Popular dance has always been an important part of American culture, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when there was an explosion of interest in ballroom dance. However, ballroom dancing was much more than couples responding to the rhythmic tempos and melodies of dance music. It was a complex venue where intricate social interactions related to social status, gender roles, and proper etiquette was publicly expressed. John Philip Sousa was no stranger to popular dance and frequently attended social dances as a young man, including one notable event when his girlfriend left the dance with another man – a complete breach of ballroom etiquette. This exhibit includes original and published music manuscripts, an early twentieth-century dance manual, photographs and lithographic prints, and a historic top hat and dance shoes documenting Sousa’s profound connection to popular dance in America.