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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 

2/10/2019 0 Comments

Sunday Feb 10 - class cancelled due to snowfall warning

Hi everyone.  Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Greater Victoria area.  Snow might start falling later this afternoon.  For this reason tonight's class is cancelled.  Stay warm and safe.  Kirk.
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2/5/2019 0 Comments

Lesson 17 - February 3 2019

​Good work!  Here is what we learned:
 
 
1.Dopaso
 
Dance action - Left Arm Turn with partner until facing corner and release armhold. Right Arm Turn with corner until facing partner and release armhold. If there is no further instruction, Courtesy Turn partner to end facing the center of the set. Otherwise, follow the next instruction, which will start with a Left Arm Turn with Partner, or with a left-handed Facing Dancer call.
 
Ending formation - Facing center of set if ended with a Courtesy Turn; otherwise, either turning partner by the left, or facing partner with a left hand available as necessary for the additional call.
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b1%2Fdo_paso&name=Do%20Paso%20from%20Static%20Square&level=true&title=Do%20Paso&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrooke Squares site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m10.htm
 
 
2.Walk Around Corner/Seesaw Your Partner
 
Dance action - Dancers face their corners. Walking forward and around each other while keeping right shoulders adjacent, dancers return to their original position, with their backs toward their corner.
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=b1%2Fall_around_the_corner&name=Walk%20Around%20the%20Corner%20from%20Facing%20Couples&level=true&title=Walk%20Around%20the%20Corner&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrooke Square site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m04.htm
 
 
3.Thar
 
In the Thar Family, Thars and Wrong Way Thars are formations in motion. Center dancers hold a Pack-saddle Star and walk backward, and each center dancer maintains a forearm grip with the adjacent outside dancer, who walks forward.
 
In most cases, dancers Left Arm Turn 1/2. That is, if the dancers take forearm holds when shoulder-to-shoulder, the dancer who begins on the outside will end in the center.
 
Dance action - Dancers continue to Left Arm Turn 1/2. The centers form a right-hand star and back up. Outside dancers hold the left forearm of a center dancer and walk forward.
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fthar&name=Allemande%20Thar%20from%20Thar%20Star&level=true&title=Allemande%20Thar&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrooke Squares site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m10.htm
 
 
4.Slip the Clutch
 
Starting formations - Thar in motion, Wrong Way Thar in motion
Dance action - Any backward motion is stopped as outside dancers release armholds (disengage) with the adjacent centers. All dancers move forward around the center of the set to the next dancer.
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fslip_the_clutch&name=Slip%20the%20Clutch%20from%20Thar&level=true&title=Slip%20the%20Clutch&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrooke Square site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m10.htm
 
 
5.Teacup Stroll
 
Starting formation – Square
 
Dancer action:
                Heads
  1. Heads ladies into the center and chain ¾
  2. Head men promenade ¼ to their right into the sides position, and courtesy turn their partner.
  3. The couple then promenades to the next head position, and repeat 1 and 2.
  4. Couple then promenades back home.
Sides
  1. Side couple promenades ¼ right to the head position.
  2. Side ladies into the center and chain ¾
  3. Side men promenade ¼ to their right into the sides position, and courtesy turn their partner.
  4. The couple then promenades to the next head position and repeat 2.
  5. Side men courtesy turn their partner back in the sides position.
 
Unfortunately, this call is not on the Taminations site nor the Saddlebrooke Squares site.
 
Next week we will cover:
 
  1. Allemande Thar
  2. Wrong Way Thar
  3. Shoot the Star
  4. Dixie Style to an Ocean Wave
  5. Circulate (box, split, column, 1-1/2)
 
 
 
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1/29/2019 0 Comments

Lesson 16 - January 27

​Hi everyone.  We had a good review which included
  • Spin Chain Thru
  • Spin the Top
  • Right and left thru
  • Tag the Line
  • Half tag the line, and
  • Scoot back
 
We covered a new figure, called Walk and Dodge:
 
Walk and Dodge
 
Dancer Action - Some dancers move forward ("walk") to take the position of the dancer in front of them, and other dancers, without changing facing direction, move sideways ("dodge") into the adjacent spot.
 
From Facing Couples, callers must designate which dancers "walk" and which dancers "dodge".
 
Taminations website:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fwalk_and_dodge&name=Walk%20and%20Dodge%20from%20Right-Hand%20Box&level=true&title=Walk%20and%20Dodge&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrooke Squares website:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m14.htm
 
 
Good work and see you Sunday night!  Kirk
 
 
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1/25/2019 0 Comments

Lesson 15 - January 20

Good work!  Here are the figures we covered:

1.Turn Thru
 
Starting formation - Facing Dancers.
 
Dance action - In one smooth motion, dancers Step To A Wave (but use forearm styling), Right Arm Turn 1/2, and Step Thru.
 
Ending formation - Back-To-Back Dancers
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fturn_thru&name=Turn%20Thru%20from%20Facing%20Couples&level=true&title=Turn%20Thru&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m01b.htm
 
 
2.Eight Chain Thru
 
Complete as many of these actions as appropriate:
 
All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 1 has been completed)
Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 2 has been completed)
 
All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 3 has been completed)
Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 4 has been completed)
 
All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 5 has been completed)
Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 6 has been completed)
 
All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 7 has been completed)
Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain Thru has been completed)
 
Ending formations
  • Eight Chain Thru ends in Eight Chain Thru
  • Eight Chain 1, 3, 5, etc. ends in Trade By
  • Eight Chain 2, 4, 6, etc. ends in Eight Chain Thru
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Feight_chain_thru&name=Eight%20Chain%20One&level=true&title=Eight%20Chain%20One&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m15.htm
 
 
3.Spin Chain Thru
 
Starting formation - parallel waves.
 
Each end and the adjacent center dancer turn one half (180°). The new centers of each ocean wave turn three quarters (270°) to make a new ocean wave across the set. The two centers of this wave turn one half (180°) to reform the wave across the set. The two outside pairs of dancers of the center wave now turn three quarters (270°) to join the waiting ends and form parallel ocean waves.
 
Taminations site:
https://www.tamtwirlers.org/taminations/#link=ms%2Fspin_chain_thru&name=Spin%20Chain%20Thru%20from%20Right-Hand%20Waves&level=true&title=Spin%20Chain%20Thru&animnum=0&action=ANIMLIST
 
Saddlebrook Squares site:
https://videosquaredancelessons.com/lessons/m15.htm
 
 
 
Figures for Lesson #16 on January 27 include:
  • Walk and Dodge
  • Dopaso
  • Allemande Thar
  • Wrongway Thar
  • Slip the Clutch
  • Shoot the Star
  • Dixie Style to a Wave
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1/14/2019 0 Comments

January 13 - Lesson Log

​Hi everyone.  Hope you enjoyed class.  Here are the new figures we covered.
 
 
1.Cloverleaf
 
Starting formation - Completed Double Pass Thru
 
The lead dancers separate and move away from each other in a three quarter (270 degrees) circle.
 
When each lead dancer approaches another lead dancer from the other side of the square, they both reach with outside hands, blending into a couple handhold as they continue into the center of the square to become a couple facing in.
 
Each trailing dancer follows the dancer in front, and ends directly behind that same dancer.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Cloverleaf
 
2.Pass to the Center
 
Starting formation – couples facing each other (e.g., one couple looking, the other couple looking out).
 
Both couples Pass Thru. The couples looking out of the square will do a Partner Trade.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Pass to the Center
 
3.Spin Chain Thru
 
Starting formation - parallel waves.
 
Each end and the adjacent center dancer turn one half (180°). The new centers of each ocean wave turn three quarters (270°) to make a new ocean wave across the set. The two centers of this wave turn one half (180°) to reform the wave across the set. The two outside pairs of dancers of the center wave now turn three quarters (270°) to join the waiting ends and form parallel ocean waves.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Spin Chain Thru
 
 
On Sunday January 20 we will cover 4 new figures:
  1. Turn Thru
  2. Eight Chain Thru
  3. Spin the Top
  4. Walk and Dodge
 
 
Great work!  Kirk
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1/14/2019 0 Comments

December 30 and January 6 - Lesson log

Hi everyone.  While I was out of town Stu Hemmings conducted the classes on December 30 and January 6.  I hope you had a wonderful time!  Thank you Stu.
 
Here are the figures that Stu covered:
 
 
1.Tag the Line
 
Starting formation – general line
 
Each dancer turns 90 degrees, in place, to face the center of the line and then walks forward, passing right shoulders with all dancers in the other half of the line, until the last dancers in each half have passed each other. If a facing direction is given, each dancer then turns 90 degrees, in place, toward the specified direction.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Tag the Line
 
2.Half Tag
 
Starting formation – general line
 
Each dancer turns 90 degrees, in place, to face the center of the line (i.e., turning toward the far end of the line) and starts walking forward, as necessary passing right shoulders with dancers from the other half of the line.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Half Tag
 
3.Fold/Cross Fold
 
Starting formation - any two dancer formation in which the directed dancer has a shoulder directly adjacent to the other dancer.
 
GENERAL RULE: Directed dancers step forward and move in a small semi-circle to end facing toward an adjacent dancer or position. The adjacent inactive dancer may be facing in any direction and does not move. If not specified, centers fold toward ends and vice versa.
 
BOYS FOLD, GIRLS FOLD, ENDS FOLD, CENTERS FOLD: Directed active dancers fold toward the inactive dancers using the general rule.
CROSS FOLD: Starting formation - line, two-faced line, or wave. The directed (active) dancers who must either both be centers or both be ends, fold toward the farthest inactive dancer by walking in a semi-circle to end facing toward that same dancer. When the active dancers are both facing the same direction, they move forward in a semi-circle, pass each other and fold toward the inactive dancer.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Fold and Cross Fold
 
4.Scoot Back
 
Starting formation - box circulate
 
Dancers facing in step straight forward to join adjacent forearms, turn half (180°) and step forward to end in the position vacated by the dancer who was facing out. Meanwhile, each dancer facing out runs into the position vacated by the dancer who is doing the forearm turn. When done from right hand boxes, the dancers facing in turn by the right and the dancers facing out run right. When done from left hand boxes, the dancers facing in turn by the left and the dancers facing out run left.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Scoot Back
 
5.Recycle
 
Starting formation - ocean wave only.
 
The ends of the wave cross fold as the centers of the wave fold in behind the ends and follow them around, then face in to end as two facing couples.
 
Taminations site
See “Mainstream”, Recycle
 
 
Great work!  Kirk
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12/21/2018 0 Comments

Classes on Sunday December 30 and January 6 - what you need to know

Yes, there will be classes on Sunday December 30 and January 6.  Time to burn off some of that holiday season caloric intake!

and there's more .....

Stu Hemmings, renowned caller for  the Country Cousins, and my teacher and mentor, will be teaching on those nights!  You're in for fun and eventful night!  A must not miss opportunity!

What Stu will be doing is (1) reviewing what we have covered so far, and (2) moving into new figures.  More specifically, to be reviewed is:
  • Ferris Wheel
  • Trade By
  • Box the Gnat
  • Hinge/Couples Hinge
  • Touch 1/4
  • Circulate (from waves and columns - box and split circulate)

New figures to be taught include:
  • 1/2 Tag
  • Fold
  • Cross Fold
  • Scoot Back
  • Recycle

Have fun!  
​Kirk

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12/21/2018 0 Comments

this just in .... Mavericks Christmas Dance - Friday Dec 21 8 pm

The Mavericks are inviting you to attend their Christmas dance tonight.  Starts at 8 pm at the Royal Oak Hall.  All dances will only use Basic techniques - so you can dance!

Hope to see you tonight, but this is short notice.  Kirk.
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12/21/2018 0 Comments

December 16 - what did we review?

Hi to all the new dancers.  Here is what we covered on December 16:
  • Run
  • Cross-Run
  • Pass the Ocean
  • Extend
  • Zoom
  • Put centers in, cast 3/4

​Good work!  Kirk.
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12/14/2018 0 Comments

December 16 - what we will cover next

For those wanting to look ahead, here is what we will cover on Sunday December 16:
  • Trade (ends trade, centers trade, couples trade)
  • Run
  • Cross-Run
  • Pass the Ocean
  • Extend
  • Zoom
  • Put centers in
  • Cast 3/4
  • Ferris Wheel
  • Trade By
​See you Sunday.  Kirk.
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