See Saw – Definition

Teaching Resource for SEE SAW

Links:   Standard Analyze Module Teach Other Extend

CALLERLAB Program: Basic Part 1
Teaching order: After Walk Around the Corner and before Square Thru
Recently taught calls: Star Thru, California Twirl

Background: This name of this call comes from the dance “My Pretty Girl” presented in 1946 by Ed Durlacher. The original dance went “All around your left hand lady – oh boy what a baby, see saw your pretty little taw, the cutest gal you ever saw.” “See Saw (Taw)” is the ninth entry in Burleson’s Encyclopedia where it is described as “When combined with all around your corner, see saw is a looping figure. In all other cases it is a left shoulder do sa do.”

From the mid 1950’s to about 2000 we used See Saw in these two different ways. About 2000, it was decided to simply call “Left Dosado” if that was the desired action. The 2003 edition of the Mainstream Definitions stated that See Saw “is to be used only in conjunction with All Around the Corner”.

Definition:

Minimum number of dancers needed: Eight

Starting formation for the minimum number needed: Right and Left Grand Circle

Command examples:
— Walk Around the Corner; See Saw Your Partner
— Walk All Around the Left Hand Lady; See Saw the Pretty Little Taw

Dance action: Facing dancers walk forward and around each other keeping left shoulders adjacent. They return to their original position, facing away from each other.

Ending formation: Right and Left Grand Circle

Timing: 8

Styling: Similar to Walk Around the Corner (#26).

Comments: See Saw is almost always preceded by Walk Around the Corner (#26). Other applications may require workshopping. From a Circle or Squared Set, dancers begin by facing the designated dancer.

Formerly See Saw, when not used after All Around the Corner, had the dance action of a Left Dosado. Today callers should say Left Dosado.

“Taw” is an old term for a man’s partner. Its use with See Saw dates back to a time when certain calls were directed primarily toward the men. See the comment for Walk Around the Corner (#26).

Facing Couple or Ocean Wave Rule: Neither rule applies to See Saw

Link to Taminations: Taminations See Saw