Teaching Resource for EXTEND
Links: Standard – Analyze – Module – Teach – Other – Extend
CALLERLAB Program: Basic Part 2
Teaching order: After Pass the Ocean
Recently taught calls: Ocean Waves, Alamo Style, Swing Thru, Run
Background: Extend the Tag was created in 1972 by Jim Davis from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Extend the Tag was listed as a Quarterly in 1980. By 1984 Extend (the Tag) was listed in the Plus Program. On the March 1988 Plus Program list the name was shortened to Extend. Extend (from a 1/4 Tag only) was added to the CALLERLAB Mainstream Program list in 1990. The restriction “from a 1/4 Tag only” was removed in 2015.
Definition:
Extend involves dancers moving forward from one tagging formation to the next. There are five tagging formations, which, in order, are as follows:
1) Double Pass Thru (Zero Tag)
2) 1/4 Tag
3) Ocean Waves (1/2 Tag)
4) 3/4 Tag
5) Completed Double Pass Thru (Full Tag)
Eight-dancer Tagging Formations where the Waves are Right-Handed (as named above):
Eight-dancer Tagging Formations where the Waves are Left-Handed:
1) Double Pass Thru (Zero Tag)
2) Left-Hand 1/4 Tag
3) Left-Hand Ocean Waves (Left-Hand 1/2 Tag)
4) Left-Hand 3/4 Tag
5) Completed Double Pass Thru (Full Tag)
This call was originally named “Extend the Tag”. In 1988, the name was shortened to “Extend”, without changing the dance action.
Starting formations: The first four eight-dancer tagging formations (i.e., Double Pass Thru, 1/4 Tag, Ocean Waves, and 3/4 Tag), and the corresponding four-dancer tagging formations, which are described below.
Command examples:
— Extend
Dance action: Walk forward from one tagging formation to the next. Where possible, handedness is maintained, as described in the comments below.
Ending formations: The last four eight-dancer tagging formations (i.e., 1/4 Tag, Ocean Waves, 3/4 Tag, and Completed Double Pass Thru), and the corresponding four-dancer tagging formations, which are described below.
Timing: 2
Styling: All dancers should have their hands in ready dancing position for the formation resulting from the call (couple handhold or Ocean Wave hand position).
Comments:
The three middle tagging formations (i.e., 1/4 Tag, Ocean Waves, and 3/4 Tag) are either right- or left-handed, as determined by the handedness of the Ocean Wave or Ocean Waves. From a 1/4 Tag or Ocean Waves, dancers walk forward to the ending formation that has the same-handedness as the starting formation. From a Double Pass Thru, the resulting 1/4 Tag is right-handed.
When the starting formation is left-handed, callers sometimes give helpful words, e.g., “Extend to Left-Hand Waves.” It is improper to use Extend to change handedness, e.g., “Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend to Left-Hand Waves”.
From a 1/4 Tag, “Centers Extend” or “Centers Extend To The Outsides” should not be used, since those phrases wrongly imply that only the centers are active or that only the centers move. Everyone is active and everyone moves.
Asking only some of the dancers to Extend (e.g., Heads Pass The Ocean, Just The Boys Extend) is considered a Gimmick (see “Part 4: Additional Detail: Commands: Gimmicks”). Another gimmick would be Head Ladies Chain 3/4, Lines of 3 Touch 1/4, All Extend (to a Column).
Extend is improper from Facing Lines or a Tidal Wave. From these formations, callers should use Step To A Wave or Step Thru (or Pass Thru, if a Right-Hand Tidal Wave) to have all dancers step forward.
Using Extend as a four-dancer call:
Although Extend is usually called to all eight dancers, it is actually a four-dancer call related to the position of the four dancers as they Tag the Line. The dance action, timing, styling, and comments also apply to these four-dancer tagging formations. Such applications are rarely used at Mainstream and probably would require a workshop.
Four-dancer Tagging Formations where the Mini-Waves are Right-Handed:
1. Facing Tandems (Single Zero Tag)
2. Right-Hand Single 1/4 Tag
3. Right-Hand Box Circulate (Right-Hand Single 1/2 Tag)
4. Right-Hand Single 3/4 Tag
5. Back-to-back Tandems (Single Full Tag)
Four-dancer Left-Hand Tagging Formations where the Mini-Waves are Left-Handed:
1. Facing Tandems (Single Zero Tag)
2. Left-Hand Single 1/4 Tag
3. Left-Hand Box Circulate (Left-Hand Single 1/2 Tag)
4. Left-Hand Single 3/4 Tag
5. Back-to-back Tandems (Single Full Tag)
Note: A 1/4 (or 3/4) Tag formation is the same as two side-by-side Single 1/4 (or 3/4) Tag formations, because outside dancers move together to become a couple. See “Additional Detail: Dance Action: Square Breathing”.
Extend is also proper (but, again, quite unusual) from certain distorted Single 1/4 Tag formations where outside dancers are facing the backs of the center dancers rather than facing the handhold of the mini-wave. For example, Ends Fold and Everyone Extend is proper from an Ocean Wave but improper from a Two-Faced Line. For these applications to be proper, dancers not in the usual position must begin in a Tandem with another dancer.
Facing Couple or Ocean Wave Rule: Neither rule applies.
Link to Taminations: Taminations Extend