formations
Of the same value, as the different dancing figures of square dance,
are the different formations.
Out of those all figures do start, and with those all figures will end.
They are kind the "static moments" within the flow of the dance.
Sure, the knowledge of the called figure is essential for its execution,
but without an exactly aligned formation at its end,
the orientation for the next figure would be lost.
(It even could be said, that in the sequel of a dance a single wrongly conducted figure possibly can be recovered
by the correct knowledge of the position, where to end that figure; so that the square will not have to brake down.)
Even if not stated explicitely in the followings, for the sake of better orientation it is required to
get the respective hands attached to one another, whenever at least 2 persons are standing side by side.
Surely there are always 8 dancers, that make up a square, i.e. a dancing unity.
So by Formations for 2 and by Formations for 4 it is not implied that there would exist smaller independent dancing unities as well,
it rather is meant that those will form smaller logical units within the greater set.
Formations for 2
(top)
- normal pair
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Man and woman, standing shoulder to shoulder beside another with the same line of vision.
The man to the left, the woman to the right.
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- sachayed pair
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Identical to normal pair, just with the woman to the left, the man to the right.
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- pair / couple (without any attributes)
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2 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another with the same line of vision.
(In higher levels there is the "as couples" concept. Then each pair dances what else a single person would dance.
Already within Basic there is a figure called
"first couple to the left, next couple to the right".)
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- mini-wave
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2 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another, but with the opposite line of vision.
If nothing else is said, "right hand" is understood (according to the british right-of-way rule):
right shoulder to right shoulder, holding right hands.
(This formation is used automatically, whenever two dancers step up from opposite directions onto the
same spot, cf. the same position rule.)
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- left hand mini-wave
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Identical to (right hand) mini-wave, just left shoulder to left shoulder, holding left hands
(according to the continental right-of-way rule).
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- tandem
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2 arbitrary persons standing one behind the other, both with the same line of vision.
Those persons then are named accordingly as leader respectively trailer.
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- facing dancers
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2 arbitrary persons standing right in front of each other.
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- dancers back-to-back
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2 arbitrary persons standing back-to-back.
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Formations for 4: "lines"
(top)
- normal line
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4 dancers standing shoulder at shoulder, all with the same line of vision.
The gender sequence from left to right has to be: man - woman - man - woman, i.e. they consist of 2 adjoining
normal pairs.
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- line (without any attributes)
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4 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another with the same line of vision, i.e. they consist of 2 adjoining
pairs (without any attributes).
Sometimes the line of vision is explicitely attributed with respect to the total formation of all 8 dancers:
"line facing in/out".
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- two-faced line
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4 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another.
Likewise consisting of 2 adjoining pairs (without any attributes),
but those having opposite line of vision.
I.e., with respect to the total formation of all 8 dancers, the persons are either aligned as: in - in - out - out,
or conversely aligned as: out - out - in - in.
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- inverted line
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4 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another.
Likewise consisting of 2 adjoining mini-wave formations,
one being right handed, the other being left handed.
I.e., with respect to the total formation of all 8 dancers, the persons are either aligned as: in - out - out - in,
or conversely aligned as: out - in - in - out.
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- three-by-one line
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, ...
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4 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another.
This time consisting out of a pair (without any attributes)
and some mini-wave (right or left handed).
There are several possible arrangements!
The common fact is, that just one dancer is inverted with respect to the line
formation (without any attributes).
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Formations for 4: "ocean waves"
(top)
- ocean-wave
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(Without any further notice, right handed is subsumed.)
4 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another.
Similar to an inverted line build from 2 aligning
mini-wave formations, but here both have to be right handed.
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- left hand ocean-wave
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4 arbitrary persons standing shoulder to shoulder beside another.
Like the (right handed) ocean-wave,
just built from 2 aligned left hand mini-wave formations.
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Formations for 4: "column"
(top)
- column
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4 arbitrary persons standing right behind each other.
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- double track
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2 tandems, standing right in front of each other.
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- double track, back-to-back
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Formations for 4: "stars"
(top)
- right hand star
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4 arbitrary persons, all connecting their right hands.
In fact nothing but 2 crossed (right handed) mini-wave formations.
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- left hand star
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4 arbitrary persons, all connecting their left hands.
In fact nothing but 2 crossed left hand mini-wave formations.
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Formations for 4: "boxes"
(top)
- facing couples
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Square formation of 2 facing couples (without any attributes).
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- couples back-to-back
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Square formation of 2 couples (without any attributes), standing back-to-back.
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- tandem couples
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Square formation of 2 couples (without any attributes), standing behind each others.
Again we have leaders and trailers.
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- box circulate
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Square formation of 2 mini-wave formations standing behind each other,
either both right handed or both left handed.
This formation likewise can be looked at as 2 anti-aligned
tandem formations standing beside each other.
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- T-bone
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Formations for 4: "circle four"
(top)
- circle four
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Small circle of 4 dancers, connecting hands and all facing in.
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Formations for all 8: "static square"
(top)
- static square
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Great square formation of 4 pairs (without any attributes),
which form its edges each. All pairs directed into the center. –
This formation also is used as home position for square dance.
Just that then 4 normal pairs will have to be used.
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- all-out static square
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Like before, just that all couples are facing out.
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Formations for all 8: "circles"
(top)
- circle
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Great circle formation of 8 individual dancers, all joining hands. Generally: all facing in; more seldom: all facing out.
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- indian style / single file promenade
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Great circle formation of 8 individual dancers, all directed along the periphery, looking onto the back of ones precursor.
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- right and left grand & wrong way grand
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Great circle formation of 8 individual dancers, all directed along the periphery, pairwise looking at each other.
For the call right and left grand the men will be oriented counter-clockwise (if seen from above),
the women clockwise. For the call wrong way grand the roles will be reversed.
There is a mixture too: ... some go right, some go wrong.
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- alamo ring
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Great circle formation of 8 individual dancers, all joining hands, alternatingly facing in, respectively out.
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Formations for all 8: "star promenade"
(top)
- star promenade
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Formation with 2 crossed two-faced lines, where the dancers next to the center
out of those 4 pairs all connect with the same hand.
Often a connection, called "packsaddle", is used: each successor grasps his precursors wrist.
The same formation is called couples promenade,
if no connection at the center is used.
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Formations for all 8: "thars"
(top)
- thar / allemande thar
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Formation with 2 crossed left hand ocean waves, where the dancers next to the center
out of those 4 left hand mini-waves all connect with their right hand.
Often a connection, called "packsaddle", is used: each successor grasps his precursors wrist.
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- wrong way thar
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Formation with 2 crossed (right handed) ocean waves,
where the dancers next to the center out of those 4 (right handed)
mini-waves all connect with their left hand.
Often a connection, called "packsaddle", is used: each successor grasps his precursors wrist.
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Formations for all 8: "lines"
(top)
- normal lines
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, ...
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2 parallel normal lines,
both facing in, towards the common center.
Those thereby can be understood as 2 boxes of facing couples,
standing beside each other, which in turn use normal pairs each.
– Normal lines are used as preparation in order to get back into a
Pattern Call dance,
whenever the square has "broken down".
Best if aligned towards the caller, so that he can spot out that situation more easily,
and thus will act correspondingly.
(For Singing Call dances in contrast the
static square formation would be more effective in such a situation,
as that type of call runs periodically back into this formation.)
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- parallel lines
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All arrangements from any 2 identical, parallel lines of 4,
which are situated point-symmetrical with respect to their common center.
In general, they thereby also can be understood as 2 boxes,
standing beside each other.
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- grand tidal line
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, ...
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All arrangements from any 2 identical lines of 4
situated in each others extension,
which are point-symmetrical with respect to their common center.
It has to be pointed out, that those 2 dancers, which are the "very centers",
with respect to those 2 formations of 4, still function at the same time as their "ends"!
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Formations for all 8: "ocean waves"
(top)
- parallel ocean waves
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2 parallel ocean waves,
either both right-handed or both left-handed.
They thereby also can be understood as 2 box circulate formations,
standing beside each other.
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- grand tidal ocean waves
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2 ocean waves situated in each others extension,
either both right-handed or both left-handed.
It has to be pointed out, that those 2 dancers, which are the "very centers",
with respect to those 2 formations of 4, still function at the same time as their "ends"!
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Formations for all 8: "quarter tag"
(top)
- quarter tag
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2 pairs (without attributes), looking at each other,
but at least point-symmetrical with respect to their common center.
In between a (right handed) ocean wave.
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- left handed quarter tag
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- three quarter tag
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- left handed three quarter tag
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Formations for all 8: "double pass thru" etc.
(top)
- double pass thru
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- completed double pass thru
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- eight chain thru
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- trade by
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- columns
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2 columns standing side by side, anti-aligned.
Likewise can be seen as 2 aligned box circulate formations.
With respect to each 2 neighbouring dancers, having a (right handed) mini-wave
or a left handed mini-wave, the total formation is called accordingly
right handed, respectively left handed.
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Formations for all 8: Further ones ...
(top)
- (rarely seen, nameless formation)
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