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Flappers, jazz, jitterbug, and the urbanization of america. the square dance was quickly becoming obsolete. and but for one man, it just might have faded away for good. industrialist henry ford, founder of the ford motor company made it his mission to save what had been reduced to a fad. ford set out to reintroduce square dancing to the country by sponsoring community dances, programs in public schools and colleges nationwide, and in nationally syndicated radio show, featuring legendary dance caller benjamin leavitt. ford wanted the country to have an alternative to the evils of the roaring '2...

A thousand people. 800 usually is the norm. >> some square dance supporters will tell you the popularity of the art is at a crossroads. a place it's been before. its origins have been traced back to colonial new england and the american pioneer. when the settlers gathered for food and fun on saturday nights after a week of building cabins and toiling the land, this he would dance. but the beats were different for the scotts, irish, french and others. so a new common dance was created with steps from all the new americans. groups would be divided into squares. and eventually a caller was added ...

It was a dance created to bring order out of chaos. during america's infancy settlers gathered for fellowship and to celebrate a week's work. but the dances from each culture were different. so the settlers created one pattern for all and the square dance was born. an american original. it became a community staple and was part of the educational curriculum. but now the square dance is struggling to survive. men and women of the cherokee squares, a square dance club in georgia. twice a month for the last seven years the group has met to, well, dance. but the group grows smaller each year. >> i...

Glad you're with us. welcome back. it was a dance created to bring order out of chaos. settlers gathered for fellowship and to celebrate a week's work. but the dances from each culture were different. so the settlers created one pattern for all and the square dance was born. an american original. it was even part of the nation's educational curriculum. but now the square dance is struggling to survive. >> reporter: many women of the cherokee square, the square dance club in georgia. twice a month for the last seven years, the group has met to, well, dance, but the groups grow smaller each year...

Was added to keep everyone in rhythm. as america grew, so did the popularity of the dance. then came the roaring '20s. the flappers, jazz, jitterbug and urbanization of america. the square dance was becoming obsolete. but for one man, it might have faded away for good. henry ford made it his mission to save what was reduced to a fad. ford set out to reintroduce square dancing in the country by sponsoring community dances. in nationally syndicated radio show featuring legendary dance caller. ford wanted the country to have an alternative to the evils of the roaring '20s. today, several u.s. sta...