Callerlab Basic & Mainstream Definitions
BASIC MOVEMENTS 30-39
30. THAR FAMILY: (a) ALLEMANDE THAR: An allemande thar star
is a formation and may be formed at the end of any left arm turn by the center dancers (or
those directed) forming a right hand box star and backing up. Each outside dancer holds
the left forearm of a center dancer and walks forward. (b) WRONG WAY THAR: A wrong way
thar may be formed at the end of any right arm turn by the center dancers (or those
directed) forming a left hand box star and backing up. Outside dancers hold the right
forearm of a center dancer and walk forward.
STYLING: When the men are in the center backing up, their right hands will form a
packsaddle/box star, taking the wrist of the man in front of him. When the ladies star,
they will simply touch hands in the center. The dancers forming the star must remember to
allow those on the outside to set the pace, since they have to travel a much further
distance. If the centers move too fast, the result is that those on the outside will have
to run to maintain the pace. As in any star, the ladies, while on the outside, may elect
to hold their skirts. TIMING: SS, from allemande left to point of backup star, 12 steps.
31. SHOOT THE STAR -regular, full around: Starting
formation -thar or wrong way thar. The handholds forming the center star are released as
each center dancer and the adjacent outside dancer arm turn one half (180°) or full
(360°) as directed. If half or full is not directed, the arm turn is one half.
STYLING: The forearm position is used for shooting the star. Outside hands free and in
natural dance position. Lady will continue to hold skirt until hand is needed for next
command. TIMING: Regular, 4 steps; full around, 8.
32. SLIP THE CLUTCH: Starting formation -thar or
wrong way thar. Dancers in the center of the thar stop and, while retaining the star,
release armholds with the dancers beside them. Everyone then moves forward within the
circle in which he was traveling while in the thar.
STYLING: Despite the change of moving direction, you can make the switch flowing and
comfortable if the armhold is released effortlessly and that same hand is held ready to
turn the next person as directed. TIMING: 2 steps.
33. BOX THE GNAT: Starting formation -facing dancers
(man and lady). Dancers step forward, join and then raise their right hands. The lady
steps forward and does a left-face U turn back under the raised joined hands, as the man
walks forward and around the lady while doing a right-face U turn back. Dancers end facing
each other, each in the other's starting position.
STYLING: Start with a handshake position. The joined fingers must be held so that the
man's fingers may turn over the lady's fingers easily while still providing some degree of
security or stabilization. At the completion of the movement, the hands should be in
handshake position. TIMING: 4 steps from point of contact.
34. OCEAN WAVE FAMILY: Ocean wave is a formation
of three or more dancers holding adjacent hands and with each dancer facing in an opposite
direction to that of the adjoining dancer(s). MINI WAVE is an ocean wave consisting of two
dancers. (a) RIGHT HAND WAVE: An ocean wave with an even number of dancers is a right hand
wave if the end dancers and the dancers adjacent to them have right hands joined. (b) LEFT
HAND WAVE: An ocean wave with an even number of dancers is a left hand wave if the end
dancers and the dancers adjacent to them have left hands joined. (c) ALAMO STYLE WAVE:
Alamo style is a formation of an even number of dancers in a circle holding adjacent hands
and with each dancer facing in an opposite direction to that of the adjoining dancers. (d)
WAVE BALANCE: Starting formation -mini-wave, ocean wave. Each dancer steps forward and
pauses while bringing the other foot forward and touching it to the floor without
transferring weight. Each steps back on the free foot and pauses while touching the other
foot beside it.
STYLING: Dancers should use hands-up position. Forward distance between dancers should
be determined by the arm position of the dancer which is extended forward and bent
slightly at the elbow. Care should be taken not to pull down on the partner's arm. In the
Ocean Wave Balance, hands should never come behind the shoulders. Step forward touch, step
back touch. Or, as a pleasing variation, use a two-step (step, close, step, hold) forward
and a two-step (step, close, step, hold) back. Hands may be used to resist forward motion
to prevent stepping through too far. TIMING: Once balance forward and back, 4 steps.
35. PASS THE OCEAN: Starting formation -facing
couples only. Dancers pass thru, turn in to face their partners and step into a right hand
ocean wave.
STYLING: Couples who pass thru and face partner use styling similar to that described
in pass thru. TIMING: 4 steps.
36. EXTEND: Starting formation -1/4 tag formation only.
Dancers in the wave release hands and step forward to the couple they are facing and join
hands in a right hand wave. If the wave is left handed, dancers extend to a left hand
wave. Note: Centers in the wave remain centers in the new waves and ends in the wave end
as ends in the new waves.
STYLING: All dancers move forward smoothly during the extending action and use
appropriate handholds and styling for the formation achieved. TIMING: -2 steps.
37. SWING THRU FAMILY: Starting formation -ocean wave
or alamo. (a) SWING THRU: Those who can, turn by the right one half (180°), then those
who can, turn by the left one half (180°). If "right" is not specified
preceding the command to swing thru, it is a right swing thru. (b) ALAMO SWING THRU:
Everyone turns half by the right, then everyone turns half by the left. When left swing
thru is directed from an alamo formation, everyone turns half by the left, then everyone
turns half by the right. (c) LEFT SWING THRU: Those who can, turn by the left one half
(180°), then those who can, turn by the right one half (180°). If left swing thru is
required, it must be specifically directed "left swing thru".
STYLING: All hands are joined in hands-up position, elbows in close. Exert slight
pressure to assist opposite dancer in turning. Arcing turns should be utilized rather than
pull by type of movements and should flow effortlessly from one turn to the other so that
you are in a sense, "weaving" along the line. TIMING: 6 steps from point of
contact.
38. RUN FAMILY: Starting formation -any two-dancer formation
in which the directed dancer has a shoulder directly adjacent to the other dancer. GENERAL
RULE: The directed (active) dancer moves forward in a semi-circle (180°) around an
adjacent (inactive) dancer to end in the adjacent dancer's starting position. Meanwhile,
the inactive dancer, who may be facing in any direction, adjusts by stepping (without
changing facing direction) into the vacated starting position of the active dancer. The
active dancer doing the run has reversed his original facing direction. If the direction
to run is not specified (right or left) and if the active dancer has an inactive dancer on
each side, then centers run around ends and ends run around centers. Runs from an alamo
circle are to the right unless otherwise directed. (a) BOYS RUN, (b) GIRLS RUN, (c) ENDS
RUN, (d) CENTERS RUN: The directed (active) dancers run around the inactive dancers using
the general rule. (e) CROSS RUN: Starting formation -line, two-faced line, or wave. Each
of the two directed (active) dancers, who must both be either centers or ends, run into
the spot vacated by the farthest inactive dancer. If the inactive dancers are centers,
they sidestep to become ends; if they are ends, they sidestep to become centers. When the
active dancers are both facing the same direction, they move forward in a semi-circle,
pass each other and then run into the vacated spot on the far side.
STYLING: Hands should blend into handhold required for following formation (i.e. wave
or line). TIMING: From ocean waves, centers, 4 steps; cross run, 6; ends, 4; ends cross
run, 6.
39. TRADE FAMILY: Starting formation -any wave, line or
column. GENERAL RULE: Any two directed dancers exchange places by walking forward in a
semi-circle ending in the other dancer's starting position. Each trading dancer has
reversed his original facing direction. If the trading dancers start while facing in the
same direction, they pass right shoulders when they meet per the right shoulder rule (see
Passing Rule). (a) BOYS TRADE, (b) GIRLS TRADE, (c) ENDS TRADE, (d) CENTERS TRADE:
Directed dancers (boys, girls, ends or centers) exchange places, changing facing
directions using the general rule. (e) COUPLES TRADE: Starting formation -line or
two-faced line. Working as a unit, each couple exchanges places with the other couple in
the same line. Couples, as a unit, follow the right shoulder passing rule as defined for
individual dancers. (f) PARTNER TRADE: Starting formation -couple, mini wave. Two dancers
exchange places with each other.
STYLING: Any two adjacent opposite facing dancers use normal hands up position for
turning as in swing thru type movements. Girls trading (i.e. from end of line) will use
normal skirt work. Couples trade use normal couple handhold and styling similar to wheel
and deal, Basic
#40 . When doing a partner trade, use inside hands to exert slight pressure to assist
each other in trading. TIMING: SS, partner, 4 steps; OW, centers, 4; ends, 4; from
two-faced lines, couples, 6 steps.
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