February 7, 1991

Governor Bill Clinton signed into law the Arkansas General Assembly’s designation of the square dance as the official American folk dance of Arkansas. Act 93 resembled measures introduced across the nation by promoters of club square dancing after an attempt to have the dance awarded national symbol status failed in 1988. The bill posited a long history of “called” or “cued” dancing in North America and Arkansas, as well as the association of square dancing with family recreation. It defined square dancing as incorporating virtually all called or cued dances—including clogging, contra, and line dancing—and asserted that official designation would “enhance the cultural stature of Arkansas both nationally and internationally.”