Island Chain
VariationBob Van Antwerp presented this Island Chain figure in a workshop in 1987. It still works good.
Head Couples Promenade 1/2 ... 2 Ladies Chain ... Same Two Promenade 1/2 ... Pass Thru ... Courtesy Turn ... Pass Thru ...Promenade 1/2 ... Lead Right ... Split 2 ... Separate ... Around 1 to a Line ... Pass Thru ... U Turn Back .. Pass Thru ... Left Allemande
Heads Promenade 1/2 ... Circle four 1/2 and 1/4 more ... Pass Thru ... With the outside 2 circle 1/2 and 1/4 more ... Back away to a line of four ... Pass Thru .. Courtesy Turn ... 2 Ladies Chain ... Pass Thru ... Courtesy Turn ... Circle 1/2 and 1/4 more ..
The following figures illustrate the clever use of Roll Away With a 1/2 Sashay. Notice the excellent use of helper words and Forward & Back to insure dancer success. The source for these dances is Mike Seastrom.
Heads Pass Thru ... Separate Around 1 to a Line ... Boys Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Girls Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Centers Only, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... All Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Lines Forward & Back ... Pass Thru ... UTurn Back ... With the Lady on Your Right, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Same girl, left allemande
1 & 2 Ladies Chain ... 3 & 4 Ladies Chain ... New Side Ladies Chain ... Heads Pass Thru ... Separate ... Around 1 to a Line ... Boys Only, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Girls Only, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Centers Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Everybody Right & Left Thru ... All 8 Join Hands, Circle Left ... Left Allemande
All 4 Ladies Chain Across ... Couple #1 Walk Across & Split Couple #3 ... Go Around 3 & Make 2 Lines of 3 ... Couple #3 Walk Across the Set ... Separate ... Around 2 to a Line of 4 ... All Forward & Back ... Centers Pass Thru ... Split Two ... Around 1 to a Line of 4 ... 4 Boys & 4 Girls Forward & Back ... All Join Hands, Circle Left ...
1 Boy with a Girl on His Right, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ...
2 Boys With a Girl on Their Right, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ...
3 Boys With a Girl on Their Right, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ...
All 4 Boys, Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Everyone Allemande Left
One of the tools used in calling squares in a limited basics dance program is to place the dancers in unusual formations. The following patter figure and singing call figure use the idea of movemnets performed on the diagonal rather than in the typical squared with the wall formations.
Figures like these should be called only after the dancers are experienced enough to follow the instructions and not try to adjust the square to fit the walls. A walk-thru is stongly recommended.
Head Men & Corner Ladies Forward & Back ... Pass Thru ... Separate Around 2 to a Line ... Turn the opposite 1/2 Right ... Pass Thru ... UTurn Back ... Turn the Opposite 1/2 Right ... Pass Thru ... Face Your Partner ... Right & Left Grand
The singing call figure below is from an old singing call named "Trail of the Lonesome Pine." The music is still available on LS-505. The figure has a B traditional flavor if you like to sing cowboy music many people will recognize the tune and often sing along
Head Men Take Your Corner to the Middle and Back ... Same Four Circle Left ... Left Hand Star to Home ... Right Hand Around Your Partnerr ... Left Hand Around Your Corner ... Partner DoSaDo ... Corner Swing ... Promenade
Clark Elliott sent in a singing call used by Ed Gilmore years ago to the tune of "Everywhere You Go" on Mac Gregor 2306. I've altered the call in one place to make it conform to the CALLERLAB CDP list. In the break, the Right Arm Turn was originally a Box the Gnat.
Intro/Br/End
Allemande Left on the Corner & Weave Around the Ring.
Everywhere You Go ...
Turn Partner Half by the Right, and Weave the Wrong Way Round,
In & Out Around You Go ...
Swing Your Partner Round & Round, Swing Her High & Low
Allemande Left on the Corner Come Back & Promeno
Everywhere You Go, You Know She'll Always Dance With You ...
Figure
Ladies Center Back to Back & The Men Go Round the Ring
All the Way Back Home & Then ...
Turn Partner Once & a Half ...
The Men Back to Back & the Girls Go Round the Ring ...
Turn Partner By the Left a Full Turn Around ...
Swing the Corner Girl & Promenade Around ...
Everywhere You Go
You Know She Will Always Dance With You - - -
The first figure is from "Dancing for Busy People". The second figure comes from a bunch sent by Decko Deck. The third is adapted from Dick Ledger's material.
Four men turn the corner Left Hand Around ... Put the ladies in the center back to back* ... Men Promenade Single File around the outside ... Turn this same lady once and a half ... Put the men in the center back to back ... Ladies Promenade Single File around the outside ... Turn the same man by the Left Hand Around ... Swing your partner
* The ladies/men step into the center of the set and face out so that all four people are back to back.
Several other variations can be built around the same theme. For example the men or the ladies could be asked to turn the oppsite or the right hand person once around before coming home.
Four Ladies Chain Across ... Chain Back ... Put the Ladies in the Middle Back to Back ... Men Promenade Outside ... Turn Your Partner by the Left Turn Your Corner by the Right Partner Left ... Corner Promenade ...
Allemande Left ... Put the Ladies Back to Back ... Men Promenade Around the Outside ... Allemande Left Once and a Half and put the Men in the Center Back to Back ... Ladies Promenade Around the Outside ... Allemande Left ... Grand Right & Left ...
The following square dance routines were contributed by Ken Kernen to "Dancing for Busy People". They put the dancers in slightly unusual positions that should provide challenge and variety once the dancers have become comfortable with the more standard routines and drills.
Side Ladies Chain ... Heads Roll Away, 1/2 Sashay ... Sides Pass Thru ... Courtesy Turn ... All 8 Circle Left ... 4 Ladies Forward & Back .. Pass Thru and U-turn Back... All 8 Circle Left ... 4 Men Forward & Back ... Men Pass Thru... Separate Around One ... Ladies Pass Thru ... Left Allemande
Heads Right & Left Thru ... Same Ladies Chain ... Sides Roll Away 1/2 Sashay ... Circle Eight ... 4 Ladies Pass Thru ... U-turn Back ... Ladies Pass Thru ... Separate & Behind Men You Stand ... Men Pass Thru ... Left Allemande
Head Ladies Chain ... Sides Right & Left Thru ... All Four Couples 1/2 Sashay .. Heads Lead Right & Circle 4 ... Head Men Break to a Line of 4 ... Right & Left Thru ... Roll Away to a Right & Left Grand
Four Ladies Chain 3/4 ... Side Ladies Chain Across ... Heads Promenade 1/2 ...Lead Right ... Pass Thru ... U-turn Back ... Right & Left Grand
Flo Cadwell called two very interesting singing call routines during the CDP dance on Sunday afternoon at the 1994 CALLERLAB Convention. They were very good examples of how a very simple gimmick can add spice to a routine. She prompted each of the routines to a excellent singng call tune. She did it so well I suspect many people did not realize she wasn't singing.
1st couple bow & Swing1st lady Lead to the Right of the ring Circle
up 3 (swing the 1st lady)
2nd gent Cheat or Swing (swing his partner).
Two ladies lead on to the right of the ring & Circle Four (with couple #3)
3rd gent Cheat (swing one of the two visiting ladies) or Swing (his partner)
Three ladies Lead on to the Right of the ring & Circle 5 (with couple #4)
4th gent Cheat or SwingFour ladies Lead to the Right of the Ring & Circle five (with gent #1)
At this point we are half way through the routine.
Circle around & don't leave that gent all alone, he won't cheat he'll swing his own (#1 lady stays with her partner)
Three ladies Lead Right & Circle four Circle around & don't leave that gent all alone, he won't cheat he'll swing his own (#2 lady stays with her partner)
Two ladies Lead Right & CIrcle 3 Circle around & don't leave that gent all alone, he won't cheat he'll swing his own (#3 lady stays with her partner)
#4 lady Lead Right & Swing.
Now that the men have had a chance to choose which ladies they wish to swing, have the #1 gent Lead Right. The ladies now choose who to 'cheat' or 'swing'. This dance can also be successfully used with other levels of square dancing.
The following routines rotate the square one position counterclockwise. Like all gimmicks they are fun to put in once in a while, but don't use them too often.
Sides Right & Left Thru ... Heads face right & Right & Left Thru ... Square your sets like that ... 4 Ladies Chain ... All Forward & Back Rollaway a Half Sashay ... Sides Face Grand Square -- just 8 steps ... Bow to partner, etc.
Just add a little more variety the next routine rotates the set one position clockwise.
Sides Right & Left Thru while Heads Promenade 3/4
Sides Circle four 3/4 back out & square your set
