Teaching Resource for SPLIT TWO
Links: Standard – Analyze – Module – Teach – Other – Extend
CALLERLAB Program: Basic Part 1
Teaching Order: After Separate and before Courtesy Turn
Recently Taught Calls: Half Sashay, Turn Back Family
Background: Split the Ring or Couple is listed as number 12 in Burleson’s Encyclopedia. This action usually applied to one designated couple and is common in Traditional Squares. This gradually evolved into the modern square dance action where two couples simultaneously dance the action. The split action continued to be listed as the “Split Family: a. Outside couple, b. Ring (one couple)” in the Callerlab Basic Program until 1985. From 1988 to 1994 it was listed as “Split the Outside Couple”. In 1998 it was listed as Split Two.
Definition:
Minimum number of dancers needed: Eight
Starting formation for the minimum number needed: Eight Chain Thru; in general a Couple or Tandem facing a Couple or Mini-Wave
Command examples:
— Centers Split 2, Around 1 to a Line
— Centers Split The Outsides, Go Around 1 to a Line
— Centers Split The Outside Couple and Separate Around 1 to a Line
— Centers Split 2, Both Turn Left And Promenade Single File While the Others …
— Centers Split 2, Around 1 come into the middle and …
— Centers Split 2, Around 1 come down the middle and …
— Centers Split the Outside 2
— Heads Square Thru 4; Split the Outside 2
— Heads Square Thru 4; Split the Outside Couple
— Heads Veer Left, Tag the Line, Split the Sides and …
— Couple #1 Split Couple #3, Separate and go around 3, meet partner at home and Swing
Dance action: The active or directed dancers move forward between the two inactive dancers (splitting them). The inactive dancers move apart to let them through then move back together.
Ending formation (before the next command): Active dancers with their backs to the dancers they split. Inactive dancers end where they started.
Timing: 2 plus next call
Comment: See Separate Around 1 or 2 (#13.a) for more examples of “Around 1 To A Line” choreography.
Facing Couple or Ocean Wave Rule: Neither rule applies to Separate
Link to Taminations: Taminations Split Two