02 January 2011
Hopper Newsletter #14 & #15
01/06/2011
From Susan
Happy New Year!
We got off to a great dancing start having lessons on Monday and Wednesday nights. Thank you all for coming both nights.
As I said on Wednesday we have 11 calls left to learn. My goal is to have them all taught no later than January 24. That way we will have a couple of weeks to dance and get more practice with the recently learned moves. One of the best ways for us to remember the calls is the number of repetitions we dance.
An added bonus to learning everything by January 24 – we get to party on the last night!
My goal as a square dance caller/teacher is to explain the calls so that you know how to do them and then give you as much practice as I can and as we have time for to dance them. At the end of class you should be able to go to any Mainstream dance and have fun and dance.
Now your responsibility in this is to learn the calls and then execute them precisely so that you are in the correct position for the next call. Now we don't want you dancing like robots. The calls have a given number of beats to execute them which allows plenty of time. You don't need to run or rush to get through them. The key is that you have to move and keep moving from one call to the next.
Before the next couple of classes take time to review the definition of the calls that we have covered to make sure that you know how to do the call. If you have questions bring them to class and we can get them clarified. (Re-read these emails or check out the Hopper's New Dancers tab on my web site – http://callersusan.com/).
Also don't forget to go to as many Level Dances as you can.
Have a great weekend!
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week 14 & 15:
11. Half Sashay Family:
11 a. Half Sashay: Dancer on the right steps to their left; dancer on the left takes a small step backward slides behind the dancer on the right, step forward into the other dancer’s place. Dancers change places without ever changing their facing direction. HALF SASHAY – 4 steps.
40 b. Cross Run: Designated runner steps forward moving in a half circle across the center line to end in designated open position. Ends become centers and centers become ends. The runee without turning around slides into the open position. CROSS RUN – 6 steps.
54. Eight Chain Thru: With the one you are facing do a right hand walk by; left to the next; outfacing couples always do a COURTESY TURN. Continue the number of hands indicated. Eight hands you end up exactly where you started. Can be any number of hands, 1-8. EIGHT CHAIN THRU – 8 hands = 20 steps, 4 hands = 10 steps.
57. Centers In: Couples with backs to center of the set step in between the outside couples. CENTERS IN – 2 steps.
58. Cast off 3/4: In a mini-wave using your joined hands, turn 3/4. In a line the center dancers walk forward using the ends as a pivot 3/4 or 3 walls or 5 steps. CAST OFF 3/4 – 6 steps.
52. Cloverleaf: The directed dancers or the leaders turn away from partner, walk in 270-degree circle to face adjacent wall to where you started. Like a four-leaf clover or a highway cloverleaf. CLOVERLEAF – 6-8 steps from a completed DOUBLE PASS THRU
52. Cloverleaf: The directed dancers or the leaders turn away from partner, walk in 270-degree circle to face adjacent wall to where you started. Like a four-leaf clover or a highway cloverleaf. CLOVERLEAF – 6-8 steps from a completed DOUBLE PASS THRU
60. Walk & Dodge: In-facing or designated dancers walk straight forward; other dancers slide in to the empty space. WALK & DODGE – 4 steps.
Next week: Turn Thru, Spin the Top, Fold, Cross Fold, Dixie Style to Wave
Happy New Year!
We got off to a great dancing start having lessons on Monday and Wednesday nights. Thank you all for coming both nights.
As I said on Wednesday we have 11 calls left to learn. My goal is to have them all taught no later than January 24. That way we will have a couple of weeks to dance and get more practice with the recently learned moves. One of the best ways for us to remember the calls is the number of repetitions we dance.
An added bonus to learning everything by January 24 – we get to party on the last night!
My goal as a square dance caller/teacher is to explain the calls so that you know how to do them and then give you as much practice as I can and as we have time for to dance them. At the end of class you should be able to go to any Mainstream dance and have fun and dance.
Now your responsibility in this is to learn the calls and then execute them precisely so that you are in the correct position for the next call. Now we don't want you dancing like robots. The calls have a given number of beats to execute them which allows plenty of time. You don't need to run or rush to get through them. The key is that you have to move and keep moving from one call to the next.
Before the next couple of classes take time to review the definition of the calls that we have covered to make sure that you know how to do the call. If you have questions bring them to class and we can get them clarified. (Re-read these emails or check out the Hopper's New Dancers tab on my web site – http://callersusan.com/).
Also don't forget to go to as many Level Dances as you can.
Have a great weekend!
Happy dancing,
Susan
Week 14 & 15:
11. Half Sashay Family:
11 a. Half Sashay: Dancer on the right steps to their left; dancer on the left takes a small step backward slides behind the dancer on the right, step forward into the other dancer’s place. Dancers change places without ever changing their facing direction. HALF SASHAY – 4 steps.
40 b. Cross Run: Designated runner steps forward moving in a half circle across the center line to end in designated open position. Ends become centers and centers become ends. The runee without turning around slides into the open position. CROSS RUN – 6 steps.
54. Eight Chain Thru: With the one you are facing do a right hand walk by; left to the next; outfacing couples always do a COURTESY TURN. Continue the number of hands indicated. Eight hands you end up exactly where you started. Can be any number of hands, 1-8. EIGHT CHAIN THRU – 8 hands = 20 steps, 4 hands = 10 steps.
57. Centers In: Couples with backs to center of the set step in between the outside couples. CENTERS IN – 2 steps.
58. Cast off 3/4: In a mini-wave using your joined hands, turn 3/4. In a line the center dancers walk forward using the ends as a pivot 3/4 or 3 walls or 5 steps. CAST OFF 3/4 – 6 steps.
52. Cloverleaf: The directed dancers or the leaders turn away from partner, walk in 270-degree circle to face adjacent wall to where you started. Like a four-leaf clover or a highway cloverleaf. CLOVERLEAF – 6-8 steps from a completed DOUBLE PASS THRU
52. Cloverleaf: The directed dancers or the leaders turn away from partner, walk in 270-degree circle to face adjacent wall to where you started. Like a four-leaf clover or a highway cloverleaf. CLOVERLEAF – 6-8 steps from a completed DOUBLE PASS THRU
60. Walk & Dodge: In-facing or designated dancers walk straight forward; other dancers slide in to the empty space. WALK & DODGE – 4 steps.
Next week: Turn Thru, Spin the Top, Fold, Cross Fold, Dixie Style to Wave