Dear Friends,

Good dancing Thursday night! A big thank you goes to all the angels for showing up each week to fill in squares and help out.

For those of you who were interested I showed a short video of Circle 8 Ranch Thursday night. I hope you that you will plan to come to my weekend in June.

Speaking of weekends, now that you have completed lessons or at least an exposure to the Mainstream calls you can attend any Mainstream dance. Dance as often as you can. You have invested time and effort into learning to square dance. An investment of time now to solidify your learning will make your dancing much more fun and rewarding. Put the workshops on your calendar.

You can also attend any Mainstream weekend or festival. Go to as many as you can. It will be an opportunity to meet dancers from a wider geographic area and to dance to different callers. You will be getting information about many of them next Thursday. One thing I will add is to sign up early. You never know when a weekend or festival has a minimum number of registrations to meet. Many have been cancelled due to lack of early registrations. 

Don’t forget…

"The more you dance the better you feel."

"The more you dance the better you dance."

"The more you dance the more friends you have."

See you Thursday!

Happy dancing,

Susan

32 c. Wrong Way Thar: ALLEMANDE THAR formed at the end of a right arm turn.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SHERRY

On March 9, you will receive an application to join the Samena Squares. We hope that you will seriously consider joining us. We will have more information the next two weeks. If you have questions, ask me.

DANCE DATES -  Dates to note:

Thursday, March 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., GRADUATION PARTY!!! Come ready to celebrate!

 

Friday, March 10, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., O’Samena’s Jig hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. Roger Spiese will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Thursday, March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Mainstream Workshops. We will start reviewing and building up floor time with the calls that we are learning now. Essentially, starting at the end of the list and working backwards. We will also explore some of the Grand Square variations and square dance games. What we dance depends on how many dancers are there. Don’t miss the fun! Details are below.

 

Friday, March 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Night with Oscar hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Friday, April 7, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

  

Dear Friends,

Thanks for hanging in there Thursday night. Everyone was challenged in some way. There was a shortage of angels. There were those who thought the music was too fast. There were those who thought the music was too slow. Anyway, we hung together and now we are in a new week.

It was great to see many of you at the dance Friday night. Thanks for coming! It was fun! Check out the website periodically as I don’t know when pictures will be posted. If you don’t go to the Samena Squares website regularly, check it out. Jim Hunt does a fantastic job keeping it up-to-date. www.samenasquares.org

We are getting down to the last weeks for formal class. This week will be the last week of teaching and review. Bring your questions if you still don’t understand a particular call. The following week, March 9, will be graduation or completion of class. That will definitely be a party night! 

On March 16, I will start our workshop series. In the first weeks we will concentrate on building up our floor time with the calls that we have learned in the last few weeks. Essentially, we will start at the end of the list and work our way backwards, throwing in some games and unusual stuff now and again. I have already had a request to call a contra dance or two. Please plan to attend every week or as often as you can. It is an opportunity to solidify your dancing. 

Have a great week!

Happy dancing,

Susan

63. Dixie Style to Wave: Right hand dancer or leader do a right hand pull by to do a left TOUCH ¼ with the opposite dancer. Ends in a LEFT HAND OCEAN WAVE. DIXIE STYLE TO WAVE – 6 steps.

68. Recycle: From an ocean wave, the end dancers CROSS FOLD and the center dancers FOLD behind them and follow and face in; ends in facing couples. RECYCLE – 4 steps.

On March 9, you will receive an application to join the Samena Squares. We hope that you will seriously consider joining us. We will have more information the next two weeks. If you have questions, ask me.

Dear Friends,

We are almost to the end of the list. Three more calls! Good dancing Thursday night! Thanks for being good sports about all the repetitions of these last few calls. Once we learn these last three we will do more dancing and less drill. If you haven’t watched the videos, you might want to for these last few calls. Or wait until next week after we have finished the whole list.

I hope you are all planning to come to the dance on Friday. It will be a full Mainstream dance because you will know all the calls. I’m calling so I will be gentle. 

Have a great week! See you Thursday!

Happy dancing,

Susan

28 b. Left Square Thru: Same as SQUARE THRU except start with the left hand. Continue turning into your foursome. LEFT SQUARE THRU – 4 dancers full around – 10 steps.

64. Spin Chain Thru: A move combining arm turns and cast offs; ends and centers turn 1/2, new centers cast 3/4, centers of new wave trade 1/2, ends and centers cast 3/4. SPIN CHAIN THRU – 16 steps.

66. Half Tag: Drop hands, face the center of the line; center dancers pass right shoulders to end in a wave with end dancers. HALF TAG – 4 steps.

Friday, February 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Chinese New Year Dance hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Friday, March 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday, March 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., GRADUATION PARTY!!! Come ready to celebrate!

 

Friday, March 10, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., O’Samena’s Jig hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. Roger Spiese will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Thursday, March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Mainstream Workshops. We will start reviewing and building up floor time with the calls that we are learning now. Essentially, starting at the end of the list and working backwards. We will also explore some of the Grand Square variations and square dance games. What we dance depends on how many dancers are there. Don’t miss the fun! Details are below.

 

Friday, March 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Night with Oscar hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club. 

Dear Friends,

Another good class on Thursday night! We added some new calls and reviewed lots of others. 

One of the things that we have talked a bit about the last two weeks is the time it takes to complete a call. The ones that we have tested out are Circle Left (8 dancers – 16 steps), Ladies Chain (2 or 4 ladies – 8 steps), and, occasionally, Grand Square (32 steps). There is no need to rush any of these calls but you can’t drag your feet either. The timing of the Grand Square is the one that I really expect you to know and remember and dance correctly. The others will blend in to other calls. The caller will give the command for the next call two beats before you are finished with the current call. You need to complete one then do the next. 

This is especially true in singing calls. There are exactly 64 beats in each section of the music. The calls are put together so they flow together and get you to your next corner at the correct time. 

Steps that are too big

Steps that are too small

A square that is too big

Not stepping with the beats of the music (1 step to 1 beat)

If your square is TOO BIG, you will have to take 2 to 5 steps to reach the next dancer in order to complete the call. This will throw off your timing too, especially in singing calls.

Get into LINES facing the Side walls, one boy and one girl per couple. Watch and wait until the caller says something like “Lines Forward and Back” or “Lines Pass Thru.”

Square up with your next corner. Wait until the start of the next section/verse or there is a Promenade.

Do not stand around talking about it. Dance!

Enough helpful hints for this week! Have a Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy the sunshine!

Happy dancing,

Susan

59. Spin the Top: End and adjacent center dancer TRADE; new centers of the wave CAST 3/4 and ends move up 1/4. SPIN THE TOP – 8 steps.

 

62 b. Cross Fold: Designated dancers steps forward and crosses the center line to stand in front of or behind the remaining dancer. CROSS FOLD – 4 steps.

 

65. Tag the Line-In, Out, Right, Left : Drop hands, face center of the line pass (right shoulder) all the people (2) and listen for the next command, In, Out, Right, Left OR Something Else. TAG THE LINE-IN, OUT, RIGHT, LEFT – 6 steps.

Friday, February 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Chinese New Year Dance hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Friday, March 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday, March 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., GRADUATION PARTY!!! Come ready to celebrate!

 

Friday, March 10, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., O’Samena’s Jig hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. Roger Spiese will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Thursday, March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Mainstream Workshops. We will start reviewing and building up floor time with the calls that we are learning now. Essentially, starting at the end of the list and working backwards. We will also explore some of the Grand Square variations and square dance games. What we dance depends on how many dancers are there. Don’t miss the fun! Details are below.

 

Friday, March 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Night with Oscar hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club. 

Thursday nights beginning March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Mainstream Workshops hosted by Susan Morris at Juanita Community Club. Cost is $6/person. This will be an opportunity to get more floor time to keep up the skills you have worked hard for and explore some of the different formations you may encounter on the dance floor. It’s also a time to play some square dance games or explore the many variations of Grand Square. Ends Thursday, May 25. 

 

Thursdays, June 1 to August 31, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Summertime Dances hosted by Mt. Baker Teachers, Callers, and Cuers. There will be two different callers each night. These are casual Mainstream dances to give everyone an opportunity to dance during the summer when many clubs go dark. Summertime  Dances are held at the Juanita Community Club. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday – Friday, May 31 to June 2, Mainstream Madness at Circle 8 Ranch, Cle Elum. This will be a Mainstream Workshop beginning Wednesday evening. There will be additional sessions during the day Thursday and Friday along with a dance Thursday night. Stephen Cole and I will be calling. More information and ways to sign up will be coming soon.

 

Friday – Sunday, June 2 – 4, Mainstream Weekend at Circle 8 Ranch, Cle Elum. Susan Morris and Stephen Cole, calling and Chuck and Sandi Weiss, cueing. This program kicks off square dance weekends at Circle 8 (different programs each weekend) for Summer 2017. There will be a dance Friday night, workshops during the day Saturday, a potluck dinner Saturday night followed by a dance and after party. Sunday morning starts with a pancake breakfast provided by Circle 8 followed by a dance before everyone heads home. Tons of fun in a beautiful place! Plan to come! More information and ways to sign up will be coming soon.

 

Friday – Saturday, June 16 – 17, Create A Dream in 2017, Washington State Square Dance Festival, Spokane, WA. Here is the website for more information, http://www.2017wa-statefestival.com/. Dancers will be there from all parts of Washington and Idaho and Canada. Mike Seastrom is the featured caller.

 

Friday – Sunday, July 7 – 9, Leadership Seminar at Circle 8 Ranch. Check out http://www.squaredance-wa.org/leadership_seminar.htm. This will give you the basic schedule and how to register.

 

Friday – Sunday, September 22 – 24, Winthrop Barn Dance, Winthrop, WA. Lots of Samena Squares members go to this dance weekend. Tons of fun!

Resources

Dear Friends,

Great dancing Thursday night! We didn’t learn any new calls but we had a great review of Circulates and Trades. I am listing the complete definitions of these calls below. They have multiple parts and we have learned them one at a time. I thought it might help to see the whole definition all in one place. We got a good review of some of our more recently learned calls to catch up those who have been missing in the last few weeks.

So, by not learning any entirely new calls Thursday night, we need to step up to the challenge of the next few weeks. There are 10 calls left to learn. Some are brand new. Some are variations of calls that we already dance. Some combine calls that we already dance into a new call. It’s totally doable! (There have been some weeks in the last 18 where we have learned 5 or 6 in one night)

As you will see in the Dates to Note, we will be having class graduation on March 9. Plans are afoot! The following week there will be Mainstream Workshops on Thursday nights, same time, same place. I hope you will plan to come.

If you have been out traveling or ill, we look forward to seeing you Thursday.

Have a great week! Stay warm and dry!

Happy dancing,

Susan

CALLS THAT WE REVIEWED

THIS WEEK - Week #18

21. a. Named Dancers Circulate: Named dancers can be boys, girls, centers or ends. The indicated (active) dancers move along the circulate path to the next position. NAMED DANCERS CIRCULATE – 4 steps.

21. b. Couples Circulate: As a couple move to the next couples place in the square; if you are looking at someone’s back step straight ahead; if you are looking out of the square as a couple move around the corner to the place of the next couple. COUPLES CIRCULATE – 4 steps.

21. c. All 8 Circulate: As an individual dancer move to the next position on your circulating path. For example, if you are a center in an ocean wave, you remain a center. If you are the end in an ocean wave, you remain an end. ALL 8 CIRCULATE – 4 steps.

21. d. Single File Circulate: In a column, each dancer moves to the next spot on the circulating path. SINGLE FILE CIRCULATE – 4 steps.

21. e. Split/Box Circulate: The formations divide into two separate boxes; dancers circulate to the next position on the circulating path in their foursome. SPLIT/BOX CIRCULATE – 4 steps.

 

36 a. Trades: Boys, Girls, Ends, Centers: Directed dancers change places with the identified person. The person you are trading with may be next to you or somewhere in your line. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. If you meet someone pass right shoulders. BOYS, GIRLS, ENDS, CENTERS – 4 steps; 

36 b. Couples: Directed couples change places with the other couple. You may be facing opposite directions or you may be facing the same direction. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. COUPLES – 6 steps.

36 c. Partner: Directed dancers change places with their partner. Every TRADE includes a reversal of facing direction. PARTNER – 4 steps; 

Friday, February 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Chinese New Year Dance hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Friday, March 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday, March 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., GRADUATION PARTY!!! Come ready to celebrate!

 

Friday, March 10, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., O’Samena’s Jig hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. Roger Spiese will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club.

 

Thursday, March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Mainstream Workshops. We will start reviewing and building up floor time with the calls that we are learning now. Essentially, starting at the end of the list and working backwards. We will also explore some of the Grand Square variations and square dance games. What we dance depends on how many dancers are there. Don’t miss the fun! Details are below.

 

Friday, March 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Night with Oscar hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club. 

Thursday nights beginning March 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Mainstream Workshops hosted by Susan Morris at Juanita Community Club. Cost is $6/person. This will be an opportunity to get more floor time to keep up the skills you have worked hard for and explore some of the different formations you may encounter on the dance floor. It’s also a time to play some square dance games or explore the many variations of Grand Square. Ends Thursday, May 25. 

 

Thursdays, June 1 to August 31, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Summertime Dances hosted by Mt. Baker Teachers, Callers, and Cuers. There will be two different callers each night. These are casual Mainstream dances to give everyone an opportunity to dance during the summer when many clubs go dark. Summertime  Dances are held at the Juanita Community Club. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday – Friday, May 31 to June 2, Mainstream Madness at Circle 8 Ranch, Cle Elum. This will be a Mainstream Workshop beginning Wednesday evening. There will be additional sessions during the day Thursday and Friday along with a dance Thursday night. Stephen Cole and I will be calling. More information and ways to sign up will be coming soon.

 

Friday – Sunday, June 2 – 4, Mainstream Weekend at Circle 8 Ranch, Cle Elum. Susan Morris and Stephen Cole, calling and Chuck and Sandi Weiss, cueing. This program kicks off square dance weekends at Circle 8 (different programs each weekend) for Summer 2017. There will be a dance Friday night, workshops during the day Saturday, a potluck dinner Saturday night followed by a dance and after party. Sunday morning starts with a pancake breakfast provided by Circle 8 followed by a dance before everyone heads home. Tons of fun in a beautiful place! Plan to come! More information and ways to sign up will be coming soon.

 

Friday – Saturday, June 16 – 17, Create A Dream in 2017, Washington State Square Dance Festival, Spokane, WA. Here is the website for more information, http://www.2017wa-statefestival.com/. Dancers will be there from all parts of Washington and Idaho and Canada. Mike Seastrom is the featured caller.

 

Friday – Sunday, July 7 – 9, Leadership Seminar at Circle 8 Ranch. Check out http://www.squaredance-wa.org/leadership_seminar.htm. This will give you the basic schedule and how to register.

 

Friday – Sunday, September 22 – 24, Winthrop Barn Dance, Winthrop, WA. Lots of Samena Squares members go to this dance weekend. Tons of fun!

Thursday night was a little different than our usual dancing in squares. There were still several people missing due to illness, travels or prior commitments. You were missed! In order to get the most people on the floor dancing, we danced in mini squares with two couples. It gave us a chance to review all the calls that involve only two couples. That actually turns out to be most of them. It was a good review that many dancers appreciated.

We were also able to learn a couple of new calls that only take four people to do since the starting formation is a box. The thing about boxes is that you need to recognize, practically instantly, which box you are in AND if you are facing in (you can see other people in your box) or you are facing out (you don’t see anyone else in your box). We can be in more than one box at any one time.

Cast Off 3/4 is a challenging call because we have to know our fractions. Most people think that they don’t like fractions. Square dancing has lots of fractions. So far it has been halves and quarters. As I said Thursday night, everyone has to figure out their own image for dancing 3/4's. You can think of a clock by starting facing 12 and end the call at the nine. Some people use compass directions. You can count walls. Hint: the wall you are looking at is 0. You want to end up looking at 3. It is also 5 steps. Count them! Try all the ways. Use the one that helps you the best!

1. The pivot point is the hand you are holding with the other dancer whether it is in a Mini-wave or a Line.

 

2. If you are starting in a line, you will ALWAYS be facing the other couple in your line at the end of the call. ALWAYS! There are no exceptions to this rule. You make this happen by having the Center walk forward.

 

Have a great week! See you on Groundhog’s Day!

Happy dancing,

Susan

58. Cast off 3/4: In a mini-wave using your joined hands, turn 3/4. In a line, the center dancers walk forward using your joined hands as a pivot 3/4 or 3 walls or 5 steps. CAST OFF 3/4 – 6 steps. 

60. Walk & Dodge: In-facing or designated dancers walk straight forward; other dancers slide in to the empty space. WALK & DODGE – 4 steps.

67. Scoot Back: In facing dancer steps straight forward and does a TURN THRU and steps back out to same partner; out facing dancer FOLDS into the empty place. SCOOT BACK – 6 steps.

DANCE DATES - Dates to note:

Friday, February 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

 

Friday, February 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Chinese New Year Dance hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club. 

 

Thursdays, June 1 to August 31, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Summertime Dances hosted by Mt. Baker Teachers, Callers, and Cuers. There will be two different callers each night. These are casual Mainstream dances to give everyone an opportunity to dance during the summer when many clubs go dark. Summertime  Dances are held at the Juanita Community Club. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday – Friday, May 31 to June 2, Mainstream Madness at Circle 8 Ranch, Cle Elum. This will be a Mainstream Workshop beginning Wednesday evening. There will be additional sessions during the day Thursday and Friday along with a dance Thursday night. Stephen Cole and I will be calling. More information and ways to sign up will be coming soon.

 

Friday – Sunday, June 2 – 4, Mainstream Weekend at Circle 8 Rance, Cle Elum. Susan Morris and Stephen Cole, calling and Chuck and Sandi Weiss, cueing. This program kicks off square dance weekends at Circle 8 (different programs each weekend) for Summer 2017. There will be a dance Friday night, workshops during the day Saturday, a potluck dinner Saturday night followed by a dance and after party. Sunday morning starts with a pancake breakfast provided by Circle 8 followed by a dance before everyone heads home. Tons of fun in a beautiful place! Plan to come! More information and ways to sign up will be coming soon.

 

Friday – Saturday, June 16 – 17, Create A Dream in 2017, Washington State Square Dance Festival, Spokane, WA. Here is the website for more information, http://www.2017wa-statefestival.com/. Dancers will be there from all parts of Washington and Idaho and Canada. Mike Seastrom is the featured caller.

 

Friday – Sunday, July 7 – 9, Leadership Seminar at Circle 8 Ranch. Check out http://www.squaredance-wa.org/leadership_seminar.htm. This will give you the basic schedule and how to register.

 

Friday – Sunday, September 22 – 24, Winthrop Barn Dance, Winthrop, WA. Lots of Samena Squares members go to this dance weekend. Tons of fun!

We were a small but mighty group Thursday night. To those of you traveling or on the sick list, we missed you. We had fun and did some great dancing anyway. 

Congratulations to the square that danced one whole tip with only seven dancers! You did great! 

In the definitions below I have included the definition for both Run and Cross Run. Remember the first step is Forward and you should be running around someone NOT sliding behind them. The caller sees all. 

There is a new box below for square dance events in the future, after lessons are over. If you have been wondering what is next, study this list and plan to join us for workshops, Summertime Dances or a square dance weekend or two or three. 

If you have been on the sick list, I send you balloons of ‘heal’ium! If you have been traveling, come home safe and sound! 

See you Thursday!

Happy dancing,

Susan

40 a. Runs: Boys, Girls, Ends, Centers: Designated dancers move forward and around another dancer as directed. This always results in a change of facing direction (180 degrees for the runner). The person being run around (runee) slides sideways to the vacated spot of the runner. BOYS, GIRLS, ENDS, CENTERS RUN – 4 steps.

40 b. Cross Run: Designated runner steps forward moving in a half circle across the center line to end in designated open position. Ends become centers and centers become ends. The runee without turning around slides into the open position. CROSS RUN – 6 steps.

56 b. Couples Hinge: As couples in a two-faced line, walk forward until two-faced line has turned 1/4. Centers of the two-faced line hold hands and act as the pivot. COUPLES HINGE – 3 steps.

62 a. Fold: Designated dancer steps forward turns to stand in front or behind the nearest dancer; the other dancer stands in place. FOLD – 2 steps.

DANCE DATES -Dates to note:

Friday, February 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

 

Friday, February 24, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., Chinese New Year Dance hosted by the Samena Squares. 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Plus Dance, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mainstream Dance with rounds. I will be calling the squares. Karen Neverdowski will be cueing the rounds. The dance is in our hall, the Juanita Community Club. 

 

Thursdays, June 1 to August 31, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Summertime Dances hosted by Mt. Baker Teachers, Callers, and Cuers. There will be two different callers each night. These are casual Mainstream dances to give everyone an opportunity to dance during the summer when many clubs go dark. Summertime  Dances are held at the Juanita Community Club. Cost is $7/person.

 

Thursday – Friday, May 31 to June 2, Mainstream Madness at Circle 8 Ranch, Cle Elum. This will be a Mainstream Workshop beginning Wednesday evening. There will be additional sessions during the day Thursday and Friday along with a dance Thursday night. Stephen Cole and I will be calling.

 

Friday – Sunday, June 2 – 4, Mainstream Weekend at Circle 8 Rance, Cle Elum. Susan Morris and Stephen Cole, calling and Chuck and Sandi Weiss, cueing. This program kicks off square dance weekends at Circle 8 (different programs each weekend) for Summer 2017. There will be a dance Friday night, workshops during the day Saturday, a potluck dinner Saturday night followed by a dance and after party. Sunday morning starts with a pancake breakfast provided by Circle 8 followed by a dance before everyone heads home. Tons of fun in a beautiful place! Plan to come!

 

Friday – Saturday, June 16 – 17, Create A Dream in 2017, Washington State Square Dance Festival, Spokane, WA. Here is the website for more information, http://www.2017wa-statefestival.com/. Dancers will be there from all parts of Washington and Idaho. Mike Seastrom is the featured caller.

 

Friday – Sunday, July 7 – 9, Leadership Seminar at Circle 8 Ranch.

 

Friday – Sunday, September 22 – 24, Winthrop Barn Dance, Winthrop, WA. Lots of Samena Squares members go to this dance weekend. Tons of fun!

Dear Friends,

 

Good dancing! We covered lots of material Thursday night. Probably the hardest to remember are the Facing Couple and Ocean Wave rules. If you use Taminations, they are both listed under Basic 2. When you are dancing, your body will respond to the commands. Don’t overthink it.

 

Don’t forget that when your square breaks down get into lines as fast as possible. The time to talk about what happened is AFTER the tip is over. If there is confusion about how to do the call, ask the caller to clarify after the tip is done.  On Thursday nights especially, ask me. Your square was probably not the only one that was having trouble.

 

In the next few weeks we will be spending the majority of our dance time dancing and reviewing the calls that we know and adding a couple of new ones besides.

 

Have a fabulous rest of your weekend! Have a good week! See you Thursday!

Happy dancing,

Susan

CALLS THAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK - Week #15

A few specific calls that are defined to start from an OCEAN WAVE are also proper starting from Facing Couples. The timing of the call does not change.

 

The one that we know at this point is Swing Thru. In this case, dancers first step into a momentary Right-Hand Ocean Wave and complete the call.

 

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.

21. e. Split/Box Circulate: The formations divide into two separate boxes; dancers circulate to the next position on the circulating path in their foursome. (This one needs a picture.) SPLIT/BOX CIRCULATE – 4 steps.

 

53. Turn Thru: With dancer you are facing, step forward do a right arm turn half, let go and step forward. You end up exactly where you started facing the opposite direction. TURN THRU – 4 steps.

 

55. Pass to the Center: PASS THRU, outfacing dancers automatically PARTNER TRADE, in facing dancer in center are finished. PASS TO THE CENTER – 2 steps for couples facing, 6 steps for couples facing out.

 

56 a. Single Hinge: In a mini-wave, step forward turning 1/4. SINGLE HINGE – 2 steps.

 

57. Centers In: Couples with backs to center of the set step in between the outside couples. CENTERS IN – 2 steps.

 

Friday, February 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! It was great to see you all after the holiday break. 

Let me tell you that you impressed the angels Thursday night. I can’t tell you how many of them came up to me to comment on how well they thought the dancing went after weeks off. Often after a holiday break it feels like we have to start over at the beginning. Not so Thursday night. Pat yourselves on the back for that!

A few of you have asked how long lessons the lessons are. The answer this week is the middle of March. We have approximately 20 more calls to cover. Some are brand new calls. Some are variations to ones that we already know. My goal is that we will learn them all in the next seven weeks. Then we can take two or three more weeks to add floor time. We have been dancing Circle Left hundreds if not thousands of times. I don’t want to teach the last call and send you on your way. I want you to have a couple of weeks of more floor time.

The question has also been asked what happens after lessons are over. We hope that you will join the Samena Squares. As a member you can attend all the club dances as part of your dues. There will be more information on this in the coming weeks.

On a more practical note, immediately after lessons are over I will offer Mainstream workshops until the end of May. It will give us an opportunity to build up floor time. The more you dance, the better you dance. And we can also play some square dance games or some of the traditional square dance patterns that are fun to dance or explore the many variations of Grand Square.

In the next few weeks I will share about other dance opportunities once lessons are finished.

Stay warm! See you Thursday!

Happy dancing,

Susan

34b. Shoot The Star – Full Around: The same as ALLEMANDE LEFT using the existing forearm grip for a full circle, 360 degrees. SHOOT THE STAR – FULL AROUND – 8 steps.

39 b. Left Swing Thru: Those that can, TURN HALF BY THE LEFT then those that can TURN HALF BY THE RIGHT. LEFT SWING THRU – 6 steps.

52. Cloverleaf: Turn away from partner, walk in 270-degree circle to face adjacent wall to where you started. Like a four-leaf clover or a highway cloverleaf. CLOVERLEAF – 6-8 steps from a completed DOUBLE PASS THRU

54. Eight Chain Thru: With the one you are facing do a right hand walk by; left to the next; outfacing couples always do a COURTESY TURN. Continue the number of hands indicated. Eight hands you end up exactly where you started. Can be any number of hands, 1-8. EIGHT CHAIN THRU – 8 hands = 20 steps, 4 hands = 10 steps.

61. Slide Thru: With the dancer you are facing pass thru, boys turn 1/4 right and girls turn 1/4 left. ALWAYS! If a boy is facing a girl they end up as partners side by side. If a boy is facing a boy they end up holding right hands in a mini-wave. If a girl is facing a girl they end up holding left hands in a mini-wave. SLIDE THRU (box of 4 dancers) – 4 steps.

Friday, February 3, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., First Friday Fun Fest hosted by the Whirlybirds with Dave Harry, caller. The hall is The Hayloft, 15320 35th Ave W, Lynnwood. Cost is $7/person.