Basic Part 1
Square Thru
Links: Define – Standard – Analyze – Module – Other – Extend
Choreography for Patter Teaching with Singing Call Options:
Teaching Tips:
Square Thru (1,2,3,4)/ Left Square Thru (1,2,3,4)
A.) Alternate the hands throughout the action.
B.) Let go before you move through.
C.) When turning for the next hand, turn towards the center of the box.
D.) Establish the four points of the box and be sure to step to the point after each hand.
E.) Always ends back to back; don’t turn after the last pull-by.
F.) Explain the action as walking around a city block or square building in the middle.
G.) Use a chair or describe a square card table that the dancers are to move around the
perimeter.
H.) For Left Square Thru, just do the same thing but start with your left hand.
More Teaching suggestions:
— When first teaching Square Thru, try to avoid using Right and Left Thru because of the undesired transfer of the Courtesy Turn.
— “Square Thru” tells you to move through other dancers in a square pattern.
— Consider using a same-gender arrangement the very first time this call is taught. This can completely eliminate the problem of dancers wanting to do a Courtesy Turn after the second hand (as in Right and Left Thru).
Trouble Spots:
• Dancers must release handholds as they pass by to avoid back tension that will turn them in the wrong direction half the time.
• After recently learning Ladies Chain and Right and Left Thru, there is a strong tendency to insert a Courtesy Turn. Avoid teaching any two of these three calls close together.
• There is always reluctance to end back-to-back so this ending must be emphasized.
The Global Picture: Square Thru Four will move the four active dancers around the four sides of a box using a hand action similar to Right and Left Grand.
Quick quote: Right pull by (1); Face in and Left pull by (2); Face in and Right pull by (3); Face in and Left pull by (4) (end back-to-back)
Teaching Standard Applications:
Teaching Square Thru from a Static Square:
Heads Right Hand Pull By (let go and stand back-to-back), that is Square Thru One;
Face in (towards original partner) and Left Pull By, that is Square Thru Two;
Face in (lady turns left, gent turns right) and Right Pull By, that is Square Thru Three;
Face in (turn the same way again) and Left Pull By, that is Square Thru Four or Square Thru.
You should all be facing your corner, bow to your corner and back away at home.
Repeat the above for the Sides.
For each new formation and each new number of hands, repeat a similar “chant” and make sure the dancers end in the correct formation.
[Calls in square brackets may be omitted]
1) From Static Square:
a) Heads Forward and Back,
Heads Square Thru Four,
Dosado,
Pass Thru, Allemande Left,
Patter: Pass One, Take the next and Promenade
Singer: [ Heads go up and back ], Heads Square Thru Four, Dosado, Pass Thru,
Allemande Left, [ Grand Right and Left ], [ Swing ] and Promenade
b) Heads Square Thru 3/4,
Separate around 2 and come into the middle,
Centers Star Thru and Pass Thru,
Allemande Left,
Patter: Heads Make a Right Hand Star to Home
Singer: [ Heads Make a Right Hand Star, Allemande Left again ] and Roll Promenade
2) From Static Square and from Facing Lines:
a) Sides Square Thru Four,
Dosado with Corner and Star Thru,
Forward and Back,
(Now there are two group of four working separately – Each four) Square Thru Three,
(You end back-to-back in lines facing out – Corner is beside you) Allemande Left,
Patter: Square Up at home
Short Singer: and Roll Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
b) Heads Square Thru Two,
Split Two around one and make a line,
Pass Thru, U-Turn Back,
Square Thru Three,
Bend the Line,
Patter: Square Thru Two, Outsides Separate to home, Centres Right and Left Thru and back away at home
Singer: Star Thru, Centers California Twirl and Pass Thru, Swing and Promenade (half)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
c) Heads Lead Right and Circle Left 3/4 to a Line,
Forward and Back, Each Four Star Right,
Star Left back to lines,
Forward and Back,
Square Thru Four,
Patter: U-Turn Back, Grand Right and Left
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
e) Heads Square Thru Four,
Split Two around one and make a line,
Pass Thru, U-Turn Back,
Square Thru Three,
Bend the Line, Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left, Promenade
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3) From Static Square and from Eight Chain Thru:
a) Heads Square Thru [Four],
Make a Right Hand Star,
Heads Star Left,
Patter: Square Thru Five, Allemande Left, Pass One, Promenade original Partner
Alternate Patter: Bow to Corner, back away at Home
Singer: [ Square Thru Four ] Swing and Promenade
Alternate Singer: Square Thru Five, Allemande Left, Come back and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
b) Heads Pass Thru and Separate Around One to a Line,
[ Forward and Back ], Star Thru,
Centers Pass Thru, Square Thru Four,
Bend the Line, Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left
Singer: Swing Corner and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
c) Sides Square Thru Three,
Separate Around One to a Line,
Star Thru, Centers Pass Thru,
Square Thru Four,
Bend the Line, Circle Left,
Ladies In Men Sashay, Left Allemande,
Patter: Come back and Promenade
Singer: and Roll Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
d) Sides Square Thru Two,
Split Two around one and make a line,
Pass Thru, U-Turn Back,
Square Thru Four,
Outsides Courtesy Turn, Centers Pass Thru,
Patter: Left Allemande, Promenade
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4) From Static Square, Eight Chain Thru and Facing Lines:
a) Heads Square Thru Four (explain that you now have two boxes back-to-back),
Everybody Square Thru Four (you should all be facing out),
Bend the Line (now there are two boxes side-by-side),
Square Thru Three,
Patter: Left Allemande, Square Up
Singer: Swing, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
5) From Other Formations:
a) Heads Square Thru Three,
Separate Around One to a Line,
Forward and Back, Outsides Star Thru,
Centers Square Thru Four,
Patter: All Star Thru , Pass Thru, Left Allemande, Square up at home
Singer: All Square Thru Two, Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
b) Four Ladies Chain 3/4,
Heads Promenade 3/4,
Sides Square Thru 3/4,
Circle Four 3/4,
All Square Thru 3/4,
Patter: Allemande Left, Promenade
Singer: Swing, Promenade