Unofficial: Murfreesboro Broke Square Dance Record

Jul 07, 2016 at 08:47 pm by bryan


It's unofficial now, but square dance organizer Gloria Christy says Uncle Dave Macon Days broke the Guinness World Record for the "world's largest square dance" . . .

(Time: 10-seconds)

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The evening was documented by witnesses, back-up with video and photographs and then all dancing was done in pre-numbered circles around the courthouse. All of this now has to be reviewed by Guinness officials before the event can be validated.

The crowd went wild when she announced "You broke 'Boro history tonight" . . .

As dancers walked from the civic plaza to the town square, the count was almost a hundred shy of breaking the record. The inner circle of the courthouse had circles drawn around the historic structure.

It was obvious that several hundred spectators, who specifically came to witness the attempt to break the "world's largest square dance record, were standing outside the corded off dance area. At that point Christy asked for more square dance volunteers to step forward. A huge number came over the line, and held-up Tennessee's reputation of being the Volunteer State.

Once they signed-up and received their arm band, Christy said we were almost there. Suddenly, more stepped forward and we were down to needing just a few. Cameras operated by official witnesses documented the square dancers coming forward and getting arm bands.

Guinness Record

The current "World's Largest Square Dance" record was set December 21, 2011 in Yorkville, Illinois. The Yorkville Middle School organized the people in this town of 17,000 residents to fill 100 squares with 8 dancers. Their record of 800 square dancers has stood for over four and a half years.

There were 836 dancers taking part in the Uncle Dave Macon Days Square Dance on the historic Murfreesboro square Friday night (7/7/2016).

Uncle Dave Macon Days official Gloria Christy explained, "There are many guidelines that must be followed and documented for the results of an event to be counted. We used numbered arm bands, documented with every dancer showing that arm band and being photographed as they walked into the corded-off dance area. However, we won't know if our 836 dancers will all qualify, until the Guinness Book of World Records folks check our videos and other documents."

WGNS talks with Gloria Christy

Christy talked with NewsRadio WGNS after the event . . .

(Time: 1:30)

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