2014 - Rhythm and Motion (Trad. Line) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNnM5osAVJ4 (2 min's, 22 sec's)
ABOUT THE CONTRA AND LINE DANCE STYLES OF DANCE
Although not common elements at a square, round or clog dance, the following dance forms are sometimes presented for extra fun. Both the following dance styles will be taught on a "try it" basis in Ballroom #2 Saturday afternoon, July 18, at the Penticton Convention Centre - Contra at 2:30 pm and Line Dancing at 3:30 pm.
Contra Dancing - a form of folk dancing where long lines of couples move through repeated patterns, guided by a Caller
Video: "It's Not a Square Dance: It's a Contra Dance!" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24X7zCskUSU (4 min's, 17 sec's)
Line Dancing - a form of synchronized dancing in which dancers are arranged in rows, or lines, facing either in the same direction or each other. Dancers move in unison and do not come into physical contact with one another during the dance
This video is a demo featured on WGN television: "A Beginner's Guide to Line Dancing" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6pbgRTS0tQ&t=117s (3 min's, 38 sec's)
CONSIDER LEARNING ONE OR MORE OF THE DANCE FORMS THIS FALL!
Lessons for absolute newcomers in square dancing, round dancing and clog dancing are coming this Fall to the South Central Interior!
You can learn to square dance in West Kelowna, Vernon, Lumby, Armstrong, Enderby and Salmon Arm.
Round dance lessons for newcomers will take place over 10 weeks at the Halina Activity Centre in Vernon at 7 pm Mondays starting Sept. 14.
Clog dance lessons for the public are anticipated to be available in Peachland and West Kelowna.
Inquiries about such lessons can be directed at [email protected] or call the Toll-free Dance INFOLINE at 1-800-335-9433.
HAPPY DANCING!
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