Callerlab Basic & Mainstream Definitions
BASIC MOVEMENTS 20-29
20. GRAND SQUARE: Starting formation -square. A call
that has the sides doing one part while at the same time the heads are doing another.
Heads move forward into the square (4 steps), turning one quarter (90°) on the fourth
step to face partners and back away to the sides of the square (4 steps). Turn one quarter
(90°) to face the original opposites. Back away to the corners of the square (4 steps)
and turn one quarter (90°) to face original partners and walk forward to home (4 steps).
Do not turn. (Total to here: 16 steps.) From this point the action is reversed. Heads back
away from their partners (4 steps), turning one quarter (90°) on the fourth step and walk
forward to the opposites (4 steps). Turn one quarter and walk forward into the center
toward partners (4 steps). Turn one quarter (90°) to face opposites and back up to home
(total: 32 steps). While the head couples are doing the first 16 steps, the sides start by
facing their partners to back away and do the second 16 steps. Completing this, the sides
do the first 16 steps, while the heads are doing the last 16. The principle of walking
three steps and then turning (or reversing) on the fourth step is followed throughout.
This call may be broken into fractional parts by the caller directing the number of steps
required. The call may also start with the heads, or other designated dancers, directed to
face.
STYLING: Mens' arms in natural dance position; ladies work skirt with natural swinging
action. When moving forward and backward as a couple, normal couple handhold is desired.
TIMING: 32 counts.
21. STAR THRU: Starting formation -facing dancers (man
and lady). Man's right hand is placed against the lady's left, palm to palm with fingers
up, to make an arch. As the dancers move forward the lady does a one quarter (90°) left
face turn under the arch, while the man does a one quarter (90°) turn to the right moving
behind the lady. They end up side by side with the lady on the man's right.
STYLING: Hands are joined in the arch, palm to palm, fingers pointed up. Hand grip
should be readjusted to couple handhold after the basic is completed. Join hands in raised
position approximately eye level. It is important that hands not be joined before that
point. Man's hand should be used to stabilize as the lady provides her own momentum. It is
equally important that the man's arm remain well above the lady's head. TIMING: 4 steps
from point of contact.
22. CIRCLE TO A LINE: Starting formation -facing
couples. Couples circle left one half (180°). The lead dancer in the couple who started
on the inside (man's position) releases the left handhold, but retains the handhold of the
dancer on his right to become the left end dancer of the line. The released dancer moves
forward under the raised arm arch formed by that dancer and the adjacent dancer to become
the right end dancer in the line.
STYLING: The circle portion is the same styling as in circle eight. As the man breaks
with his left hand to form a line, he should lead the line several steps before turning.
After the end lady has released her right hand, and while retaining the right hand of the
man beside her, together they will raise their joined hands and make an arch. Then as the
line begins to straighten out, she will move forward under this arch, turning left face
gradually under her own left arm so that instead of backing up she is moving forward to
the end of the line. TIMING: 8 steps.
23. BEND THE LINE: Starting formation -any line with
an even number of dancers. Dancers in each half of the line must be facing in the same
direction. The center dancers in the line drop hands with each other. With each half of
the line working as a unit, the ends move forward while the centers back up until both
halves of the line are facing.
STYLING: As ends move forward, centers back up equally. Use normal couple handhold and
in the event a new line is formed, immediately join hands in the new line. TIMING: Lines
of four, six, or eight, 4 steps.
24. ALL AROUND THE LEFT HAND LADY: Starting
formation -square or circle. All dancers face their corners. Walking forward and around
each other while keeping right shoulders adjacent, dancers return to face their partner.
STYLING: Men's arms in natural dance position. Ladies use both hands on skirt, moving
skirt forward and back to avoid opposite dancer. TIMING: 8 steps.
25. SEE SAW: Starting formation -facing dancers, square or
circle. When combined with all around the left hand lady, each dancer walks forward and
around the partner keeping left shoulders adjacent, then steps forward to face the corner.
In all other cases, it is a left shoulder dosado. Dancers advance and pass left shoulders.
Each without turning moves to the left passing in back of the other dancer and then moves
backward passing right shoulders returning to starting position.
STYLING: When combined with all around your corner, styling is the same as in all
around the left hand lady except that left shoulders are kept adjacent and left hand and
left shoulder should be kept forward. When used as a left shoulder dosado, styling is the
same as dosado except that left shoulder leads first. TIMING: 8 steps.
26. SQUARE THRU FAMILY -1-5 hands: Starting formation
-facing couples. (a) SQUARE THRU: Facing dancers join right hands and pull by. Turn in one
quarter (90°), join left hands and pull by. (A half square thru has been completed.) Turn
in one quarter (90°) and join right hands with facing dancer and pull by. (A three
quarter square thru has been completed.) Turn in one quarter (90°), join left hands and
pull by but do not turn. (A full square thru has been completed.) Variations of square
thru may be specified by fractions or by the number of hands, e.g. square thru three
quarters is the same as square thru three hands, etc. (b) LEFT SQUARE THRU: Similar to
square thru except that it is started with the left hand and hands are alternated
accordingly. When a left square thru is required, "left square thru" must be
directed.
STYLING: Styling should be similar to that in right and left grand. Corners should be
rounded off rather than pulling through and doing a square military turn. TIMING: SS, 4
people full, 10 steps; three quarters, 8; one half, 6; one quarter, 4. Box, 4 people full,
8; three quarters, 6; one half, 4; one quarter, 2 steps.
27. CALIFORNIA TWIRL: Starting formation -couple
(man and lady). Partners join hands (man's right with lady's left) and raise them to form
an arch. The lady walks forward and under their joined hands making a one half (180°)
left-face turn while the man walks around the lady in a clockwise direction one half
(180°). Dancers have exchanged places and are both facing in the opposite direction from
which they started.
STYLING: Men and ladies use loose hand grip. Outside hands in natural dance position.
It is important that the man does not "wind" the lady. Man's hand should be used
to stabilize as the lady provides her own momentum. It is also important that the man's
hand remain well above the lady's head. Hands should be adjusted to normal couple
handholds after completion of the basic. TIMING: 4 steps.
28. DIVE THRU: Starting formation -facing couples (man
and lady). The couple whose back is to the center of the square (unless a specific couple
is directed) makes an arch by raising their joined inside hands. The other couple ducks
under the arch and moves forward. The couple making the arch moves forward and does a
California twirl. If neither couple has its back to the center of the set, then one couple
must be directed to dive thru the other couple.
STYLING: The couple making the arch uses a loose handhold. Stand far enough apart to
allow another couple to dive under. It is permissible for dancers making the arch to part
hands momentarily if it is uncomfortable to reach over diving dancers. After hands are
rejoined, styling should be the same as previously described for California twirl. Couple
diving under uses couple handhold. Bend low enough and stay close enough to partner to
move comfortably underneath the arch. TIMING: Box, couple diving, 2 steps; couple facing
out, 6.
29. WHEEL AROUND: Starting formation -couple. The
couple, working as a unit, turns around (180°). The left hand dancer backs up while the
right hand dancer moves forward. The pivot point is the handhold between the two dancers.
STYLING: Same as in couples promenade. TIMING: 4 steps.
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SILVER
GEM Country Dances 
