Basic Part 1
Grand Square
Define – Standard – Analyze – Module – Other – Extend
Choreography for Patter Teaching with Singing Call Options:
Teaching Tips:
Grand Square
A.) Can have the heads only do the action, later just the sides, then all together.
B.) Can have all do the action to start by explaining dancers either walk forward and turn or back up and turn except at the reverse point and end.
C.) If you are close you must back up, if far away you must move forward.
D.) Never turn your back on anyone, always turn in to face your partner or your opposite.
E.) Shuffle your feet to the beat and take near hands whenever you can; it’s a contact sport!
F.) From a squared set have everyone point to their nearest side wall then to the opposite dancer. This is the small square pattern you will trace when you dance the action.
G.) From above, the pattern each dancer walks is a small square; together it’s a Grand Square!
H.) The action is a thirty-two beat figure, with thirty-two steps and turns; sixteen halfway.
More teaching suggestions:
— At all times during the standard versions of Grand Square, every dancer is facing another dancer either nose-to-nose or across the square. These two dancers will alternate at each turn between the dancer’s beginning opposite and beginning partner.
— Explain that Grand Square is an old call intended to be danced with marching formation precision. That means that all dancers should be synchronized with the music and each other.
Quick quote: “Walk, 2, 3, turn in; walk, 2, 3, turn in; stay in your quarter; walk, 2, 3, pause and reverse”
Teaching Standard Applications:
Break:
(pre-cue) Sides Face Grand Square,
– – – – , – – – – / – – – – , – – Reverse
– – – – , – – – – / – – – – , – – Circle Left
– – – – , – – Allemande Left
Swing Partner and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
No partner change:
(pre-cue) Sides Face Grand Square,
– – – – , – – – – / – – – – , – – Reverse,
– – – – , – – – – / – – – – , – – Heads Pass Thru,
Separate around to home
Sides Pass Thru, Separate around to home,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Partner Change:
[ Four Men forward and back, ]
Four Ladies Chain 3/4,
Keep her and Promenade once,
– – – – , Sides Face Grand Square
– – – – , – – – – / – – – – , – – – –
– – – – , – – – –
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Grand Square Six Quadrille
By Jack Murtha, California
Sides Pass Thru, Separate around Two to Home,
Heads Pass Thru, Separate around Two to Home,
Sides Face Grand Square go Six Steps,
Bow to new partner, Swing and Promenade