Our History

The Independence Squares is currently undergoing an extensive archive/history project as we look at our first 25 years (2013) as a Philadelphia LGBTQ community of Dancers. If you have items or artifacts of our past 25 years either to loan for electronic archiving or archive as a gift to the organization … badges, photos, posters etc…

Please contact our Archivist/Historian Joshua Yoder (click to email).

A Brief History of Independence Squares

The Independence Squares was founded in 1988 by Teacher/Caller Mr. Allan Laufer and a brave group of Philadelphians. Some of these people were recruited through the fledgling Country-Western dance community beginning in the area. Classes were in Philadelphia, and dances were in New Hope, Pennsylvania. From the beginning, the Independence Squares was a mixed group of gay and lesbian dancers (with a smattering of straight folk!) from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. As the club became more organized, we sought and obtained non-profit corporate status in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1991.