Editing Modern Western square dance (section)

=== Preserving the heritage ===
By the early twentieth century, square dance was declining in popularity, lacking a new generation of young dancers to continue the practice. [[Lloyd Pappy Shaw]], wishing to preserve square dance, traveled the country to record the calls used at the time, and compiled the steps in his book ''Cowboy Dances''.

Another heavy promoter of square dance was the industrialist [[Henry Ford]]. Ford believed that [[Jews]] invented [[jazz]] as a plot to corrupt society. Ford believed that this plot could be counteracted by returning America to dances and musical styles that he saw as traditional and [[white supremacist|white]]. As a result, he used his wealth to promote square dancing, through books and square dancing events. Ford also promoted square dance classes in public school, which were present in half of all American schools in 1928 as part of the standard physical education curriculum.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Pennacchia|first=Robyn|date=December 12, 2017|title=America's wholesome square dancing tradition is a tool of white supremacy|url=https://qz.com/1153516/americas-wholesome-square-dancing-tradition-is-a-tool-of-white-supremacy/|access-date=2019-06-16|website=Quartz|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Modern western square dance evolved in square dance events funded by Ford, using direction and guidance prepared by Shaw.