DanceSpree is an independent dance knowledge site. We are not a dance school, not affiliated with any specific dance organization or studio, and not connected to any governing body or certification authority in the dance world. We are a publication: a site that writes carefully researched, clearly presented guides about social dance styles, their histories, their techniques, and the communities that practice them.
Our editorial focus is social dance — dances that are done for the pleasure of participation rather than performance. This includes:
We aim to be accurate about history and honest about uncertainty. Dance history is often contested, incompletely documented, and subject to revision as new archival sources are found or oral history is gathered. When we state something as fact, we have a basis for that claim. When the record is ambiguous or disputed, we say so.
We do not take positions in style or technique debates within specific dance communities. What counts as "authentic" lindy hop, or the correct footwork for a given figure in contra dance, are questions that communities themselves work out over time, and we try to represent those conversations fairly rather than adjudicate them.
DanceSpree is written for curious people. That includes absolute beginners who have never been to a dance event and want to understand what social dancing is before they try it. It includes intermediate dancers who want more historical context for the styles they practice. It includes people who dance regularly and want to read well-sourced writing about the health research, the cultural history, or the practical side of their hobby. And it includes people who are simply interested in these art forms as subjects without intending to participate themselves.
We assume no prior dance knowledge in our beginner guides. We do not condescend to experienced dancers in our historical and technical writing. If a piece is aimed at a particular experience level, we say so at the top.
We welcome content suggestions, corrections, and general correspondence.
If you notice a factual error in any article, please write to us. We take accuracy seriously and will issue corrections when the evidence warrants it.