When people think of square dance, they often picture energetic groups in colorful skirts and western shirts, but few know the name behind one of the most influential voices in the activity’s modern era — Bob Osgood.
Bob’s journey in square dancing began long before most dancers knew there was a “square dance world.” As a college student in Southern California, he started calling dances and teaching steps. His passion for the activity grew even during World War II, when he organized and called dances for fellow servicemen — a role that sharpened both his skills and his belief in the power of community through dance.
A Voice and a Magazine That Connected a Movement
After the war, Bob realized something important: square dancers and callers across the country were eager to share ideas, but there was no hub for conversation or connection. In 1948, he launched Sets in Order, a monthly magazine dedicated to square dance choreography, culture, news, and education. What began as a regional publication quickly became a national phenomenon — eventually running 444 issues over 37 years — and served as a central resource for dancers, teachers, and callers around North America and beyond.
Through the pages of the magazine (retitled Square Dancing in later decades), Bob published dance calls, club news, teaching guides, and essays that helped standardize terminology and technique. His editorial leadership gave square dance its own shared language and community network at a time when the hobby was spreading but lacked cohesion.
Beyond Print: Radio, TV, Tours, and Leadership
Bob’s influence wasn’t limited to print. In the early 1950s, he produced and hosted square dance television programs, bringing instruction and joy into people’s homes at a time when TV was still young. He also helped organize workshops, caller schools, vacation dance institutes, and even international tours for square dancers — helping spread the activity to audiences as far away as Europe, Asia, and Hawaii.
Perhaps one of his most lasting legacies was his role in the formation of CALLERLAB, the International Association of Square Dance Callers. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as square dance terminology and expectations were becoming more complex, Bob helped convene callers and leaders to create standardized teaching programs still used today. He served as the organization’s first Executive Secretary and later Board Chairman, fostering collaboration across the community.
Legacy and Importance
Bob Osgood often said that square dancing was more than steps and calls — it was “friendship set to music.” That philosophy guided his work as a caller, publisher, organizer, and promoter. His vision connected dancers across cities, states, and even continents, giving square dance a structure, visibility, and vibrancy that ensured it would thrive long after his lifetime. For us today, Bob Osgood’s contributions are a reminder that preserving tradition while building community can keep culture alive — and that one passionate individual can shape an entire movement. His work continues to influence how we teach, dance, and celebrate square dancing, making him an enduring figure in our lives and in the history of this uniquely American art form.
Though he passed away in 2003, Bob Osgood’s influence still echoes in dance halls, magazines, caller conventions, and the vibrant community he helped build. Whether you’re a seasoned caller or a newcomer learning your first do‑si‑do, his fingerprints are part of the joy you experience on the dance floor.
Bob should be the reminder to callers that while calling steps is important, what really mattered was helping dancers connect with one another through the joy of the dance.