Teaching Resource for EIGHT CHAIN THRU
Links: Standard – Analyze – Module – Teach – Other – Extend
CALLERLAB Program: Plus
Teaching order: After Trade the Wave
Recently taught calls: Chase Right, Clover and (anything)
Background: Eight Chain Thru was created in 1957 by Ed Epperson from Ottawa, Illinois. Eight Chain Thru was listed in the 1972 Sets In Order Extended Basics Program of American Square Dancing. This is the call for which the Eight Chain Thru formation is named. Moved to Plus in 2026
Definition:
Starting formation: Eight Chain Thru
Command examples:
— Eight Chain Thru
— Eight Chain 3
— Eight Chain 4
— Eight Chain 1, Allemande Left
Dance action: The dancers perform a sequence of actions as described below and always starting at the top. If the call is “Eight Chain Thru” they do all eight of the actions. If the call is Eight Chain (number), they do that number of actions.
Complete as many of these actions as appropriate:
• All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 1 has been completed)
• Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 2 has been completed)
• All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 3 has been completed)
• Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 4 has been completed)
• All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 5 has been completed)
• Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 6 has been completed)
• All Right Pull By (Eight Chain 7 has been completed)
• Centers Left Pull By while the ends Courtesy Turn (Eight Chain 8 has been completed)
— Note that Eight Chain Thru is equal to Eight Chain 8.
Ending formations:
Eight Chain Thru ends in Eight Chain Thru formation
Eight Chain 1, 3, 5, etc. ends in Trade By formation
Eight Chain 2, 4, 6, etc. ends in Eight Chain Thru formation
Timing: Eight Chain Thru: 20;
Eight Chain 1, 2, 3, etc.: each odd-numbered part: 2;
each even-numbered part: 3
(for example, Eight Chain 3: 2+3+2 = 7)
Styling: Same as Right and Left Thru. Dancers doing the Left Pull By in the center move slowly so their action takes the same time as the Courtesy Turn on the outside.
Each part of this call ends in an Eight Chain Thru or Trade By formation. Dancers should not drift into a circular formation as in Wrong Way Grand.
Comment: The Ocean Wave Rule applies to Eight Chain Thru and variations 1, 2, 3, etc.
Link to Taminations: Taminations Eight Chain Thru