How a Queer Collective in Detroit Is Dancing on Henry Ford's Grave

The unexpected rebellion of queer square dancing

A Detroit Square Dance Society event. Photo: Andrew Potter

Published: January 3, 2025 | Last Updated: January 8, 2025

There was a time when Henry Ford weaponized square dancing to fight the growth of jazz music, which he claimed was a Jewish attempt to subvert wholesome American culture.

The Detroit Square Dance Society is dispelling the specter of the automaker’s anti-Semitic racism as they reclaim the fun and joy of the traditional pastime with their Queer Square Dance nights.

“We have subversive intentions and, yes, we want Henry Ford to be rolling over in his grave,” said Aaron Jonah Lewis, one of the organizers of the group who plays fiddle while Lindsay McCaw does the calling.

It started in 2014 when they and McCaw moved back to Detroit and started hosting square dances.

“They only started to become queer square dances little by little,” Lewis said. “We started using non-gendered language in our dances because we knew that was something that people were wanting — and embracing my queer identity was a big part of that.”

The group planned its first fully queer square dancing event in April of 2020, but the pandemic interrupted those plans. Once the cases started dropping in 2021 and people were getting vaccinated, they decided to host a small square dance at the Trash Mountain Collective.

“That was the first time we advertised it as a queer square dance,” Lewis said. “We were clear that it was a queer space we were creating. There were people who asked, ‘I’m not queer. Is it OK if I come?’ I’m like yes, of course, but just know this is a queer space that we’re making here.”

How is a queer square dance different from what many people were forced to learn during elementary school P.E. classes?

Lewis explains that they use conscious language and create a safe space for people to express themselves.

“We have no tolerance for homophobia,” they said.

The caller gathers dancers to explain the positions they need to take on the floor and walks them through the dance moves.

“We don’t use the terms ‘ladies’ or ‘gentlemen,'” Lewis said. “We usually use the terms ‘lead’ and ‘follow.’ We do a lot of dances where it’s not even necessary to have a leader.”

Queer Square Dance Online 2 — A Detroit Square Dance Society event. Photo: Andrew Potter

It’s a far cry from when Ford, a well-known anti-Semite, claimed that Jewish people invented jazz to corrupt America. To counteract what he considered the country’s moral decay, he hosted square dancing events, forcing his employees to attend. He funded contests and radio shows nationwide, which led to the creation of square dancing clubs and what is now known as Western-style square dancing.

Ford campaigned to make square dancing classes mandatory in school P.E. classes, believing it would teach children good citizenship to learn what he considered “white” and “wholesome” dancing — even though the call and response of square dancing originated with Black enslaved people.

“Henry Ford was using square dancing as a tool of cultural erasure and forced homogeny, making people do it whether they wanted to or not,” Lewis said. “He was saying, ‘Look, you all come from different countries. Forget about where you came from. You’re American now.'”

The Detroit Square Dancing Society is deliberate about infusing a different philosophy into their events.

“We want to use square dancing as a way to connect people and to celebrate our differences,” Lewis said. “We want to have fun and open those doors to the possibilities of connecting with other kinds of traditions.”

The Queer Square Dance nights use a different form of square dancing than what Ford promoted. Instead of Western Square Dancing style, they use the Southern Style Square Dancing.

“Western style is a little bit more regimented,” Lewis said. “There are more strict dress codes and gendered roles. It’s not as beginner-friendly. You have to learn the dancing before you show up. We’re doing Southern Square Dancing, which is more folk-oriented, more grassroots-oriented. It’s a lot more free-form. The calls are not at all pre-determined.”

Since 2021, they’ve been hosting four to six dances a year. Their final event in 2024 was held in October at Vamanos in Detroit. Tickets were $20, but they never turn anyone away who can’t afford the price.

It isn’t necessary to know anything about square dancing, but Lewis suggests that if you are a beginner to arrive at the start when most of the teaching is done. Dances get more complex as the evening wears on.

“People come out and they have a blast — it’s really gratifying to be a part of that,” Lewis said. “We don’t only do square dances. We do circle dances, long line dances and couple dances. They’re all very beginner-friendly.”

Most dances last 10 to 15 minutes with short breaks in between each one. While the size of the venue often dictates how many people they can accommodate, Lewis said most dances have anywhere from 80 to 150 people.

The music is always live with Lewis as the fiddle player and band leader. Other musicians include a guitar player, a bass player and various special guests at each event.

Food and drink are always a staple. Guests bring a dish to pass to the potluck events and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available.

“Music, dancing and food are what life is all about,” Lewis said, describing what attendees can expect when they arrive. “The room you’ll walk into is the room with the food and the bar and people milling around and socializing. You’ll see a bunch of fabulous people — and you’ll be one of them — greet you and be friendly. In the other room, there will be live music and dancing.”

Lewis said she tells people this: dancing is optional, but having fun is mandatory.

“I tell people to bring food, bring comfy shoes, bring friends, bring an open and loving heart and be prepared for a really great time,” Lewis said, adding that while they like to say it’s for everybody, it really isn’t. “It’s not for bigots and haters. It’s not for anyone who’s feeling sick. It’s also not for people who don’t want to be around people. We totally respect that, but if you are up for being around people, holding hands with strangers, smiling and laughing like an idiot while there’s a ripping band playing great music — it’s for you.”

Visit facebook.com/Detroitsquaredance to stay up to date on upcoming events.