My mom, who square danced (which required a certain amount of lessons before one was allowed to come), used to look down her nose at contradancing because, goodness, anyone could come in off the street and do it.
Fortunately there are square dances that also allow anyone to come in off the street too. It sounds like your mom was doing Modern Western Square Dance, which has lessons and rankings. The people who do this find it challenging and enjoyable. The dancing (and dancers) will be of a consistent and predictable caliber. The people who do traditional squares find MWSD exclusivist and elitist.
Well, I like to think there's room for all types...I took lessons and classes and stuff in Western square dancing, and it has its high points and contradancing has its high points.
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