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 Our Lesson Log- Kirk Rockerbie 

Welcome to Square Dance. I am looking forward to teaching you the pleasure of modern square dance. My emphasis will be on having fun, and maybe a few cookies. In this blog I will be able to give you a review of the last lesson and a heads up for your next week.

Lesson 

A sample - below are entries from our last set of classes, take a look but beware- square dance is easier to do than describe in writing 

11/29/2018 1 Comment

Lesson 10 - November 25 2018

Good work on Lesson 10 . Here is what we covered:

1.Trade By
 
Centers Pass Thru while Outsides, who must be Couples facing out, Partner Trade.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Ftrade_by&name=Trade%20By%20from%20Trade%20By&level=true&title=Trade%20By&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m12.htm
 
 
2.Centers In
 
Without changing facing direction, the outside dancers step away from each other to make room for the center dancers, who step forward to end between them.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fcenters_in&name=Centers%20In%20from%20Completed%20Double%20Pass%20Thru&level=true&title=Centers%20In&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m13.htm
 
 
  1. Cast off 3/4
 
Used after the call “put centers in”. From a line that is created after Put Center In,  each half of the line works together: each couple, as a unit, turns away from the center of the line for 3/4 of a circle (270 degrees).
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fcast_off_three_quarters&name=Cast%20Off%20Three%20Quarters%20from%20Right-Hand%20Two-Faced%20Line&level=true&title=Cast%20Off%20Three%20Quarters&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m14.htm
 
 
4.Ferris Wheel
 
Each Couple Steps Forward. Out-facing couples do their part, Wheel And Deal. In-facing Couples form a momentary Two-Faced Line in the center, and without stopping Wheel And Deal.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fferris_wheel&name=Ferris%20Wheel%20from%20T-Bone%20Couples&level=true&title=Ferris%20Wheel&animnum=3&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m08.htm
 
 
5.Zoom
 
Lead dancer walks in a full circle, turning away from the center point, and ending up on the spot of the trailing dancer. The trailing dancer walks forward to take the spot of the lead dancer. It is important that the lead dancers initiate the roll out movement with a slight forward motion to allow sufficient room for the trailing dancers to step forward comfortably.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fzoom&name=Zoom%20from%20Right-Hand%20Box&level=true&title=Zoom&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m08.htm
 
 For those wishing to use the Taminations or Saddlebrook Squares websites to look ahead, here is what we will cover in Lesson 11:
  • Box the Gnat
  • Hinge/Couples Hinge
  • Touch 1/4
  • Circulate (waves/columns)
  • Tag the Line

1 Comment

11/21/2018 0 Comments

Lesson 9 - November 18, 2018

Good work on Lesson 9.  Here is what we covered:

1.Run (boys run, girls run, ends run centers run, centers cross run, ends cross run)
 
Each runner (designated dancer) must have a non-runner (slider) either to the right or to the left, and these dancers work together.
 
The runner and non-runner (slider) exchange places: the runner walks forward in a semicircle into the non-runner's spot (ending with the opposite facing direction), while the non-runner slides into the runner's spot without changing facing direction.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Frun&name=Boys%20Run%20from%20Facing%20Couples&level=true&title=Boys%20Run&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m07.htm
 
 
2.Swing  Thru
 
Right Swing Thru (which is normally the case): Those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the right; then those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the left.
 
Left Swing Thru: Those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the left; then those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the right.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fswing_thru&name=Swing%20Thru%20from%20Right-Hand%20Wave&level=true&title=Swing%20Thru&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m07.htm
 
 
3.Swing Thru – to an Alamo style wave
 
Dancers start an Allemande Left but continue the Arm Turn until the men are looking toward the center of the square and the women are looking out. Maintain the left handhold and join right hands with the adjacent dancer to form an Alamo Ring.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Falamo_style&name=Allemande%20Left%20to%20an%20Alamo%20Ring%20from%20Static%20Square&level=true&title=Allemande%20Left%20to%20an%20Alamo%20Ring&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m11.htm
 
 
4.Pass the Ocean
 
The 3-part definition is smoothed out. The left-side dancers walk in a forward arc to the right to their ending position. The right-side dancers walk forward to join left hands (hands up styling) and turn 1/4 with each other.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fpass_the_ocean&name=Pass%20the%20Ocean%20from%20Facing%20Couples&level=true&title=Pass%20the%20Ocean&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m07.htm
 
 
5.Extend
 
Walk forward from one formation to the next. Where possible, handedness is maintained.  See number 2 (1/4 tag) at Taminations site.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fextend&name=Extend%20from%20Right-Hand%20Wave&level=true&title=Extend&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m07.htm

For Lesson 10, we will cover:
  • ​Zoom
  • Centers In
  • Cast off 3/4
  • Ferris Wheel
  • Trade By

 
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11/15/2018 0 Comments

Lesson 8 - November 11

 Lesson 8 recap.  Here's the figures we covered:
  • Split Two and around 1 to a line
  • Double Pass Thru
  • First Couple Left, Next Couple Right
  • Ocean Wave
  • Swing Thru

I've provided a brief description of each figure below, along with links to the Taminations website and the Saddlebrook Squares website.  

In Lesson 9 (November 18), we will cover these figures:
  • Run
  • Cross Run
  • Pass the Ocean
  • Extend
  • Zoom

Great work by all!  and thanks to the Angels.  See you Sunday night.  Kirk.
 


1.Split Two (and around 1 to a line)
 
The active or directed dancers move forward between the two inactive dancers (splitting them). The inactive dancers move apart to let them through then move back together.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b1%2Fsplit_the_outside_couple&name=Split%20the%20Outside%20Couple&level=true&title=Split%20the%20Outside%20Couple&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m13.htm
 
 
2.Double Pass Thru
 
Dancers move forward until all dancers have passed two other dancers. Dancers pass right shoulders.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fdouble_pass_thru&name=Double%20Pass%20Thru%20from%20Single%20Column&level=true&title=Double%20Pass%20Thru&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m13.htm
 
 
3.First Couple Left, Next Couple Right
 
Dancers, with each couple working as a unit, walk forward in an arc in the indicated direction. The center couple walks forward before taking the second direction given.
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Ffirst_couple_go&name=First%20Couple%20Go%20Left%2C%20Next%20Couple%20Go%20Right&level=true&title=First%20Couple%20Go%20Left%2C%20Next%20Couple%20Go%20Right&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
 
4.Ocean Wave (Step to), right hand and left hand
 
Dancers walk forward a small step and join right hands (for a right handed Ocean Wave – which is normally the case).
For a left handed Ocean wave, dancers walk forward  a small step and join left hands.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Focean_wave&name=Step%20to%20a%20Wave%20from%20Facing%20Couples&level=true&title=Step%20to%20a%20Wave&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m07.htm
 
 
5.Swing Thru
 
Right Swing Thru (which is normally the case): Those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the right; then those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the left.
 
Left Swing Thru: Those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the left; then those who can turn 1/2 (180 degrees) by the right.
 
Taminations website
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b2%2Fswing_thru&name=Swing%20Thru%20from%20Right-Hand%20Wave&level=true&title=Swing%20Thru&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares website
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m07.htm
 
0 Comments

11/8/2018 0 Comments

Circle to a Line - Additional Information

A pair of sharp-eyed dancers noticed that the explanation of "Circle to a Line" in my Lesson 7 blog used the figure that we have learned called "California Twirl".

There are 2 methods of Circle to a Line.   The easier method, which does not use a California Twirl, is best described as a slide to a line.  In this case the couple on the inside circle behind the outside dancers, just as we've done, and slide to the left.  The outside dancers slide to the right.  Much simpler.

See Circle to a Line at 1:25 of the video at this site (Saddlebrook Squares)
https://www.videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m04.htm


0 Comments

11/7/2018 1 Comment

Lesson 7 - November 3 2018

Another great class.  We started with a review of figures learned in Lesson 6, then started in on several new figures.  What did we learn?
  • Circle to a Line
    • Each group of facing couples Circle Left 1/2 (180 degrees). The left-side dancer in the new outside couple releases the left handhold and slides sideways to the left to become the left end of a One-faced Line (which faces the line formed by the other four dancers). All other handholds are maintained. The other dancers continue circling, gradually blending into the One-Faced Line by unwinding the circle. The final dancer replaces the unwinding action with a forward and left-turning twirl, walking under an arch made with the adjacent dancer, similar in action to a California Twirl.
  • Separate (around 1 to a line, and around 1 and down the middle)
    • Separate around 1 to a line: The designated dancers (e.g, heads) turn back-to-back and start walking forward in opposite directions around the outside of the square away from each other until they meet another dancer.  The sides then step apart to let the head dancers step in between to form a line.
    • Separate around 1 and down the middle: The designated dancers (e.g., heads) turn back-to-back and start walking forward in opposite directions around the outside of the square away from each other until they meet another dancer. The sides then step apart to let the head dancers step in between and then proceed into the middle as a couple.  The side couples then slide together.
  • Wheel and Deal
    • Each couple works as a unit. Wheel and Deal is danced as one smooth motion, even though the descriptions below break the motion into two parts.
      From a Two-Faced Line: Each couple steps forward and then wheels 180 degrees toward the center of the line, with the original center dancers acting as the pivots about which the couples turn. Couples end facing each other.
      From a One-Faced Line: The couple on the left steps forward. Then each couple wheels 180 degrees toward the center of the original line, with the original center dancers acting as the pivots about which the couples turn. The couple that started on the right ends in front of the other couple.
  • Double Pass Thru
    • Dancers move forward until all dancers have passed two other dancers. Dancers pass right shoulders.

In Lesson 8, we'll cover the following figures:
  • First Couple Left, Next Couple Right
  • Split the Outside Couple
  • Ocean Wave
  • Run and Cross Run
  • Swing Thru

Good work and see you on Sunday November 10.  Kirk Rockerbie
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    Kirk Rockerbie

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