Riverside Squares Mainstream Class

Partners join hands (man's right with lady's left) and raise them to form an arch. The lady walks forward and under their joined hands making a one half (180｡) left-face turn

while the man walks around the lady in a clockwise direction one half (180｡). Dancers have exchanged places and are both facing in the opposite direction from which they started.

(b) ROLLAWAY: The directed dancer, or if not specified the dancer on the right, rolls across a full turn (360｡) in front of the dancer on the left, as he sidesteps to the right -to exchange places. From a circle, unless otherwise directed, the ladies roll left across in front of the men.

Man's right hand is placed against the lady's left, palm to palm with fingers up, to make an arch. As the dancers move forward the lady does a one quarter (9 0｡) left face turn under the arch, while the man does a one quarter (90｡) turn to the right moving behind the lady. They end up side by side with the lady on the man's right.

A call that has the sides doing one part while at the same time the heads are doing another. Heads move forward into the square (4 steps), turning one quarter (90｡) on the fourth step to face partners and back away to the sides of the square (4 steps). Turn one quarter (90｡) to face the original opposites. Back away to the corners of the square (4 steps) and turn one quarter (90｡) to face original partners and walk forward to home (4 steps). Do not turn. (Total to here: 16 steps.) From this point the action is reversed. Heads back away from their partners (4 steps), turning one quarter (90｡) on the fourth step and walk forward to the opposites (4 steps). Turn one quarter and walk forward into the center toward partners (4 steps). Turn one quarter (90｡) to face opposites and back up to home (total: 32 steps). While the head couples are doing the first 16 steps, the sides start by facing their partners to back away and do the second 16 steps. Completing this, the sides do the first 16 steps, while the heads are doing the last 16. The principle of walking three steps and then turning (or reversing) on the fourth step is followed throughout. This call may be broken into fractional parts by the caller directing the number of steps required. The call may also start with the heads, or other designated dancers, directed to face.

CIRCLE TO A LINE: Couples circle left one half (180｡). The lead dancer in the couple who started on the inside (man's position) releases the left handhold, but retains the handhold of the dancer on his right to become the left end dancer of the line. The released dancer moves forward under the raised arm arch formed by that dancer and the adjacent dancer to become the right end dancer in the line.

VEER FAMILY: Two facing couples working as a unit, or two facing dancers move to the left (or right, as directed) and forward to end in a two-faced line or mini wave respectively. From a mini wave or a two-faced line, the veering direction must be toward the center of the mini wave or line. Each dancer, or couple working as a unit, moves forward and inward to end back to back with the other dancer or couple respectively.

GENERAL RULE: Any two directed dancers exchange places by walking forward in a semi-circle ending in the other dancer's starting position. Each trading dancer has reversed his original facing direction. If the trading dancers start while facing in the same direction, they pass right shoulders when they meet per the right shoulder rule (see Passing Rule).

(a) BOYS TRADE, (b) GIRLS TRADE, (c) ENDS TRADE, (d) CENTERS TRADE: Directed dancers (boys, girls, ends or centers) exchange places, changing facing directions using the general rule.

(e) COUPLES TRADE: Starting formation -line or two-faced line. Working as a unit, each couple exchanges places with the other couple in the same line. Couples, as a unit, follow the right shoulder passing rule as defined for individual dancers.

(f) PARTNER TRADE: Starting formation -couple, mini wave. Two dancers exchange places with each other.

(a) WHEEL AND DEAL (from a line of four). The left hand couple only takes a step forward. The couples wheel (180｡) toward the center of the line with the center dancer of each couple acting as the pivot point about which the couples turn. The couple that started on the right half of the line wheels in front of the other couple. Both couples end facing the same direction with the original left hand couple standing behind the original right hand couple.

WHEEL AND DEAL (from a two-faced line): Each couple steps straight ahead one step. Each couple then wheels (180｡) toward the center of the line with the center dancer of each couple acting as the pivot point about which the couples turn. Couples

(a) SQUARE THRU: Facing dancers join right hands and pull by. Turn in one quarter (90°), join left hands and pull by. (A half square thru has been completed.) Turn in one quarter (90°) and join right hands with facing dancer and pull by. (A three quarter square thru has been completed.) Turn in one quarter (90°), join left hands and pull by but do not turn. (A full square thru has been completed.) Variations of square thru may be specified by fractions or by the number of hands, e.g. square thru three quarters is the same as square thru three hands, etc.

(b) LEFT SQUARE THRU: Similar to square thru except that it is started with the left hand and hands are alternated accordingly. When a left square thru is required, "left square thru" must be directed.

(a) U TURN BACK: The dancer does an in-place about-face turn (180°), turning toward partner unless the body flow dictates otherwise. If alone (i.e. no partner), the dancer turns toward the center of the set. If the dancer is facing directly toward or away from the center of the set, he may turn in either direction.

(b) GENTS OR LADIES BACKTRACK: The dancer does a U turn back by stepping out and turning away from partner or the center of the set.

DO PASO: Each dancer faces partner or directed dancer and does a left arm turn half (180°) to face in the opposite direction. Releasing armholds and moving forward, each dancer goes to the corner for a right arm turn half (180°). Each returns to the starting partner to courtesy turn to face the center of the set or to follow the next call.

The directed dancers step forward and extend designated hands to form a left or right hand star. Dancers turn the star by walking forward in a circle around the center of the star. Turning distance of the star may be specified in fractions of one quarter, one half, three quarters, or a complete revolution.

SEE SAW: When combined with all around the left hand lady, each dancer walks forward and around the partner keeping left shoulders adjacent, then steps forward to face the corner. In all other cases, it is a left shoulder dosado. Dancers advance and pass left shoulders. Each without turning moves to the left passing in back of the other dancer and then moves backward passing right shoulders returning to starting position.

ZOOM: From one couple following another, each dancer in the lead couple separates away from his partner and walks around a full circle (360°) to end in the position of the dancer who was directly behind him. Meanwhile, each trailing dancer steps directly forward into the vacated position of the lead dancer. Every dancer ends facing in the same direction he started. From a setup where one dancer is following another, the lead dancer walks away from the center of the square and around in a full circle (360°) to the position of the dancer who was directly behind him. Meanwhile, the trailing dancer steps directly forward into the position vacated by the lead dancer.

(a) SWING THRU: Those who can, turn by the right one half (180°), then those who can, turn by the left one half (180°). If "right" is not specified preceding the command to swing thru, it is a right swing thru.

(b) ALAMO SWING THRU: Everyone turns half by the right, then everyone turns half by the left. When left swing thru is directed from an alamo formation, everyone turns half by the left, then everyone turns half by the right.

(c) LEFT SWING THRU: Those who can, turn by the left one half (180°), then those who can, turn by the right one half (180°). If left swing thru is required, it must be specifically directed "left swing thru"..

LEAD RIGHT/ LEFT: Directed couple(s) take a step forward, and as a unit turn to the right (or left) 90｡ and move forward.

ROLL AWAY WITH A HALF SASHAY: This figure starts with the lady on the gent's left. With the lady's right hand holding the gent's left hand, she turns to her right and stands facing the gent. At the same time, he slides to his left to meet her. The gent then takes the lady's left hand in his right hand, and slides again to his left. The lady now turns away from the gent, moving to his right. At the end of the figure, the lady and gent have exchanged places.

RUN FAMILY: GENERAL RULE: The directed (active) dancer moves forward in a semi-circle (180｡) around an adjacent (inactive) dancer to end in the adjacent dancer's starting position. Meanwhile, the inactive dancer, who may be facing in any direction, adjusts by stepping (without changing facing direction) into the vacated starting position of the active dancer. The active dancer doing the run has reversed his original facing direction. If the direction to run is not specified (right or left) and if the active dancer has an inactive dancer on each side, then centers run around ends and ends run around centers. Runs from an alamo circle are to the right unless otherwise directed.

(a) BOYS RUN, (b) GIRLS RUN, (c) ENDS RUN, (d) CENTERS RUN: The directed (active) dancers run around the inactive dancers using the general rule.

(e) CROSS RUN: Starting formation -line, two-faced line, or wave. Each of the two directed (active) dancers, who must both be either centers or ends, run into the spot vacated by the farthest inactive dancer. If the inactive dancers are centers, they sidestep to become ends; if they are ends, they sidestep to become centers. When the active dancers are both facing the same direction, they move forward in a semi-circle, pass each other and then run into the vacated spot on the far side.

ALAMO STYLE WAVE: A formation of an even number of dancers in a circle holding adjacent hands and with each dancer facing in an opposite direction to that of the adjoining dancers.

GENTS OR LADIES BACKTRACK: The dancer does a U turn back by stepping out and turning away from partner or the center of the set.

SINGLE FILE PROMENADE: Dancers move forward in single file counterclockwise or clockwise around the circle, as directed.

CIRCULATE FAMILY: GENERAL RULE: Directed (active) dancers move forward along the circulate path to the next position. The circulate paths for various formations are indicated by the dotted lines in the diagrams.

(a) BOYS CIRCULATE, (b) GIRLS CIRCULATE, (c) ALL EIGHT CIRCULATE, (d) ENDS CIRCULATE, (e) CENTERS CIRCULATE: Directed dancers circulate using the general rule.

(f) COUPLES CIRCULATE: Starting formation -lines or two-faced lines. Each couple, working as a unit, moves forward along the circulate path to the next position, using the general rule.

(g) BOX CIRCULATE: Starting formation -box circulate. Each dancer moves forward along the circulate path to the next position, using the general rule.

(h) SINGLE FILE CIRCULATE (COLUMN): Starting formation -columns. Each dancer moves forward along the circulate path to the next position, using the general rule.

(i) SPLIT CIRCULATE: Starting formation -lines, waves or columns. The formations divide into two separate boxes and dancers circulate within their own foursome, using the general rule.

PASS THE OCEAN: Dancers pass thru, turn in to face their partners and step into a right hand ocean wave.

TRADE BY: The couples facing each other pass thru, the couples facing out do a partner trade to face in.

WHEEL AROUND: The couple, working as a unit, turns around (180°). The left hand dancer backs up while the right hand dancer moves forward. The pivot point is the handhold between the two dancers.

FLUTTERWHEEL FAMILY: (a) FLUTTERWHEEL: The right hand dancers go in to the center and turn by the right forearm. As they move adjacent to the opposite dancer, they reach out with the free (left) hand and, taking the right hand of the opposite dancer, each continues on around to the original right hand dancer's starting position, releasing arms in the center and turning as a couple to face the center.

(b) REVERSE FLUTTERWHEEL: Generally the same as flutterwheel except that the two left-hand dancers start with a left forearm turn and pick up the opposite dancers to return to their (the left hand dancer's) starting position.

FERRIS WHEEL: The couples facing out wheel and deal to become the outside couples in a double pass thru formation. Meanwhile, the couples facing in step straight ahead to momentarily form a two-faced line in the center. Without stopping, they wheel and deal in that line to end as the center couples in a double pass thru formation.

TOUCH 1/4: Dancers touch and without stopping turn one quarter (90°) by the right.

(a) ALLEMANDE THAR: An allemande thar star is a formation and may be formed at the end of any left arm turn by the center dancers (or those directed) forming a right hand box star and backing up. Each outside dancer holds the left forearm of a center dancer and walks forward.

(b) WRONG WAY THAR: A wrong way thar may be formed at the end of any right arm turn by the center dancers (or those directed) forming a left hand box star and backing up. Outside dancers hold the right forearm of a center dancer and walk forward..

SHOOT THE STAR, ( REGULAR, FULL AROUND ): Starting formation - thar or wrong way thar. The handholds forming the center star are released as each center dancer and the adjacent outside dancer arm turn one half (180°) or full (360°) as directed. If half or full is not directed, the arm turn is one half.

Cloverleaf

The lead dancers separate and move away from each other in a three quarter (270°) circle. When each lead dancer meets another lead dancer from the other side of the square, they become partners and step forward to the center of the square. Each trailing dancer follows the dancer in front of him and ends directly behind that same dancer. A single couple facing out does the lead dancer's part as described, but they may not step all the way into the center at the end of the call.

Turn Thru

Each dancer steps forward to join right forearms with the other dancer. They turn by the right one half (180°), release arm holds and step forward, ending back to back with each other.

Eight Chain Thru

Facing dancers join right hands and pull by (this completes an eight chain one). The center facing dancers join left hands and pull by while the outside dancers do a courtesy turn (this completes an eight chain two). Repeat these actions in sequence to achieve eight chain three, eight chain four, etc.

Eight chain thru is the same as eight chain eight. Even numbers(2, 4, 6, 8) end in an eight chain thru formation. Odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7) end in a trade by formation.

Pass to the Center

All pass thru. The dancers now on the outside partner trade. Ends in double pass thru formation.

Walk and Dodge

From box circulate formation, each dancer facing into the box walks forward to take the place of the dancer who was directly in front of him. Meanwhile, each dancer facing out of the box steps sideways (dodges) into the position vacated by the "walker" who was formerly beside him. Dancers end side byside, both facing out. If walk and dodge is called from facing couples, the caller must designate who is to walk and who is to dodge (e.g., "men walk,ladies dodge"). Ending is a box circulate formation.

Slide Thru

Dancers pass thru. A man always turns right one quarter (90 °); a lady always turns left one quarter(90°). Dancers end side by side with each other.

Spin the Top

Each end and the adjacent center dancer turn one half (180°). The new center dancers turn three quarters (270°) while each outside dancer moves forward in a quarter circleto meet the same center dancer with whom he started. Ends in an ocean wave which is at right angles to the original starting wave.

Fold Family:

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.

(A) Boys Fold, (B) Girls Fold, (C)Ends Fold, (D) Centers Fold : Directed active dancers fold toward the inactive dancers using the general rule.

(E) 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.

Centers In

The outside dancers step apart as the centers step forward and between them to form a line.

Cast Off 3/4

Each half of the line or wave works as a unit and moves forward around a pivot point three quarters (270°). If the adjoining dancers are facing the same direction, the end dancer becomes the pivot while the other dancer moves ina semi-circle around the pivot. If the adjoining dancers are facing in opposite directions, the pivot point is the handhold between them and they move equally around that pivot point.

Dixie Style to an Ocean Wave

From Facing Couples: The right hand dancer steps forward andto the left to become the lead dancer in a tandem. Lead dancers join righthands and pull by. Moving to the other trailing dancer, each extends a left hand and touches to a left hand mini wave and turns one quarter (90｡). New center dancers join right hands and form a left hand ocean wave.

Spin Chain Thru

From 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.

Tag the Line

Each dancer turns to face the center of the line. Taking a short side step to the left, each dancer walks forward passing right shoulders with oncoming dancers until he has walked past all of the dancers from the other half of the line. The call may be followed by any one of the directions In, Out, Right or Left. When this happens, dancers turn in place one quarter (90｡) in the direction indicated.

Scoot Back

From Box: 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. Finishes in a box circulate formation.

From quarter tag: dancers step ahead, join forearms (right if center wave was right handed or left if center wave was left handed), turn half (180｡) and step straight forward. Those returning to the center step to a wave(using same hands as original wave); the others finish as a couple facing out. Ending formation is a 3/4 tag.

Recycle (waves 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.