Conventions and Rules

There are several areas of square dancing in which certain conventions have been established. If a convention is followed by enough dancers and callers, it may evolve into a rule.

There is a risk in deriving a convention from lots of dance examples and then writing it as a rule. Others will read the rule and create new choreography based on the rule. The direction in which the rule allows square dancing to evolve may be in conflict with the convention that spawned the rule. That is, square dancing may evolve in unintended directions that are at  odds with long-time callers and dancers.

The following conventions and rules explain how and why square dancing is done in certain ways. The reader should exercise caution and good judgment in creating new choreography using these rules in ways heretofore not in current use.

Passing Rule

If the definition of a call has two dancers on the same path and requires them to walk past each other, they should pass right shoulders (unless otherwise specified) and continue. The mirror image version of a call has dancers pass left shoulders and continue (e.g., Left Double Pass Thru).

Same Position Rule

If two dancers are required to occupy the same position at the end of a call, and are facing in opposite directions from each other, they form a Right-Hand Mini-Wave. If an adjustment is necessary (since they are now two dancers side-by-side in a formation that expected one dancer), the adjustment is sideways, towards the outside of the group in which they were working.

Callers should not use a call that would result in two dancers who are facing the same direction, or at right angles, trying to occupy the same position.

Example:

Facing Couples Rule

A few specific calls that are defined to start from an Ocean Wave are also proper starting from Facing Couples. Examples include Swing Thru and Spin The Top. In these cases, the dancers first step into a momentary Right-Hand Ocean Wave and complete the call.

If the caller directs a left hand call (e.g., Left Swing Thru), the dancers first step into a momentary Left-Hand Ocean Wave.

If the Facing Couples rule is applicable, the call's definition in this document will have a comment to that effect. If there is no such comment, then the Facing Couples rule may not be used.

While the rule is called the Facing Couples Rule, it is generalized to include Facing Dancers stepping to a Right-Hand Mini-Wave and Facing Lines step to a Right-Hand Tidal Wave, etc.

The following types of mixed Mini-Wave and Facing Dancer starting formations, while unusual, are also proper:

Timing: Application of the Facing Couple Rule does not change the timing of the call.

Ocean Wave Rule

Some calls that are defined to start from Facing Couples are also proper starting from a Right-Hand Ocean Wave. Examples include Right And Left Thru and Square Thru. In these cases, the dancers have already stepped forward toward the facing dancer and are ready to complete the remaining action of the directed call.

For the sake of dancer comprehension and teaching purposes, it may be necessary initially to have the dancers back up into facing couples, then step back into the wave and complete the call.

While the rule is called the Ocean Wave Rule, it is generalized to include Mini-Wave (Facing Dancers) and Tidal Wave (Facing Lines), etc. Examples include Pass Thru, Slide Thru, Box The Gnat, and Double Pass Thru (from a Right-Hand 1/4 Tag), and Pass To The Center (from Right-Hand Ocean Waves).

In order for the Ocean Wave Rule to apply, the initial dance action of the call must start with a Box The Gnat, Pass Thru, or Right Pull By. In addition, the call must not be defined to have a different dance action from an Ocean Wave. For example, the call Circulate is defined from Eight Chain Thru and from Ocean Waves. It would be improper to call Circulate from Ocean Waves and expect dancers to dance it as a Step Thru based on the Ocean Wave Rule because they would naturally apply the definition of Circulate from Ocean Waves.

The following mixed Mini-Wave and Facing Dancer starting formation, while unusual, is also proper:

The adjustment that is part of the Ocean Wave Rule does not change the effect of the call. It neither adds nor subtracts parts or changes the use of fractions. It is as if any dancer in a mini-wave had first stepped back into facing dancers and then all did the call. For example, from a Right-Hand Mini-Wave Dosado ends in Facing Dancers, not in a Right-Hand Mini-Wave.

The Ocean Wave Rule also applies to calls that normally start from Facing Couples when the dancers are in a Left Hand Ocean Wave. In these cases, the caller must direct a left hand call (e.g., Left Square Thru).

See "Part 4: Additional Detail: Commands: Extensions like Reverse Wheel Around".

When half of the dancers are in a Mini-Wave, and the other half of the dancers are Facing Dancers, and the call is a 2-dancer call (e.g., Box The Gnat, Slide Thru, Pass Thru) the caller should make clear who is to do the call (e.g., Everyone or Those Facing).

Timing: Application of the Ocean Wave Rule does not change the timing of the call.

Squared Set Convention

Calls that are defined as starting from Facing Dancers or Facing Couples are also proper starting from a Squared Set. The caller must identify which pair of couples is active (e.g., Heads, Boys).

The active dancers move forward into the center of the set and execute the call. If they end facing the same walls as the inactive dancers, they will remain in the center (e.g., Heads Square Thru 4, Heads Star Thru, Heads Touch 1/4).

If the call ends with the active dancers not facing the same walls as the inactive dancers, then the active dancers end back on Squared Set spots unless there is clear reason to remain in the center. (e.g., Dancers should return to Squared Set spots for Head Ladies Chain, Heads Right and Left Thru, Heads Pass Thru, or Heads Square Thru 3.)

Because of the ending handhold, on the call Heads Box The Gnat, the Heads remain in the center and take the next call. Usually the exact ending position is obvious from the next call (e.g., Heads Right And Left Thru, Sides Right and Left Thru), or doesn't matter because the next call continues the dance action (e.g., Heads Pass Thru, Separate, Around 1 To A Line).

Some callers who want the active dancers to remain in the center precede the call with a "Heads Move In", "Heads Move Forward", or "Heads Move Into The Center". For example, "Heads Move In and Square Thru 3" would have the Heads remain in the center instead of returning to Squared Set spots.

Timing: Moving into the center adds 2 beats to the timing for the move.

Note that the time needed to move out of the middle will often be blended into the final portion of the call (as in Right and Left Thru, during the Courtesy Turn) or be overlapped with the start of the following call (as in Heads Right and Left Thru, Sides Right and Left Thru).

From an Infacing Circle Of 8, if the caller names two adjacent dancers and their opposites and gives a call that starts from Facing Couples, the dancers dance the call as if the circle has been changed into a Squared Set, and follow the Squared Set Convention. Examples:

From a Squared Set: Join Hands, Circle Left; Heads Up To The Middle And Back; Heads Square Thru 4.

From a Squared Set: Heads Half Sashay; All Circle Left; 4 Boys Spin The Top.

There are several ways to identify dancers in a square. See "Part 4: Additional Detail: Dance Action: What does naming a dancer mean?".

Command examples:
Face Your Partner; Dosado
Face Your Corner; Allemande Left
Circle Left; Swing Your Partner
4 Ladies Promenade Inside; Swing Your Partner

Description: From a Squared Set of Normal Couples, each dancer's Partner is the adjacent dancer, and each dancer's Corner is the next dancer "around the nearest corner of the square" from them.

From a Couple, or Mini-Wave, each dancer is the other's Partner.

From an Infacing Circle Of 8 of alternating men and women, the man's Partner is the next dancer counterclockwise around the circle from him and the corner is clockwise around the circle. For the women, the Partner is clockwise around the circle and the Corner is counterclockwise.

Partners and Corners may change throughout the dance, especially during the singing call. Each Allemande Left, Swing, or Promenade establishes a new Current Partner. Your Original Partner remains the dancer with whom you initially joined the square.

Comments: In "4 Ladies Promenade Inside; Swing Your Partner", Partner refers to the dancer who was your partner just prior to the call.
From a BBGG Infacing Circle Of 8 "Swing Your Partner" will have every man swing a woman because Swing requires a man and a woman.

For the purposes of resolving the square (i.e., getting dancers back to their original partners and corners) it may be useful for callers to consider the man's corner as the next woman clockwise around the square (after adjusting Ocean Waves back to Facing Couples, having everyone face the center of the set, and blending into an Infacing Circle Of 8). This will make the man's partner (the person the man would promenade after an Allemande Left) be the next woman counterclockwise from him, after adjustments.

Command examples:
Heads Right and Left Thru
Head Ladies Chain
Sides Wheel Around
Sides Trade
Original Heads
Those In The Head Position

Description: From a Squared Set, at the start of the tip, the Heads are the two opposing couples who are facing toward or away from the caller. The Sides are the two opposing couples who are standing perpendicular to the caller.

Dancers retain their Head or Side identity established when they first squared up. That is, "Heads" means "Original Heads". Examples include Heads Run, Heads Trade, Sides Pass Thru, Sides Fold.

In a squared set, when the original Sides are standing in the Heads position, the caller must explicitly designate "Original Heads" or "Those In The Head Position" because simply saying "Heads" could mean either of these. Similarly for "Sides".

In a squared set, when a mixture of Heads and Sides occupies the Heads position, the caller should explicitly designate "Head Man And The Girl With You" or "Those In The Head Position" because simply saying "Heads" could mean either of these. Similarly for "Sides".

When a Head Man is promenading with a Side Woman, the term "Heads" means "Head Boy And The Girl With You" (e.g., Heads Wheel Around). Similarly for "Sides".

The figure portion of singing calls almost always causes each woman to progress to a new man. Once this has happened, she temporarily takes on the Head/Side identity and home position of that man.

Some areas "rotate" or "stir the bucket" (i.e., rotate the square 90 degrees to the right so everyone has a new home position) before the singing call. This can be done by the caller as part of his last patter sequence, or by the dancers before the singing calls starts. Either way, the dancers reestablish new Heads and Sides for the singing call.

Couple #1, #2, #3, #4

Command examples:
Couples 1 and 3 make a Right Hand Star
1 and 3 Lead Out To The Right
Couple 1 Split Couple 3, Round one to a line

Description: From a Squared Set, at the start of the tip, the couple whose back is to the caller is Couple #1. The couple to their right is Couple #2, and so on.

Dancers retain their couple number as established when they first squared up.

The figure portion of singing calls almost always causes each woman to progress to a new man. Once this has happened, she temporarily takes on the couple number and home position of that man.

Comments: The phrases "Couples 1 And 3" and "1 And 3" mean the same thing as "Heads".

Modern choreography has moved away from using couple numbers to identify dancers. See Heads / Sides (above).

Command examples:
Boys Run
Girls Trade
Men Circulate; Ladies Trade
Cloverleaf; Ladies Lead Dixie Style to a Wave
All 4 Ladies Chain

Description: The Boys are those dancers who initially squared up as the left-side dancers of each couple.

The Girls are those dancers who initially squared up as the right-side dancers of each couple. The terms Men, Gents, Gentlemen, and Guys are synonymous with Boys. The terms Women, Ladies, and Gals are synonymous with Girls.

Comments: No matter the actual genders of the dancers, those who initially squared up on the left-side of each couple will play the role of Boys; right-side dancers will play the role of Girls.

Some callers emphasize that in square dancing the commands are all given to the Boys. They say that the Girls have to pay attention and do the opposite action. In modern teaching, choreography, and patter that statement is misleading and generally not true. Most of the calls are defined without reference to gender. Most of the commands are given to all the active dancers. Callers should teach and call in a way that doesn't perpetuate this myth.

Command examples:
Each Side, Centers Trade
On Your Own Side, Centers Trade
Centers Of Each Side, Pass Thru
Center 4, Walk And Dodge
Ends Fold

Description: Dancers near the center of the square (or formation) are called centers. Dancers on the outside of the square (or formation) are called Ends. The identification of Centers or Ends is independent of facing direction. Centers ("C") and Ends ("E") of some common formations:

With 8 dancers, there are several possibilities, depending on the formation:

The caller should use "Each Side, Centers" or "Center 4" in order to avoid the ambiguity present with the term "Centers" from a 1x8 Formation.

The following are encountered less frequently, or are referred to in the definitions:

1x8 Formation: "Each Side, Centers" or "Each Side, Ends" 1x8 Formation: "Center 4"

An understanding of Leaders and Trailers is important, as they are used to define calls (e.g., Cloverleaf) and teach calls (e.g., Zoom). Also, these terms are used by some callers during a dance (e.g., Leaders Trade).

Command Examples:
Double Pass Thru; Leaders Trade
Lines Forward And Back; Pass Thru; Tag The Line; Leaders U-Turn Back

Description: In any box-type formation (e.g., box circulate, tandem couples), those facing out of the box are Leaders and those facing into the box are Trailers.

In other 2-dancer formations (e.g., a tandem, facing dancers, back-to-back dancers), those facing directly away from the center of the 2-dancer formation are Leaders, and those facing directly toward the center of the formation are Trailers. Anyone else is neither a Leader nor a Trailer.

In the diagrams below, the dancers marked "L" are Leaders and the dancers marked "T" are Trailers.

Comments: At Mainstream, the use of Leaders and Trailers is usually restricted to tandem couples or tandem dancers.

Often there is more than one option for designating active dancers. Even though “Leaders/Trailers” may be correct, the more commonly used “Boys/Girls”, “Centers/Ends”, “First/Next” might be a better choice for dancer success.