Very little knowledge of dancing is needed in order to take part in square dances. The various figures, however, must be learned thoroughly, or the attempt to go through a quadrille will end in disaster.

The dancers arrange themselves in “sets,” four couples forming a “set,” all facing the center. The positions are taken as in the diagram, gentlemen to the left of the ladies, and forming a square. The couple facing the stage is called the first couple, and the couple opposite, the second couple. These are also called the “head couples.” The other couples, the third and fourth, are called the “side couples.”