American Square Dances
These dances are separated-out as they have a few differences from the others.
They usually comprise two alternating parts: the distinctive, main figure, unique to each dance and repeated by each couple in turn… and then there’s the 'break’, a formulaic combination - elements of which can be repeated from dance-to-dance. e.g., “Allemande your corner by the left… into a Right-Left Grand” or “Promenade around the ring”.
Often danced to Bluegrass-style, 4/4 reels.
'Calling' usually employs a characteristic, ‘sung’, rhyming 'patter’ and occasionally needs to react to dancers’ progress rather than music phrasing.
Proficient at calling any of ’em? Nah, not me guv. Most of them require rather more multitasking (and extroversion) than I can successfully muster.
Texas Star
(A 'breakdown’ style of square dance.)
Music:
35s: Mark O'Connor - Say Old Man, John Hartford - Squirrel Hunters; 34s: The Sons of Pioneers - Oh Susanna (some vocal content), The Steeldrivers - Whiskey Before Breakfast; 32s: Chance McCoy et al. - Twin Sisters, Red-headed Fiddlers - *Texas Quickstep, Abrams Brothers - Soldier's Joy Medley, Kevin Griffin et al. - The Green Mountain/… Westport/… Oranmore set, Frank Blevins (intro. from 2s to 25s) - Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss, Jones, Nelson & Miller - Possum on a Rail; 31s: Chance McCoy et al. - Shelvin Rock, Aubrey Haynie - *Foolin’ Around; 30s: *Benton Flippen - Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss, Nashville Rythm Pickers - Reuben’s Train.
Form: Square dance (American).
(As called on YouTube by Phil Jamison.)
Opener
All hold hands and circle left, “Circle of eight”, “other way back - and don’t be slow”/“Don't be late”. (c. 16 beats),
“Swing your partner high & swing her low”. (c. 8 beats)
“Promenade (with a heel & a toe)” Ccw. until you’re home. (c. 16 beats)
Main Figure (44 bars)
* * *
“All four ladies go… into the middle”, (3 steps, clap neighbor's hand), ladies reverse out (“back to the bar”). (8 beats)
“Four gents go in with a r. hand star” (Cw. - grip r. wrists)… (8 beats)
…then turn back with a l. hand star. (8 beats)
Men pass their partner with a slight bow and pick-up (r. arm around her waist) the next lady (progressing) “Take the next, right by your side”, continue circling back to man's place. (8 beats)
Men let go their l. hands so that couples can wheel around Ccw. (men reverse): “Gents swing out and ladies in”/“Insides out and outsides in - it’s once-and-a-half and you're goin’ ag’in” i.e. ladies r. hand star, men hang-on outside their partner. (16 beats)
“Break that star and swing”. (8 beats)
Promenade around the ring to the gent’s home place (optionally, a few steps from home, the man raises his arms so the lady can twirl Cw. once - still holding both hands initially), “go two by two”. (16 beats)
All hold hands and “circle left - eight hands around”, “other way back”. (16 beats),
Repeat the dance a further three times (by going back to: “All four ladies go… ”).
or:
The Break… (between main figures) or ‘chorus’.
“Join hands that’s what you do and circle to the left… other way back”. (c. 20 beats) … into:
‘Rip & Snort’ - sometimes also used as a finishing ‘trimming’.
All join hands. The first man with his new lady, go ‘R & S’: with joined hands, couple 3 make an arch and ‘1’s, still holding hands, pass through it, “First couple down the centre”, pulling their adjacent couples through. Couple 1 separate (only releasing their partner’s hand) and meet back home (couple 3 ‘unwind’ their arch together). Couple 1 rejoin their hands;
“‘4’s arch and ‘2’s duck through”/“Couple 2, come on thru'”;
‘1’s arch, “Couple 3 go through that door”;
‘2’s arch, “Couple 4, you know what to do”. (Total = 4 x c. 8 beats)
Georgia Rang Tang
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHqwOW7HkXI
Music: reel.
24-bar: 26s: Rattle on the Stovepipe - *Chinquapin Hunting; 24s: Four Men and a Dog - *Barlow Knife; Jack Devereux - Red Steer; 23s: Uncle Earl - Backstep Cindy; 22s: Hammer & String - Say Old Man, Can I Have Your Daughter?
12-bar: 9.5s: Hobart Smith - *Pretty Polly.
32-bar: 39s: Ricky Skaggs - Missing Vassar; 36s: Bluegrass Album Band - Misty Morning; 34s: Bruce Molsky - The Bucking Mule, Govannen - *Billy in the Low Ground/Blackberry Blossom, The Grascals - *Old Dangerfield, Chance McCoy and Appalachian String Band - Waynesboro; 32s: J. T. Perkins - Bill Cheatum, Corrina Rose Logston - Smokey Mountain Rag, Richard Durrant - Billy in the Low Ground, The Steeldrivers – Whiskey Before Breakfast, The Nashville Bluegrass Band - Old Timey Risin’ Damp.
Form: Start as one large circle (- even though it’s an American square dance).
Opener (c. 24 bars + x beats)
Circle left. (16 beats)
Swing partner. (8 beats)
Promenade Ccw.. (8)
Put the lady on the left - to swap sides… (8)
…ladies continue circling Ccw., - men turn back and go the other way around. When you meet, “Swing your own" - until the next music phrase. (x)
Find another couple… “Lost and found in the middle of the floor." (c. 8 beats - until the next music phrase)
Main Figure (c, 24 bars)
The Georgia Rang Tang figure shares similarities with the Arkansas Traveler figure.
* * *
(As couple-facing-couple:) the man right hand allemandes his 'opposite’ lady (“Turn your opposite by the right hand around."), (c. 5 steps/beats)
l. hand allemande partner, (5 steps)
r. hand allemande opposite, (5 steps)
l. hand allemande partner, (5 steps)
swing opposite - “You swing mine, I'll swing yours"… “and now swing your own". (c. 8 + 8 steps, so a total of c. 36 steps/beats)
Move-on to the next couple... inner couples move Cw., outers move Ccw.. (c. 10 steps/beats)
Repeat the figure…
Finally: “Promenade that one you know. You know where and I don’t care… take your partner to an easy chair. That’s all there is from this ol’ square”.
Dip and Dive
As called by Bob Dalsemer at: https://vimeo.com/9716623.
Music: Bluegrass reel.
32-bar: 34s: Amey Alvey & Brad Leftwich - Indian on a Stump, The Grascals - Old Dangerfield, George Penk, Clyde Curley & Susan Songer - Merriweather/Sally Ann Johnson; 33s: Bryan Sutton and Friends - Kitchen Girl, Brittany Haas - Smith’s Reel; 32s: Glenn Sutton - Bonny Bluegrass, J. T. Perkins - Bill Cheatum, Chance McCoy and Appalachian String Band - Cranberry Rock, Corrina Rose Logston - Smokey Mountain Rag, Water Tower - Red Prairie Dawn, Foghorn Stringband - Grigsby’s Hornpipe; 31s: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper - Jerusalem Ridge, Mason Williams - Ragtime Annie, Aubrey Haynie - *Foolin’ Around, Corrina Rose Logston - Sandridge, Chance McCoy et al. - Indian Ate a Woodchuck, Shelvin Rock, Andrew Vogts - Rosin on the Gourd, Art Stamper - Sweet Dixie; 30s: Craig Duncan - Ragtime Annie; 29s: Chance McCoy and Appalachian String Band - Jimmy Johnson.
16-bar : 18s: Babineau & Chartrand - Windsor Mills; 16s: Mike Kerin et al. - Chicken Reel, The Bog/Foghorn Stringband combo - Nancy Rowland.
20-bar: 22s: Dirk Powell - *Sally Ann.
24-bar: 22.5s: Bruce Molsky - *Last of Harris.
28-bar: 26s: Brittany Haas - *Rebel Raid.
36-bar: 35s: Pete Sutherland & Brad Kolodner - *Five Miles From Town, 31s: Aubrey Haynie - Cherokee Shuffle.
40-bar: 42s: Glenn Sutton - Green Bluegrass; 40s: David Holt & Josh Goforth - *Billy Wilson.
Need to start very slowly - perhaps for the walkthrough? Then try: Mick O’Brien & C O’R - *Rolling in the Ryegrass set (16 bars in 20s of relaxed but infectious fiddling).
Form: square. (Walk-through a Georgia Rang-Tang figure.)
Main Figure (comprises c. 36 bars or 54 bars with a G. R.-T.)
* * *
The first couple lead-out to their right - to couple 2. These two couples hold hands to make a circle which they half-turn Cw.. Couples 1, 2 and 4 are now in a ‘line of three’ couples across the set - with couple 2 in the middle. (4 bars)
Couple 2 make a single-handed arch and move forward. Couple 1, facing towards the line, dive under the arch and then make an arch themselves as they continue forward towards the advancing couple 3. Couple 2 turn around with either a ‘California Twirl’ or: the lady could swap sides half-turning Ccw., the man, still holding her l. hand, leads Cw. round behind her, wrapping her left arm across her waist, (After the couple has 'dip’ped through the oncoming arch, the lady will then need to 'unwrap’ - by twirling Cw. once). "Insides arch and outsides under, 'Dip and Dive’, you go like thunder" … cross-over… and back. Couple 1 dive into the middle. (12 bars)
“On you go - it’s on to the next”. Couple 1 then half-circle left with couple 3 (4 bars), and either: couple 3 arch and couple 1 simply dive thru’ (“Make a little door and send them through”) or: perform a ‘Georgia Rang-Tang’: “(half-) turn your left-hand opposite by the right hand around”, etc.. and swings. (18 bars)
Couple 1 then move-on to hold hands with couple 4 and half-circle Cw. - so couples 2, 4 and 1 are in a line across the set. (4 bars)
The middle couple (couple 4) make the arch, couple 1, facing the line, dive under the arch - then the three couples Dip ‘n’ Dive - cross… and back. Couple 1 dive ‘home’. (12 bars)
Include a ‘break’ figure here?
Restart - with the next couple as the ‘working couple’.
Break figure suggestions:
“Now home we go, what ya goin’ do?" “All, swing your partner and she'll swing you". “Step right back and watch her grin, step right up and swing her ag’in, step right back and watch her smile, step right up and swing her awhile".
Or Do-si-do: “Dance around your corners all, dance around your partners all... ". (8 + 8 steps)
Or “Allemande left your corner (with your ol’ left hand) - then ya’ walk straight into a R-L Grand". (8 + 22 steps)
Or “Promenade with your partner - go two-by-two - right back home like you used to do". (16 steps)
Or circle: “All hands up and circle south; put a little moonshine in your mouth... and find your way back on that same ol’ track.” (8 + 8 steps)
Kentucky Do-Si-Do
As called by Bob Dalsemer at: https://vimeo.com/9696710.
Music: reel.
32-bar: 34s: George Penk, Clyde Curley & Susan Songer - Merriweather/Sally Ann Johnson, Brittany Haas – John Brown’s Dream; 33s: Brittany Haas - Smith's Reel, The E-B-E Reel, Bryan Sutton and Friends - Kitchen Girl; 32s: Corrina Rose Logston - *Smokey Mountain Rag; 31s: Aubrey Haynie - *Foolin’ Around, Mason Williams - Ragtime Annie, Corrina Rose Logston - Sandridge, Chance McCoy et al. - Indian Ate a Woodchuck, Shelvin Rock, Aubrey Haynie - Cherokee Shuffle, Andrew Vogts - *Rosin on the Gourd, Art Stamper - Sweet Dixie; 30s: Foghorn Stringband - Lost Girl; 29s: Aubrey Haynie - *Hamilton Special.
12-bar: 9.5s: Hobart Smith - *Pretty Polly.
16-bar: 18s: Babineau & Chartrand - Windsor Mills; 16s: Mike Kerin et al. - Chicken Reel; 15s: Gordon Terry - The Chicken Reel.
20-bar: 22s: Dirk Powell - *Sally Ann.
24-bar: 26s: Rattle on the Stovepipe - *Chinquapin Hunting; 24s: Aubrey Haynie - Make a Little Boat; 22s: Hammer & String - *Say Old Man, Can I Have Your Daughter?
36-bar: 35s: Pete Sutherland & Brad Kolodner - *Five Miles From Town, Aubrey Haynie - Long Cold Winter.
40-bar: 42s: Glenn Sutton - Green Bluegrass; 41s: Aubrey Haynie - Leavin’ Rosine; 40s: David Holt & Josh Goforth - *Billy Wilson.
Form: square. Rather than the music's phrasing, the caller’s priority should be to keep the working couple progressing smoothly.
Preparation: walk-thru the: circle, do-si-do, curl round and promenade figures in two, two-couple groups.
Intro.
Circle left eight steps, “the other way back, single file, ladies in front”; everybody cross-hand swing partner, corner swing, promenade partner round the ring “promenade them two-by-two”. 8 + c. 12 bars
* * *
Main Figure (c. 36 bars)
First couple go over to the second couple, with whom they hold hands and circle left, “Out to the right, circle of four" (3 bars)… and “on to the next, circle of four" (3 bars)… and “on to the next, circle of four" (3 bars)… “bring it on up with a Do-si-do (Kentucky)”: “turn partner by the left (Allemande) and round you go” (3), “opposite right and around you go” (2), partner left (3), opposite right “and one more change and around you go” or “and all four change and on you go” (2), to meet partner by the left (1).
As they pass back-to-back, the two men curl round Ccw. so that they can promenade (holding hands in front) their partner around the other couple (men should be close - shoulder-to-shoulder) and “Back home you go” (4).
Everybody balance (two-handed lean-back) and “swing partner” once around (3), everybody pass-by to balance and “swing corner” (3), pass-back to promenade partner around the ring "go two-by-two" (6).
Second couple go out to the right and circle of four… etc.
Third couple go out to the right… etc.
Fourth couple… etc.
Arkansas Traveler
Watch Bill Litchman call at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwJg0i2ja_g
Music: 32-bar reel.
36s: Jim Hendricks - Arkansas Traveler, 33s: Geslison and Groberg - Arkansas Traveller set, Pas Fiddle Band - Arkansas Traveler/Devils Dream, Kenny Baker - Smoky Mountain Rag, Art Stamper – Old Arkansas, Bryan Sutton - Kitchen Girl, Brittany Haas - Smith's Reel, Mark O'Connor - Tennessee Wagoner; 32s: Art Stamper - Miss Spencer's Reel, Chance McCoy & the Appalachian String Band - Twin Sisters, J. T. Perkins - Bill Cheatum, Kevin Griffin et al. - *The Green Mountain/… Westport/… Oranmore set.
16-bar: 16s: The Bog/Foghorn Stringband combo - Nancy Rowland.
Form: square.
Prep.: Walk thru’ the main figure as two, two-couple groups.
Main Figure
* * *
Head two couples go forward four steps and back. 4 bars
Allemande (half-turn) your opposite with the right hand around. 2 bars (c. 5 steps/counts)
Turn your partner with the left hand around. 3 bars (c. 5 steps)
‘Opposite’ right hand around. 2 bars (c. 4 steps)
Back to your own (partner) with a left hand ’round. 2 bars (c. 4 steps)
Then insert a Break figure (to progress), eg.:
r. hand allemande corner, l. hand allemande partner, swing corner,
ladies l. hand star ½ way, turn opposite by the right, continue l. h. star to return to current corner,
men r. hand star ½ way, turn opposite by the left, men continue r. h. star to return to current corner,
do-si-do and promenade corner Ccw.,
(To align with music, append a "swing corner”.)
Repeat three times… Same two head men with their new partners go forward and back etc. …
Then repeat the whole sequence with side couples leading.
Arkansas Traveler (with Cross Trail Thru) - Square Dance
As called by Bob Dalsemer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhD1md44gI
Music: as above.
* * *
Face your new corner, Allemande left that person. (at 1:36 and 3:10)
Ladies star Cw., as men circle Ccw. half-way, “not too far” (until they meet their Allemande partner), Allemande left and four men star Cw. as “ladies circle Ccw. – not too far”. 8 bars
Allemande left (with Allemande partner) and walk into a R-L Grand (chain) “every other one with every other hand”, “round you go, when you meet your new partner… do-si-do”, swing. 16 bars
Allemande left with corner, promenade partner home. 8 bars
Heads/sides forward and back, then sides cross-trail thru’ (cross set - passing opposites r. to r., cross-over, and round the outside to eventually meet and pass their partner… back to place). 8 bars
Heads/sides half-turn their opposite by the r. hand around, partner by l. hand around, corner by the r. hand “all around”/“as she comes down”… , partner by the l. hand i.e. “left all round…” - whereas cross-trailers just turn their new corner by r. hand, partner by l. hand and …
Swing your new corner… “swing that corner round” - keep swinging. 16 bars
Allemande left your next corner, then go back and promenade the one you just swung. 8 bars
Heads/sides half-turn their opposite by the r. hand around, partner by l. hand around, corner by the r. hand “all around”/“as she comes down”… , partner by the l. hand i.e. “left all round…” - whereas cross-trailers just turn their new corner by r. hand, partner by l. hand and …
Swing your new corner… “swing that corner round” - keep swinging. 16 bars
Allemande left your next corner, then go back and promenade the one you just swung. 8 bars
Restart, but after promenade (16 bars), side couples ‘forward and back’. Head couples cross-trail thru'. etc.
The Rout
(Parts of the Main Figure are similar to ‘Chain Double Quadrille’)
As called on YouTube by Tony Parkes at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPxhcI7jtnE and also at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir3GW-w4jm4 to Glise de Sherbrooke…
Music: The basic main figure takes 32 bars… or 48 bars when the ‘R-L through’s are included.
32-bar: 38s: We Banjo 3 - John Brown/The Lost Indian/Sail Away Ladies; 36s: We Banjo 3 - Li’l Liza Jane (vocals); 34s: Govannen - *Billy in the Low Ground, Amy Alvey & Brad Leftwich - Indian on a Stump; 33s: Mark O’Connor - Tennessey Wagoner; 32s: Contrasaurus - Up Jumped the Devil/Marmadukes Hornpipe, Kevin Griffin et al. - The Green Mountain/… Westport/… Oranmore set, The Steeldrivers - Whiskey Before Breakfast, Crooked Still - *Angeline the Baker (some vocals).
16-bar: 16s: Mike Kerin et al. - Chicken Reel; 15s: Gordon Terry - Chicken Reel.
24-bar: 26s: Rattle on the Stovepipe - *Chinquapin Hunting.
40-bar: 40s: David Holt - Billy Wilson.
Form: square.
Note: The degree of ‘courtesy-turn’ differs (¼ or ¾) between couples - affecting timing.
Intro.
Head couples bow to partner, then corner. 4-bar intro.
Hold hands, circle left eight steps and then right. 8 bars
* * *
Main Figure - the basic version omits the four ‘R and L through’s (shown below in a maroon, italic font)
Both head couples lead to the couple on their right. 2 bars
"Everybody circle left”. The head men break their circle to open it out into a line - so, ending with two, longways, two-couple lines facing each other. 3 bars
Into the middle (‘outsides’ can clap free hands) and back. 3 bars
Across the set, everybody forward, Right and Left thru', finish with a courtesy-turn. 4 bars
With the same two - "Chain those ladies across the set/track”. (Ladies cross by the r. hand - to the opposite man.) Finish with a courtesy-turn or two, or finish by ladies twirling Cw. under the man’s left arm as he rotates Ccw.. 4 bars
Facing along the line, two ladies’ chain. 4 bars
With the same two - along the line, everybody Right and left thru’. 4 bars
Across the set, chain those ladies. 4 bars
Same two - across the set, Right and left thru’. 4 bars
Along the line, Right and left thru’. 4 bars
Same two - Along the line, chain those ladies. 4 bars
Courtesy-turn twice around… "You’ve got your own” and Promenade Ccw. (“around the town”) (end flourish: man raises left arm and lady twirls under it). 8 bars
Then repeat with the side couples leading… (initially, after “side couples out to the right - circle of four", make two, cross-ways lines etc.).
Hash Break figures: do-si-do your corners all, left shoulder do-si-do your partner, men r. h. star once around, turn partner left, turn corner right, turn partner left; ladies r. h. star, ladies l. h. star, do-si-do partner and swing partner. 32 bars
All join hands and circle left and home you go. 8 bars
The Rout - Alternative, 32-bar version (where ladies circulate twice around the set - men go half-way round… and back)
Form: two, longways, two-couple lines facing each other.
N.B. Need to remember which direction is across the set and which is along the line.
* * *
“Everybody forward". Across the set, R-L thru'. (4 bars, 4 steps + 4 steps)
Along the line, ladies’ chain.
Across the set, ladies’ chain.
Along the line, R-L thru’.
Across the set, ladies’ chain.
Down the line, R-L thru'.
Across the set, R-L thru’.
Down the line, Ladies’ chain… (total: 8 x 4 bars)
Courtesy turn once/twice around and promenade - “around the square” or: “we’re homeward bound”. 8 bars
Break: Do-si-do partner… Allemande left your corner, R-L Grand Chain.
Bouquet Waltz or ‘Pokey-O'
(A ‘progressive pick-up’ style of square dance.)
As called by Bob Dalsemer (based on a Cecil Sharp interpretation) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAdNbHO4598 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uFlXzNVD5g
Music: 16-bar: 17s: Ron Block - *Devil in the Strawsack;
32-bar: 33s: Notorious - Door County #2; 32s: Chance McCoy - Indian Ate A Woodchuck; 31s: Perpetual-E-motion - Sally Goodin, Notorious - Iowa City/Springfield Girls;
28-bar: 29s: Rhys Jones - *Rebel Raid; 27s: Haas & Molsky - Red Steer;
24-bar: 23.5s: Jack Devereux - Red Steer, Uncle Earl - Backstep Cindy;
40-bar: 40s: David Holt & Josh Goforth - *Billy Wilson.
Form: square.
Prep: Tell 'em that ‘Calling’ will respond to dancers’ progress rather than music phrasing.
* * *
Opener
Everyone Allemande corner by the left hand ¾-turn. (c. 5 steps/beats)
Do-si-do partner.
Promenade Cw. around the ring.
Main Figure - takes about 38 bars.
Couple 1 step into the middle. Lady stays there, man makes a “circle of three" with couple 2 and they circle left (Cw.) once around. (c. 7 beats)
Couple 1 Allemande left in the middle. (5)
“Man goes on to couple 3" making a “circle of three”, lady follows-up with couple 2, both circle left (twice) and both circles rotate Ccw. around each other once. (c. 16)
Couple 1 Allemande left in the middle. (5)
“Man go on" to couple 4, “lady follow-up” with couple 3, “two circles of three” both circle left and both circles rotate Ccw. around each other once. (c. 16)
Couple 1 Allemande left in the middle. (5)
Couple 1 go on to couple 4 to make a 4-person circle that's circling left, the other two couples make a separate 2-couple circle that's also circling left. The two, 4-person circles then rotate Ccw. around each other. “Four-by-four go round the floor… four-by-four and you ‘Pokey-o’ - take four in a bunch and round you go”. (c. 20)
Couple 2 step into the middle and Allemande left.
Lady stays in the middle, man goes on to circle left once with couple 3… etc., etc.
Include a 'break' figure here…
Couple 3 etc.
Couple 4 etc.
Examples of ubiquitous 'break’ figures:
“Everybody promenades round the ring. Go two-by-two - right back home like you always do.”
“Allemande your neighbor by the old left hand, walk right into a R-L Grand”. “Round and round you go (passing partner + three people) - meet your partner with a double-elbow (hooked-elbow) turn, once (and-a-bit) around you go. Head-on to the next with a left elbow. then on to the next with a right elbow… ”. “Everybody home and swing with your own” or “Right back home and simmer down”. “Swing with your partner round and round”. (c. 32 beats)
Finally: “Promenade that one you know. You know where and I don't care… take your partner to an easy chair. That’s all there is from this ol’ square.”
or “Promenade around the floor. That’s all there is… there ain't no more" or “Bow to your partner, bow to your corner too. There you go, that’s it - we’re thru.”
Down Yonder
As called by Bob Dalsemer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImYt3_Voqlk
Music: 40-bar reel. Own tune. 38s: Randall Franks, Fairchild & Shuler - Down Yonder.
Form: American Square dance. (Break, two main figures, break, two main figures, break.)
Break Figure:
1-6 Face corner, Allemande left twice around… keep holding l. hands
7-8 then, in a circle - ladies innermost facing out i.e. Alamo-style, while also holding partner’s r. h., balance (pull-in to partner, then rock-back)
9-10 release left hand only and swing half-around partner to also hold l. h. with the next person (so men circulate Ccw. around the set, ladies go Cw.)
11-12 balance (pull-in to that person, then rock-back)
13-14 then let go r. hand and swing half-around
15-22 repeat bars 7-14 with the final two people
23-28 R-L Grand Chain back home
29-32 meet and do-si-do your partner
33-40 promenade your partner once around the set.
* * *
Main Figure:
1-8 4 ladies / men chain… and chain back
9-12 walk Cw. round your corner, (final time around: ladies twirl under their l. arm and honour)
13-16 see-saw (walk Ccw. around your partner)
17-22 go back and swing your corner
23-30 next corner Allemande left… into a R-L Grand
31-34 meet and do-si-do the one you just swung
35-40 promenade that lady back home (i.e. half-way round the set).
Bob’s singing call for 'Down Yonder’
Break:
“Turn corner left twice around… In the Alamo style:
give right hand to your partner and you balance awhile,
turn by the right and you balance, I say,
turn by the left and you balance that way,
turn by the right and you balance once more,
turn left, balance (your own)…
Grand right and left the floor.
You're going down yonder, until you meet your own,
and then you ‘do-si-do’ your partner boys and promenade home.
You’re raising a fuss and a hullabaloo, but she’s going down yonder with you”.
Main Figure:
“Four ladies/gents chain, turn the opposite man/gal,
now chain 'em back, turn your partner again.
‘Do-si-do’ your corner and ‘see saw’ your own/partner around.
Your corner you swing, you’ve got the world on a string.
You do an Allemande left, and a Grand right and left.
You're going down yonder, until you meet the one you swung,
and then you do-si-do this partner boys and promenade home.
You’re raising a fuss and a hullabaloo, but she’s going down yonder with you".
Box the Gnat
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gQytx_lmw4
Form: square.
Prep.: Walk through the main figure (starting at 5th bar) as a circle of eight. (16 bars of 'Box'ing.)
* * *
Main Figure:
Head couples walk to the middle & back, (4 bars)
With Opposite, Box the Gnat (holding right hands, lady twirls [Ccw.] under man’s right arm), (2 bars)
Change (to left) hands, Swat the Flea (lady twirls [Cw.] under man’s raised left arm), gets you back to place, (2 bars)
Change to original partner (& change hands), Box… , (2)
Change partner (& hands), Swat…, (2)
Change partner (& hands), Box…, (2)
Keep partner to reverse the direction of travel.
Change hands, Swat…, (2)
Change partner (& hands), Box…, (2)
Change partner (& hands), Swat…, (2)
Left Allemande your corner. (2)
R-L Grand Chain and promenade back home (8)
or do-si-doh partner (4), Swing partner. (6)
Then side couples dance it.
Big Set
Music: 33s: Jim Hendricks - Mountain Dew; 32s: Richard Durrant - Billy in the Low Ground; 31s: Art Stamper – Jenny Lind, Martha Campbell (29s); 30s: Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass or Krüger Brothers - Reuben’s Train, Ralph Stanley - Mississippi Sawyer; 29s: Uncle Earl - Walkin' in my Sleep !but vocal content!
(As called by Phil Jamison on 'www.squaredancehistory.org’.)
Form: Large Circle initially… re-configuring as an outer couple facing an inner couple.
Opener
Circle left in a great big ring, go into the middle and back.
Repeat, “One more time”.
Swing your partner around – suggest using Buzz-step to swing.
Main Figure
Find a new couple ('Lost & Found’ in the middle of the floor), join hands in a circle of four, circle to the left around the floor.
Other way back/other way round (i.e. circle right).
Right hands across to the opposite person (only) – “How do ya do” - and circle left.
Left hand back and a fine “Thank you”.
Take opposite. “You swing mine and I'll swing yours" – swing using Buzz-step.
Come on home and swing your own.
Take your partner, travel on, promenade around the room/hall – all promenade.
Then repeat the main figure.
… or, if in the double-circle configuration, progress on by moving one couple to the left.
Join hands, circle of four (circle left)… continue down this section or 'Lost & Found’ in the middle of the floor… go back to "Other way back… ”
A Break figure sequence:
Let’s do the 'Georgia Rang Tang’. See above.
Promenade around the floor/room, go two by two – promenade that's what you do.
Find a new couple… if in the double-circle configuration (an inner couple facing an outer couple), progress on by moving one couple to the left.
Circle of four - circle to the left around the floor, continue down this section or: all the way round, other way back (i.e. circle to the right) and around you go… go back to G. R. T.
or: 'Put the bird in the cage’ and shut the door - still holding hands, one lady raises her l. h. and reverses under it into the ring - the 'three-plus-one’ continue circling…
… the bird hops out and crow hops in – her man reverses into the ring under his raised right arm - the four continue circling…
Crow comes out. You swing mine and I'll swing yours.
Swing your own.
Promenade (/travel on) go two by two - that's what you do, find a new couple,
… or, if in the double-circle configuration, progress by moving one couple to the left.
Make a circle of four continue down: or, when you calm down, circle to the left around, and go back to 'Put-t-b-i-t-c… '
Right hands across, “How do ya do”, left hand back and a fine “Thank you”.
Both hands across, let’s make a basket. Grip both opposite person’s hands (ladies join hands underneath the men’s) - men may need to 'interlock’. The ladies bow, go forward under the men's arms and, still holding hands, raise back up - keeping their arms up. Men lower their arms behind the ladies' backs, and duck their heads under their ladies’ arms, "the gents know how… ” and the four circle left. – 8 bars
You swing mine and I'll swing yours… then swing your partner too.
Travel on, promenade around the hall, go two by two and find a new couple…
… or, if in the double-circle configuration, progress on by moving one couple to the left.
Make a circle of four, continue down: or circle left when you calm-down – then: all the way back and all the way round (i.e. circle to the right) and go back to “Right Hands across."
Take in 2 more couples, make a circle of eight - still turning left.
R. h. across, and a l. h. back.
('Both hands across’ – isn't really feasible!), make a basket and circle left.
You swing mine and I’ll swing yours.
Swing your gal, swing her hi and swing her lo, promenade around the floor.
Go into the middle and back – all the way out.
One more time - go into the middle, give a great big shout.
Promenade around the floor… that’s all there is and there ain’t no more.
The 'Roll the Barrel’ 'break’ figure is rather like 'Wring-Out the Dishrag’ except the figure's accomplished in one continuous movement (so, after the first couple [the 'inners’, say] duck-through, they then drop their raised arms over the other couple [or 'outer’s] for the other couple to duck-under and for everyone to 'unroll’ themselves). After the whole figure's completed, it’s usually reversed for “The other way back”.
Traditional ‘Break’ figures [from: “American Square Dancing (1947)" at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJKC0Zj20o ]
“Allemande your corner by the ol’ left hand… then walk straight into a R-L Grand”, swing (24 beats + 8 beats).
‘R & L thru'’… Pass lady through the oncoming couple and turn her Ccw. (8 beats). Then repeat to get her back to place. (8)
For two facing couples: ‘Ladies chain’… Ladies cross between the men by the r. hand. Men then courtesy half-turn their ‘opposite’ Ccw.. (8 beats). Then repeat to return to place. (8)
For two facing couples: “Four hands up and around we go, halfway round and a do-si-do… ” - holding hands in a circle, circle left halfway, all drop hands. Pass lady through the oncoming couple (so, pass ‘corner’/‘opposite’ r. shoulder to r. shoulder). Lady then turns Ccw. to face her partner and holds his left hand with hers and ½ encircles him as he quarter-turns Cw. “Hurry up gents – and don’t be slow… ” - then the men release their partner’s hand as they pass each other by right shoulder, back-to-back to meet their ‘corner’ lady by the r. hand - she circles him Cw. once. “One more change and home you go” - men drop their corner’s r. hand, take their partner’s l. hand to courtesy-turn her Ccw. back home, swing. (32 beats)