16 October 2011
Samena Squares Newsletter #6
10/20/2011
Dear Friends,
This week I want to talk a little bit about counter dancing or what to do if you are not one of the active couples. One of the first weeks of class, I called “Heads Promenade Half Way” which made the Heads the active couple. The Sides, as the inactive couples, had to move to the center of the square in order to give the Heads room to promenade halfway around. The Sides were doing counter dancing.
Last week we learned Separate and Separate Around 1 Into The Middle. This is another move where the inactive couple (the ones not doing the call) needs to do some counter dancing. If the Heads are doing the call, the Side couples need to slide apart and let the Heads into the middle of the square. Then the Sides need to slide back together. Think: walking into the grocery store – the door slides open, you walk in, the door slides closed behind you.
When you are not the active dancer you need to be awake and alert and listening because the active dancers are going to be coming to you in just a few seconds. The caller will say something and you will need to respond. An example is Sides Square Thru 4. The Heads are therefore inactive. However, in just 10 steps or about 5 seconds the Sides will be standing in front of you ready to do the next call whatever it is, Star Thru, for example.
Upcoming Student Level Dances:
Friday, October 28: Super Heroes and Villains Student Level Dance, Calls 1-30, Samena Squares, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Susan Morris, calling; Juanita Community Club, 13027 100th Ave NE, Kirkland. Costumes encouraged but not required.
Sunday, October 30: Happy Halloween Level Dance, Freewheelers, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., Dennis Webb, calling, Janolyn Keller, cueing; Lake City Community Club, 12531 28th Ave NE, Seattle. Costume contest and recycled clothing sale.
Friday, November 4: First Friday Fun Fest, Whirlybirds, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Dave Harry, calling; The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. This dance happens the first Friday of every month through June.
Saturday, November 5: Limited Edition Dance**, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Dave Harry, calling; The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. This dance happens the first Saturday of every month through June.
**The Limited Edition Dance is a specific list of calls. It will be the same list every month. Steve and I are planning our lessons so that you will be able to go to the November dance. We will let you know for sure on Monday, October 31.
See you Thursday and Friday night!
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week #6
13. Separate Family:
13. Separate: Active couple turn your back on your partner and move away from each other around the set and around as many people as directed by the caller. SEPARATE – 2 + steps, determined by the distance traveled.
13 b. Around 1 or 2 Into The Middle: Move around the number of dancers indicated by the caller and step into the middle of the square. AROUND 1 INTO THE MIDDLE – 8 steps; AROUND 2 INTO THE MIDDLE – 12 steps.
14. Split Two: Designated or active dancers go as a couple between the two dancers in front of you and carryout next call. The other dancers or inactive dancers slide apart to let them through and then slide back together. SPLIT TWO – 2 + the next call.
28 a. Square Thru, 1-4: Starting position is any two couples (BG, GB, GG, BB) facing each other; start with right hand walk by and turn one quarter in (toward center of foursome); left hand walk by and turn one quarter in; continue the given number of hands until the last one; last hand walk straight ahead; there is no turn. SQUARE THRU, 1-4 – 4 dancers full around – 10 steps.
25. Circle To Line: Starting with facing couples, in your foursome circle half way, the left hand dancer now on the outside of the circle drops hands with the girl on his left and continues to lead to his right, the other dancers unroll into a line of four. The girl on the end should walk forward to end of line CIRCLE TO LINE – 8 steps.
36. Trade Family:
36 a. Trades: Boys, Girls, Ends, Centers: Directed dancers change places with the identified person. The person you are trading with may be next to you or somewhere in your line. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. If you meet someone pass right shoulders. BOYS, GIRLS, ENDS, CENTERS – 4 steps;
36 b. Couples: Directed couples change places with the other couple. You may be facing opposite directions or you may be facing the same direction. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. COUPLES – 6 steps.
Next week: Separate Around 1 Or 2 To A Line, Trades – partner, Ocean Waves; Allemande Left to an Alamo Ring; Alamo Ring – Balance; Swing Thru; Run
Wheel & Deal; Double Pass Thru; First go left; Next go right
This week I want to talk a little bit about counter dancing or what to do if you are not one of the active couples. One of the first weeks of class, I called “Heads Promenade Half Way” which made the Heads the active couple. The Sides, as the inactive couples, had to move to the center of the square in order to give the Heads room to promenade halfway around. The Sides were doing counter dancing.
Last week we learned Separate and Separate Around 1 Into The Middle. This is another move where the inactive couple (the ones not doing the call) needs to do some counter dancing. If the Heads are doing the call, the Side couples need to slide apart and let the Heads into the middle of the square. Then the Sides need to slide back together. Think: walking into the grocery store – the door slides open, you walk in, the door slides closed behind you.
When you are not the active dancer you need to be awake and alert and listening because the active dancers are going to be coming to you in just a few seconds. The caller will say something and you will need to respond. An example is Sides Square Thru 4. The Heads are therefore inactive. However, in just 10 steps or about 5 seconds the Sides will be standing in front of you ready to do the next call whatever it is, Star Thru, for example.
Upcoming Student Level Dances:
Friday, October 28: Super Heroes and Villains Student Level Dance, Calls 1-30, Samena Squares, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Susan Morris, calling; Juanita Community Club, 13027 100th Ave NE, Kirkland. Costumes encouraged but not required.
Sunday, October 30: Happy Halloween Level Dance, Freewheelers, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., Dennis Webb, calling, Janolyn Keller, cueing; Lake City Community Club, 12531 28th Ave NE, Seattle. Costume contest and recycled clothing sale.
Friday, November 4: First Friday Fun Fest, Whirlybirds, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Dave Harry, calling; The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. This dance happens the first Friday of every month through June.
Saturday, November 5: Limited Edition Dance**, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Dave Harry, calling; The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. This dance happens the first Saturday of every month through June.
**The Limited Edition Dance is a specific list of calls. It will be the same list every month. Steve and I are planning our lessons so that you will be able to go to the November dance. We will let you know for sure on Monday, October 31.
See you Thursday and Friday night!
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week #6
13. Separate Family:
13. Separate: Active couple turn your back on your partner and move away from each other around the set and around as many people as directed by the caller. SEPARATE – 2 + steps, determined by the distance traveled.
13 b. Around 1 or 2 Into The Middle: Move around the number of dancers indicated by the caller and step into the middle of the square. AROUND 1 INTO THE MIDDLE – 8 steps; AROUND 2 INTO THE MIDDLE – 12 steps.
14. Split Two: Designated or active dancers go as a couple between the two dancers in front of you and carryout next call. The other dancers or inactive dancers slide apart to let them through and then slide back together. SPLIT TWO – 2 + the next call.
28 a. Square Thru, 1-4: Starting position is any two couples (BG, GB, GG, BB) facing each other; start with right hand walk by and turn one quarter in (toward center of foursome); left hand walk by and turn one quarter in; continue the given number of hands until the last one; last hand walk straight ahead; there is no turn. SQUARE THRU, 1-4 – 4 dancers full around – 10 steps.
25. Circle To Line: Starting with facing couples, in your foursome circle half way, the left hand dancer now on the outside of the circle drops hands with the girl on his left and continues to lead to his right, the other dancers unroll into a line of four. The girl on the end should walk forward to end of line CIRCLE TO LINE – 8 steps.
36. Trade Family:
36 a. Trades: Boys, Girls, Ends, Centers: Directed dancers change places with the identified person. The person you are trading with may be next to you or somewhere in your line. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. If you meet someone pass right shoulders. BOYS, GIRLS, ENDS, CENTERS – 4 steps;
36 b. Couples: Directed couples change places with the other couple. You may be facing opposite directions or you may be facing the same direction. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. COUPLES – 6 steps.
Next week: Separate Around 1 Or 2 To A Line, Trades – partner, Ocean Waves; Allemande Left to an Alamo Ring; Alamo Ring – Balance; Swing Thru; Run
Wheel & Deal; Double Pass Thru; First go left; Next go right