06 October 2013
Samena Squares Lesson #4
10/10/2013
Dear Friends,
I hope you had a fabulous weekend and are enjoying the bits of sunshine we are having this week. It’s a great time to enjoy the fall leaves!
Welcome to our newest class members! It is great to have you join us. Most weeks at the beginning of each class session I will review the calls that were taught the previous week. Then we will jump right in to learn a few new ones. (Below you will find a brief definition of most of the calls we danced last Thursday.)
A bit of square dance etiquette…
A. Be a good listener: Listen to the caller. Be quiet so others can listen too.
B. Get into squares quickly: As soon as the music starts move to the floor to form squares. Dance at the front of the hall as often as possible.
C. Be a courteous dancer: Do your part, listen to the caller; don’t talk in the square. Touch hands; don’t grab. Don’t push or pull.
D. Be on time for class/club: Class will start on time, sometimes the beginning tip will be warm up and review and sometimes it will be new things right away.
E. Be a thoughtful dancer: Do your part, listen to the caller; don’t talk in the square.
F. Be a cooperative dancer: Do your part, listen to the caller; don’t talk in the square.
G. Take it easy: Be gentle, don’t pull or push other dancers.
H. Be a friendly dancer: To have a friend, be a friend. Smile!
Dates to note:
Here are two upcoming dates that I want you to put on your calendar…
Friday, October 25, Samena Squares Dance of the Pumpkins Halloween Level Dance, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. at Juanita Community Club, Susan Morris, calling. Costumes are encouraged.
Friday, November 1, Whirlybirds First Friday Fun Fest, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. at The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood, Dave Harry, calling. This dance is tons of fun. This is a Samena club caravan. Lots of club members will be going with you. As we get closer to the time we will be talking about maybe meeting for dinner somewhere before the dance.
Enjoy the sunshine!
See you at 7 p.m. on Thursday!
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week #4:
Dancer naming:
i, Couple: Two people standing side by side; for universal understanding of square dance commands the dancer on the left dances the boy/man part of commands, the dancer on the right dances the girl/lady part of commands.
ii. Heads, Sides, Couple Numbers: Head couples have their back to or face the caller/music; Sides are the other two couples; Couple numbers – #1 back to caller, #2 to their right, #3 to the right of #2 or face the caller, #4 to the right of #3.
iii. Boys, Girls: Actual Boys and Girls or those dancing the Boy/Girl part of the move.
1. Circle Left & Right: Join hands in a circle and move left or right as indicated; circles can be made with 2 or more people. CIRCLE LEFT or RIGHT – 8 dancers full around, 16 steps; 4 dancers full around, 8 steps.
2. Forward & Back: In a squared set for heads or sides, it is 3 steps and touch, then back 3 steps. FORWARD & BACK – 8 steps.
3 a. Dosado: With person you are facing, step slightly left, walk forward to pass right shoulders, slide back to back, back up past left shoulder, slide to face to face start position. DOSADO – with corner/partner 6 steps, across square – 8 steps.
5. Promenade Family:
5 a. Couples: With partner walk together counter-clockwise to home position; right hands joined over joined left hands. PROMENADE – couples full around 16 steps.
5 b. Single File Promenade: Specified dancers walk single file counterclockwise inside the square or where indicated by the caller. SINGLE FILE PROMENADE – 4 dancers inside to home – 8 steps.
6. Allemande Left: Turn toward corner, left arm turn 180 degrees, let go and step through, end back to back with corner, facing partner. ALLEMANDE LEFT – 8 steps.
8. Right and Left Grand Family:
8 a. Right & Left Grand: Start facing partner, take right hands, walk by, offer left hand to next, walk by; continue alternating hands to the 5th hand (should be the dancer you started with). Boys are going counterclockwise; girls are going clockwise. RIGHT & LEFT GRAND – 10 steps.
8 b. Weave the Ring: Same as RIGHT AND LEFT GRAND without hands. Hint: pass same shoulder as the hand you would be using. WEAVE THE RING – 10 steps.
9. Left/Right Hand Star: Indicated dancers step to the center of the formation to join the designated hand in a loose star; walk forward to starting position of next call. It is often a full turn but can be fractionalized. LEFT/ RIGHT HAND STAR – 4 dancers full around 8 steps.
10. Pass Thru: With person you are facing step ahead passing right shoulders. STOP as soon as you pass by. End back to back. Same as 1/2 DOSADO. PASS THRU – 2 steps.
11 c. Ladies In Men Sashay: In any circle of boy/girl couples with the boy on the left and girl on the right circling left, the girls step forward, the boys step to their left and the girls step back to a new empty place. If the dancers are circling right, it is the opposite. Can also be done from a line. For variety, the call can be Men In Ladies Sashay. LADIES IN MEN SASHAY – 4 steps.
15. Courtesy Turn: Girls (or right hand dancer) sticks out left hand in front palm down, places right hand on hip or does skirt work; Boys (or left hand dancer) offers left hand palm up to girl, place right hand gently on back; gently guide her forward, while backing up, turning as a couple to face opposite direction or the center of the set. COURTESY TURN – 4 steps.
16. Ladies Chain Family:
16 a. Two & Four Ladies Chain: Two (or four) girls step toward the center to make a right hand star; turn 1/2 way; offer left hand to opposite boy for a COURTESY TURN; end as couple facing center of formation. While girls are staring the boys take a step to their right to be in correct position for COURTESY TURN. TWO & FOUR LADIES CHAIN – 8 steps.
18. Lead Right: Directed couples (Heads, Sides), with a couple handhold, will walk forward as a couple to face the couple to the right. LEAD RIGHT – 4 steps.
19. Veer Left/Right: Moving as a couple, slide left or right as directed, maintaining facing direction with a small forward motion as well. VEER LEFT/RIGHT – 2 steps.
20. Bend The Line: Couples, as a unit, turn 90 degrees to face center. Like folding a piece of paper. Each end moves forward to meet the other end. The centers need to back up a little to accommodate. This creates new lines facing in. As a couple, you will ALWAYS be facing the other couple that was in your line. BEND THE LINE – 4 steps.
23. Grand Square: (32 beats of music) Each individual dancer tracks the four sides of a square in their quadrant on the floor. Command is “Sides Face, Grand Square.” GRAND SQUARE – 32 steps.
I hope you had a fabulous weekend and are enjoying the bits of sunshine we are having this week. It’s a great time to enjoy the fall leaves!
Welcome to our newest class members! It is great to have you join us. Most weeks at the beginning of each class session I will review the calls that were taught the previous week. Then we will jump right in to learn a few new ones. (Below you will find a brief definition of most of the calls we danced last Thursday.)
A bit of square dance etiquette…
A. Be a good listener: Listen to the caller. Be quiet so others can listen too.
B. Get into squares quickly: As soon as the music starts move to the floor to form squares. Dance at the front of the hall as often as possible.
C. Be a courteous dancer: Do your part, listen to the caller; don’t talk in the square. Touch hands; don’t grab. Don’t push or pull.
D. Be on time for class/club: Class will start on time, sometimes the beginning tip will be warm up and review and sometimes it will be new things right away.
E. Be a thoughtful dancer: Do your part, listen to the caller; don’t talk in the square.
F. Be a cooperative dancer: Do your part, listen to the caller; don’t talk in the square.
G. Take it easy: Be gentle, don’t pull or push other dancers.
H. Be a friendly dancer: To have a friend, be a friend. Smile!
Dates to note:
Here are two upcoming dates that I want you to put on your calendar…
Friday, October 25, Samena Squares Dance of the Pumpkins Halloween Level Dance, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. at Juanita Community Club, Susan Morris, calling. Costumes are encouraged.
Friday, November 1, Whirlybirds First Friday Fun Fest, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. at The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood, Dave Harry, calling. This dance is tons of fun. This is a Samena club caravan. Lots of club members will be going with you. As we get closer to the time we will be talking about maybe meeting for dinner somewhere before the dance.
Enjoy the sunshine!
See you at 7 p.m. on Thursday!
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week #4:
Dancer naming:
i, Couple: Two people standing side by side; for universal understanding of square dance commands the dancer on the left dances the boy/man part of commands, the dancer on the right dances the girl/lady part of commands.
ii. Heads, Sides, Couple Numbers: Head couples have their back to or face the caller/music; Sides are the other two couples; Couple numbers – #1 back to caller, #2 to their right, #3 to the right of #2 or face the caller, #4 to the right of #3.
iii. Boys, Girls: Actual Boys and Girls or those dancing the Boy/Girl part of the move.
1. Circle Left & Right: Join hands in a circle and move left or right as indicated; circles can be made with 2 or more people. CIRCLE LEFT or RIGHT – 8 dancers full around, 16 steps; 4 dancers full around, 8 steps.
2. Forward & Back: In a squared set for heads or sides, it is 3 steps and touch, then back 3 steps. FORWARD & BACK – 8 steps.
3 a. Dosado: With person you are facing, step slightly left, walk forward to pass right shoulders, slide back to back, back up past left shoulder, slide to face to face start position. DOSADO – with corner/partner 6 steps, across square – 8 steps.
5. Promenade Family:
5 a. Couples: With partner walk together counter-clockwise to home position; right hands joined over joined left hands. PROMENADE – couples full around 16 steps.
5 b. Single File Promenade: Specified dancers walk single file counterclockwise inside the square or where indicated by the caller. SINGLE FILE PROMENADE – 4 dancers inside to home – 8 steps.
6. Allemande Left: Turn toward corner, left arm turn 180 degrees, let go and step through, end back to back with corner, facing partner. ALLEMANDE LEFT – 8 steps.
8. Right and Left Grand Family:
8 a. Right & Left Grand: Start facing partner, take right hands, walk by, offer left hand to next, walk by; continue alternating hands to the 5th hand (should be the dancer you started with). Boys are going counterclockwise; girls are going clockwise. RIGHT & LEFT GRAND – 10 steps.
8 b. Weave the Ring: Same as RIGHT AND LEFT GRAND without hands. Hint: pass same shoulder as the hand you would be using. WEAVE THE RING – 10 steps.
9. Left/Right Hand Star: Indicated dancers step to the center of the formation to join the designated hand in a loose star; walk forward to starting position of next call. It is often a full turn but can be fractionalized. LEFT/ RIGHT HAND STAR – 4 dancers full around 8 steps.
10. Pass Thru: With person you are facing step ahead passing right shoulders. STOP as soon as you pass by. End back to back. Same as 1/2 DOSADO. PASS THRU – 2 steps.
11 c. Ladies In Men Sashay: In any circle of boy/girl couples with the boy on the left and girl on the right circling left, the girls step forward, the boys step to their left and the girls step back to a new empty place. If the dancers are circling right, it is the opposite. Can also be done from a line. For variety, the call can be Men In Ladies Sashay. LADIES IN MEN SASHAY – 4 steps.
15. Courtesy Turn: Girls (or right hand dancer) sticks out left hand in front palm down, places right hand on hip or does skirt work; Boys (or left hand dancer) offers left hand palm up to girl, place right hand gently on back; gently guide her forward, while backing up, turning as a couple to face opposite direction or the center of the set. COURTESY TURN – 4 steps.
16. Ladies Chain Family:
16 a. Two & Four Ladies Chain: Two (or four) girls step toward the center to make a right hand star; turn 1/2 way; offer left hand to opposite boy for a COURTESY TURN; end as couple facing center of formation. While girls are staring the boys take a step to their right to be in correct position for COURTESY TURN. TWO & FOUR LADIES CHAIN – 8 steps.
18. Lead Right: Directed couples (Heads, Sides), with a couple handhold, will walk forward as a couple to face the couple to the right. LEAD RIGHT – 4 steps.
19. Veer Left/Right: Moving as a couple, slide left or right as directed, maintaining facing direction with a small forward motion as well. VEER LEFT/RIGHT – 2 steps.
20. Bend The Line: Couples, as a unit, turn 90 degrees to face center. Like folding a piece of paper. Each end moves forward to meet the other end. The centers need to back up a little to accommodate. This creates new lines facing in. As a couple, you will ALWAYS be facing the other couple that was in your line. BEND THE LINE – 4 steps.
23. Grand Square: (32 beats of music) Each individual dancer tracks the four sides of a square in their quadrant on the floor. Command is “Sides Face, Grand Square.” GRAND SQUARE – 32 steps.