International Square-Dancing Month
Month of September
A square dance is a dance for four couples (eight dancers in total) arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, facing the middle of the square. Square dances were first documented in 16th-century England but were also quite common in France and throughout Europe. They came to North America with the European settlers and have undergone considerable development ever since. In some countries and regions, through preservation and repetition, square dances have attained the status of a folk dance. The Western American square dance may be the most widely known form worldwide, possibly due to its association in the 20th century with the romanticized image of the American cowboy. Square dancing is, therefore, strongly associated with the United States. Nineteen U.S. states have designated it as their official state dance.
National Skyscraper Day
September 3
Skyscraper comes from a nautical term which referred to a small triangular sail placed above the skysail on a sailing ship. The Empire State Building is a skyscraper that was the longest holder of the “world’s tallest building” title. Home Insurance Building in Chicago, is considered the first skyscraper. It was built in 1884 and was 138 feet high with equaling 10 stories. Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest man-made structure in the world. Its height is 2720 feet. It also has the world’s highest nightclub, world’s highest restaurant, world’s longest travel distance elevators: 653 feet, and is the world’s building with most floors at 163. The Empire State Building is1,250 feet high, less than half as high as Burj Khalifa. The Empire State Building was built in 410 days. It’s distinctive Art Deco spire was originally designed to be a mooring mast and depot for dirigibles. After a few attempts with airships the idea proved too dangerous.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Charlie Sheen – Actor – born in Las Angeles California
Albert DeSalvo – Boston Strangler – born in Chelsea, Massachusetts
