Standard Position Dancing
Everyone raised in the United States has the advantage of knowing what standard position dancing (SPD) means. This knowledge has been passed taken from generation to generation. Many times it happens that fathers and grandfathers are told to the incipient caller “you can’t call this from there. And the answer of the question why, is usually “because you can’t”.
Europe treats SD differently than America. For America square dance is a national dance, known for ages by everybody. Europe has known square for about the last 50 years. Square dancing has been imported and because there was no connection with the past, has been taken more technically. Definition was most important, not what people had learned from their childhood. Therefore by taking definitions more literally, dancing in Europe is more technically fastidious and more sophisticated.
Higher fastidiousness demands a caller, who is able to combine certain formation with certain figures, and a dancer, who doesn’t know such a combination and is forced to find the solution on the fly. Therefore higher fastidiousness is not demanded every time or cannot be used. If you call to the inexperienced or tired dancer, you are a guest caller at a club evening, you have a tip at the caller’s showcase, you are momentarily indisposed or you are inexperienced at the top level, these all are the right situations for SPD.
Standard positions or in other words dancing from standard positions is not defined by Callerlab. It is just about a performance of the figure from the formation which the dancers dance that figure most often. It is what they know to do instantly, subconsciously. Everything else for them is higher fastidiousness. If you take notes from several different dances, write down the pairs FASR-figure, the most often pairs define SPD.
The dancers are the reason why to use SPD. Your mission is not to show how difficult a combination you are able to make up. Your mission is to keep dancers moving. If you are unknown to the people on the floor, they won’t appreciate your outstanding combinations, if they will be forced to hear them standing in the static square. “Standing” ovation after such a tip has a slightly different meaning.
Yes, true, in your country/city/club are the best dancers in the world and cannot be satisfied by SPD. Nevertheless the SPD technique is something worth knowing, because one day it may help you and the dancers you are calling to at the moment..
Imagine there is a certain line:
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Very hard, technical challenging dance |
The edge of the floor’s abilities |
Very boring, mundane dance |
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It makes no sense to keep dancers somewhere in the middle of the right field; maybe in the very beginning of your calling, but not for such a long time. Your duty is to keep dancers very close to the edge and sometimes slightly cross the line for a while but not to go too far.
SPD technique means that you call as many as possible figures from standard formations (note: for the purpose of this article the (standard) formation means a formation and an arrangement). Imagine that every figure starting from non-standard formation raises a red flag in your mind in order to be aware that dancers are closer to the edge. If you want to proceed to the line or behind the line, continue with non-standard formations. If you want dancers to relax, just go back to standard.
In the following tables you will find figures and their standard formations with arrangement.
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(anyone (Ladies)) Chain (fract) |
2 normal facing couples |
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(anyone) Cross Fold |
Same sex lines facing out, all ½ sashayed |
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(anyone) Cross Run |
Left Ocean Wave, boys in the middle, boys are (anyone) |
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(anyone) Fold |
Right Ocean Wave, boys in the middle, girls are (anyone) or lines facing out all sashayed ends are (anyone) |
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(anyone) Run |
Right Ocean Wave, boys in the middle, boys are (anyone) |
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(anything) & 1/4 More |
Used after Ladies Chain and Right & Left Thru |
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(anything) To An Allemande Thar Allemande Left To An Allemande Thar |
Static square, face partner. Add helping words Go forward 2 |
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Allemande Left |
From various formations, but every time with the real corner. Do not play with Allemande Left, R & L Grand, on the 3 hand Promenade Home |
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1/2 Tag (The Line) |
Right-hand 2-faced line, girls in the middle; usually followed by Scoot Back |
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Separate Around (n) Come Into The Middle Around (n) To A Line |
After Heads Pass Thru from Static square |
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Backtrack |
Single File Promenade |
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Balance |
Alamo Ring |
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Bend The Line |
Lines facing out and 2-faced lines with normal couples |
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Box Circulate |
Parallel Waves, called with designated dancers (boys, girls, centers, outsides). |
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Cast Off (fract) |
Lines facing out Called only as a 3/4 version and after Centers In |
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Centers In |
CDPT |
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Chain Down The Line |
2-faced line, girls in the middle Left Ocean Wave, girls in the middle |
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Circle (Left|Right) |
Static square |
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Circle To A Line |
Lead Right Box |
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Circulate, Couples Circulate |
Waves with boys on the ends 2-faced lines with boys on ends |
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Cloverleaf |
CDPT, normal couples |
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Couples Hinge, Couples Trade |
2-faced line with boys on ends |
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Courtesy Turn |
Boys always turning girls |
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Dive Thru |
Eight Chain Thru, normal couples |
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Dixie Style (To An Ocean Wave) |
Facing lines, normal couples (always preceded by some flowing action |
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Do Paso |
Static square after Walk around your corner |
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Dosado |
Eight Chain Thru, after Heads Square Thru 4 or from a static square, face your partner |
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Double Pass Thru |
DPT with normal couples |
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Eight Chain (Thru|n) |
Eight Chain Thru as a version for 4 hands with normal couples |
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Ferris Wheel |
Right hand 2-faced lines, normal couples |
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First Right, Next Left |
After Double Pass Thru call with normal couples |
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Flutter Wheel |
Normal couples after some flow |
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Forward & Back |
Normal lines |
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Grand Square |
Static square |
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Half Sashay Rollaway (With A Half Sashay) |
Normal couples |
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Hinge Single Hinge |
Waves with boys on ends or at Plus, right hand 2 faced lines with girls in the middle (girls hinge) |
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Ladies Chain (fract) |
Static square – versions 1/2 and 3/4 Facing lines – version 1/2 |
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Ladies In, Men Sashay |
Moving Circle to the Left |
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Lead (Right|Left) |
Static Square normal couples |
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Left Swing Thru |
After dixie style to a wave and boys trade |
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Partner Hinge |
Normal couples |
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Pass The Ocean |
Normal couples |
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Pass Thru |
Normal couple |
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Pass To The Center |
Eight Chain Thru, normal couples |
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Recycle (from a Wave) |
Right Ocean Wave, girls in the middle |
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Right & Left Grand Weave The Ring |
Starts with the real partner. Anything other than a squared set with everyone facing partners is not standard |
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Right & Left Thru |
Normal couples |
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Scoot Back |
Right Ocean Waves, boys facing in |
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See Saw |
Static Square after Walk around your Corner |
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Single File Promenade |
Single File Promenade after Circle left |
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Star Thru Slide Thru |
Normal couples |
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Spin Chain Thru |
Right Waves, girls in the middle |
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Spin The Top |
Right Waves, boys in the middle |
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Split Circulate |
Waves. From heads square thru 4 and touch ¼ (Should be followed by boy run) |
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Split The (Outside Couple) |
Eight Chain Thru. Normal couples |
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Square Thru (n) |
Normal couples in version for 4 hands. Version for 3 hands is followed by Allemande Left |
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Star (fract) |
Only in singing calls in the combination: Heads Square Thru 4, Right hand star with the outsides, Heads Left hand Star in the middle. This combination is very common, even though it doesn’t meet a definition of the Star. Also from a squared set in beginner’s class such as boys star right |
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Star Promenade |
Boys in the middle going counterclockwise |
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Sweep (fract) |
only in 1/4 version normal couples |
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Swing Thru |
Right Ocean Wave, girls in the middle |
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Tag The Line (full) (dir) |
Right hand 2 faced lines boys on the end and lines facing out |
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Touch (fract) |
only in 1/4 version from normal couples |
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Trade |
Normal couples |
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Trade By |
Trade By, normal couples |
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Veer (Right|Left) |
Only following some flow like recycle. Eight Chain Thru Trade By |
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Walk & Dodge |
Waves with boys looking in |
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Wheel & Deal |
Lines facing out normal couples Right hand 2-faced lines with girls in middle |
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Wheel Around |
Normal couples |
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Zoom |
Normal couples. DPT |
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3/4 Tag (The Line) |
Right hand 2 faced lines boys on the end. |
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Acey Deucey |
Right hand 2 faced lines with boys on end and waves with boys in the middle. |
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All 8 Spin The Top |
Squared set, face you partner (after Allemande left) |
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Chase (Right|Left) |
Normal lines couples back to back. |
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Coordinate |
Right hand Column obtained from normal facing lines after Touch 1/4. |
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Cross Fire |
Right hand 2 faced lines with girls in the middle. |
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Cut The Diamond |
Girls points, boys centers. |
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Diamond Circulate |
Either Boy points or girl points (not both). |
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Dixie Grand |
DPT after which everyone has their original corner. |
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Explode The Wave |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. |
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Extend (from non 1/4 Tag) |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. 3/4 Tag with a normal couple outside and normal wave in the middle. |
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Fan The Top |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle or after a box the gnat from ½ sashayed lines |
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Flip The Diamond |
Girls points, boys centers. |
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Follow Your Neighbor |
Waves, boys as trailers. |
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Grand Swing Thru |
Tidal wave, girls as centers on each side. |
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Linear Cycle |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. |
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Load The Boat |
Normal lines. |
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Peel Off |
CDPT with normal couples or Left hand Column obtained from normal facing lines after Left Touch ¼ if followed by bend the line. |
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Peel The Top |
From a Z formation (waves with boys in middle, girls fold |
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Ping Pong Circulate |
Normal 1/4 Tag. |
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Relay The Deucey |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. |
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Roll |
Not standard anywhere. (Maybe after sashayed lines, touch 1/4) |
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Single Circle To A Wave |
Normal facing couples. |
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Spin Chain & Exchange The Gears |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. |
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Spin Chain The Gears |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. |
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Spread |
After Follow Your Neighbor or Heads Star Thru |
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Teacup Chain |
Static square, ormal couples |
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Track 2 |
CDPT, normal couples. |
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Trade The Wave |
Left hand wave with the boys in the middle. |
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(anyone) Cross |
Mini-waved box with boys as trailers |
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(Right|Left) Roll To A Wave |
Normal Couples back to bac |
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{fraction} Top |
Thar with all girls in center or on end |
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1/4 In | Out |
Normal couple |
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1/4 | 3/4 Thru |
Right hand mini-wave box, boys as leaders or trailers (not mixed). |
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6 By 2 Acey Deucey |
Twin diamonds with boys as centers |
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All 4 Couples CONCEPT |
This defaults to what is normal for the call which is being modified by the concept |
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All 8 CONCEPT |
This defaults to what is normal for the call which is being modified by the concept |
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Any Hand CONCEPT |
Probably the inverted line that will result in normal lines |
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As (A) Couple(s) CONCEPT |
Normal couples (also may default to the normal SP for the call. Such as, same sex couples in a right-hand box: follow you neighbor) |
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Box Counter Rotate (fract) |
Right hand mini-wave box, boys as trailers. |
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Box Transfer |
Right hand mini-wave box, boys as trailers. |
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Cast A Shadow |
Left hand 2-faced lined with boys in the middle. |
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Clover And (anything) |
Lead couple is normal and anything call is SPD. |
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Cross Clover And (anything) |
Lead couple is normal and anything call is SPD. |
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Cross Trail Thru |
Normal lines. |
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Crossover Circulate |
Right hand two-faced lines boys on end. |
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Cut The Hourglass |
Girls are cutters. |
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Cycle & Wheel |
Normal couple boy on end, mini-wave with boy on the end. |
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Diamond Chain Thru |
Twin diamonds with boys as points. |
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Double Star Thru |
Normal couples. |
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Ends Bend |
Same sex lines boys on left side because any split square thru gives you the same result as normal square thru |
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Explode (from a Line) |
Probably ½ sashayed lines |
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Explode The Line |
Probably ½ sashayed lines |
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Flip The Hourglass |
Girls are flippers. |
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Grand 1/4 | 3/4 Thru |
Right hand column, mini-wave box with boys as trailers. |
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Grand Follow Your Neighbor |
Right hand column, mini-wave box with boys as trailers. |
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Grand Remake |
Right hand column, mini-wave box with boys as trailers. |
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Half Breed Thru |
Lines with at least one half-sashayed couple. |
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Horseshoe Turn |
Trade By formation with normal couples. |
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Hourglass Circulate |
Any hourglass (boys point better). |
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Chain Reaction |
Normal 1/4 Tag. |
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Checkmate (The Column) |
Right hand Column obtained from ½ sashayed lines after Touch 1/4. |
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In | Out Roll Circulate |
Waves with same sex together (boys inner active) or waves with boys on end |
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Lockit |
Right hand waves with boys on end |
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Mini Busy |
Right hand 2 faced lines, normal couples. |
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Mix |
Left hand waves boys in middle |
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Motivate |
Right hand waves with girls in the middle. |
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Pair Off |
Static square |
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Partner Hinge |
Normal couple (Lines facing out). |
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Partner Tag |
Normal couple |
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Pass & Roll |
8 chain thru formation, boys on end. |
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Pass & Roll Your Neighbor |
8 chain thru formation, boys in middle. |
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Pass In |
Same sex lines facing with boys on left side |
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Pass Out |
Same sex lines facing with boys on right side |
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Pass The Sea |
Normal couples. |
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Peel & Trail |
Left hand mini-wave box with boys as leaders. |
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Recycle (from Facing Couples) |
Normal couples. |
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Remake |
Right hand mini-wave box, boys as trailers. |
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Remake The Thar |
Left hand thar with boys in middle |
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Reverse Swap Around |
Normal couples. |
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Scoot & Dodge |
Right hand mini-wave box with girls as leaders. |
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Scoot & Weave |
Right hand mini-wave box with girls as leaders. |
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Scoot Chain Thru |
Waves with girls as leaders. |
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Single Wheel |
Normal couples or waves with boys in middle |
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Slide |
Right hand waves with boys in middle after the call slip |
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Slip |
Right hand waves with the boys in the middle after Swing |
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Slither |
Waves after slide |
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Spin The Windmill (dir) |
From 3/4 tag with boys in the middle. Standard call is Spin the Windmill, outsides right. |
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Split Counter Rotate (fract) |
Right hand box with boys trailers |
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Split Square Chain Thru |
The formation where after those who are facing right pull by and ¼ in and at that point everyone is a normal couple |
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Split Square Thru (n) |
The formation where after those who are facing right pull by and ¼ in and at that point everyone is a normal couple |
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Split Transfer |
Right hand mini-wave box with girls as leaders. |
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Square Chain Thru |
Normal couples. |
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Step & Slide |
Lines facing out. |
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Swap Around |
Normal Couples |
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Swing |
Waves boys on end |
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Swing & Mix |
Not an A2 call |
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Switch The Wave |
Right hand waves with boys in the middle. |
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Switch To A Diamond |
Right hand waves with boys in the middle. |
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Switch To An Hourglass |
Right hand waves with boys in the middle. |
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Trade Circulate |
Right hand two faces lines boys on ends or left hand wave with boys in middle |
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Trail Off |
Right hand mini-wave box with boys as trailers or CDPT with normal couples. |
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Transfer The Column |
Right hand Column obtained from same sex lines with the boys on the left side of the line after Touch ¼ (right hand columns with boys as 3 & 4) |
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Triple Scoot |
Right hand Column obtained from normal facing lines after Touch ¼ |
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Triple Star Thru |
From DPT with ends sashayed |
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Triple Trade |
Tidal Wave boys each side centers or 3/4 Tag from same sex lines boys on left side tag the line 3/4 |
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Turn & Deal |
Right hand 2-faced lines with boys in the middle. |
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(Left) Wheel Thru |
Normal facing couples. |
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Zag |
I don't think this should ever be called alone. But any CDPT formation: zig zag |
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Zig |
I don't think this should ever be called alone. But any CDPT formation: zig zag |