Contradance vs. Squaredance

There's some debate about the differences between contra- and squaredance among some of my friends. i personally can't tell a difference, except between the style of music. To add to it, a lot of contra dances go by other names, and are considered squaredances. It's all kinda confusing, but here's what i've found about both styles.

Contra dance refers to several partnered folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines of indefinite length. Sometimes described as New England folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world, though they are especially popular in North America.

At the end of the 17th century, English country dances were taken up by French dancers. The French called these dances contra-dance or contredanse. As time progressed, English country dances were spread and reinterpreted throughout the Western world, and eventually the French form of the name came to be associated with the American folk dances, especially in New England.
Contra dances were fashionable in the United States until the early to mid-19th century, when they were supplanted in popularity by squaredances (such as the quadrill and lancers) and couple dances (such as the waltz and polka). By the late 19th century, square dances too had fallen out of favor, except in rural areas. When squares were revived (around 1925 to 1940, depending on the region), contra dances were generally not included. In the 1930s and 1940s, contra dances appear to have been done only in small towns in widely scattered parts of northeastern North America, such as Ohio, the Martime provinces of Canada, and particularly northern New England.

Square danceTraditional square dance is not standardized and can be subdivided into regional styles. The New England and Appalachian styles have been particularly well documented; both have survived to the present time. There are several other styles; some have survived or been revived in recent years, some have not.

Traditional square dance is frequently presented in alternation with contra dances or with some form of freestyle couple dancing. One ancestor of New England style square dances is the quadrill, and older New England callers occasionally refer to their squares as "quadrilles."

The basis of modern Western square dance was established during the 1930s and 1940s, in order to preserve traditional American folk dance. Since the 1970s modern Western square dance has been promoted and standardized by Callerlab, the "International Association of Square Dance Callers". Modern

Western square dance is sometimes presented in alternation with round dances.
The dance was first described in 17th century England but was also quite common in France and throughout Europe and bears a marked similarity to Scottish country dancing. It has become associated with the United States due to its historic development in that country. Nineteen US states have designated it as their official state dance.

The various square dance movements are based on the steps and figures used in traditional folk dances and social dances of the various people who migrated to the USA. Some of these traditional dances include Morris dance, English country dance, Caledonians and the quadrill. Square dancing is enjoyed by people around the world, and people around the world are involved in the continuing development of this dance. Square dancers are prompted or cued through a sequence of steps (square dance choreography) by a square dance caller to the beat of music. The caller leads, but usually does not participate in the dance.