Mainstream
Tag – Fraction
Links: Define – Standard – Analyze – Module – Other – Extend
Choreography for Patter Teaching with Singing Call Options:
Teaching Tips:
Half Tag
A.) Turn towards the center of your formation with hands ready to stop.
B.) Pass right shoulders but don’t go all the way through.
C.) Stop when each half of the line is almost shoulder to shoulder, about two steps.
D.) Ends will meet the far center dancer; centers will meet the far end dancer.
3/4 Tag
A) Start by reviewing Half Tag and Tag the Line.
B) Ends meet in the center and take near hands.
C) Centers, you’ll be facing out of your foursome – don’t panic and don’t turn around.
More teaching suggestions:
— The fraction is often given first because dancers may begin moving before the caller has said the entire call.
— Review the Extend positions naming each part in terms of Tag the Line.
— For Quarter Tag, the original center dancers move only a step or two to stop in a center wave.
— For Half Tag the dancers move forward until each dancer is adjacent to a dancer from the other half of the line.
— For Three-Quarter Tag the original centers do a Double Pass Thru, but the outside dancers stop when they meet in a center wave.
Quick quote for Half Tag: “Face the far end of your line and move forward to two waves.”
Quick quote for Quarter Tag: “Centers face and join right hands, others face in.”
Quick quote for Three-Quarter Tag: “Half Tag and Extend”
Teaching Standard Applications for Half Tag:
Half Tag from Right Two-Faced Lines:
Heads Lead Right, Veer Left,
Half Tag, Single Hinge,
Men Trade, Men Run,
Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru,
Slide Thru (or Star Thru), Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left, Grand Right and Left, Promenade
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Lead Right, Veer Left,
Couples Circulate, Half Tag,
Split Circulate, Boys Run,
Forward and Back, Slide Thru
Square Thru Three,
Patter: Allemande Left, Promenade
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Square Thru Two,
Right and Left Thru, Veer Left,
Couples Circulate, Half Tag,
[ Split Circulate, Boys Run,
Each four Circle Left 1/4, ]
Patter: (after Circle Left 1/4) Allemande Left
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Lead Right, Veer Left,
Half Tag, Split Circulate,
Boys Run, Forward and Back (Partner Line)
Square Thru Four
Patter: Trade By, Eight Chain Three, Left Allemande
Singer: [ Trade By, Left Allemande, ] Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Lead Right, Veer Left,
Half Tag, Walk and Dodge, Partner Trade (Partner Line)
Forward and Back, Right and Left Thru,
Slide Thru and Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left, Grand Right and Left
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Half Tag from Lines Facing Out:
Heads Pass Thru and Separate Around One to a Line,
Forward and Back, Pass Thru,
Half Tag, Ladies Trade,
Swing Thru,
Patter: Half Circulate, Boy Run, Bend the Line at home
Singer: [ Turn Thru, Allemande Left, come back to ] Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Ladies Chain,
Sides Lead Right, Veer Left,
Chain Down the Line,
Pass Thru, Half Tag, Centers Trade,
Split Circulate,
Patter: Boys Run, Square Thru Three, Left Allemande, Face in, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TAG and HALF TAG:
Heads Pass Thru and Separate Around One to a Line,
Forward and Back, Pass Thru,
Tag the Line all the way and Face In,
Forward and Back, Pass Thru,
Half Tag,
Patter: Girls Trade, Girls Cross Run, Left Allemande, Face In, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend,
Swing Thru, Boys Run,
Couples Circulate, Tag the Line (all the way),
Face Right, Half Tag
[ Boys Run, Square Thru Three ],
Patter: (After Square Thru 3), Left Allemande, Face In, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Teaching Standard Applications for Quarter Tag:
From Right-Hand Two-Faced Line with Girls in the Center:
Heads Lead Right, Veer Left,
Couples Circulate, Quarter Tag, Girls Swing Thru,
Girls Turn Thru and Boys Courtesy Turn Girls to a Line of four,
Forward and Back, Star Thru,
Pass Thru, Trade By,
Patter: Allemande Left, Promenade
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Lead Right and Veer Left,
Couples Circulate, Quarter Tag,
Very Centers Trade, Extend, Single Hinge,
Boys Trade, Swing Thru,
Patter: Turn Thru, with partner Promenade
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From Right-Hand Two-Faced Line with Boys in the Center:
Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend,
Girls Run, Couples Circulate,
Quarter Tag, Boys Swing Thru,
Extend, Single Hinge, Girls Trade,
Girls Run, Quarter Tag, Extend
Patter: Boys Run, Square Thru Three, Allemande Left, Face In at Home
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From Left-Hand wave with Boys in the Center:
Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend,
Girls Cross Run, Quarter Tag,
Very Centers Trade, Extend,
Cast Off Three-Quarters,
Boys Trade, Girls Circulate,
Patter: Boys Circulate, Girls U-Turn Back, Promenade Home
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Teaching Standard Applications for Three-Quarter Tag:
From Right-Hand Two-Faced Line with Girls in the Center:
Heads Lead Right and Veer Left,
Couples Circulate, Three-Quarter Tag,
Boys Swing Thru, Girls U-Turn Back, Extend,
Patter: Cast Off Three-Quarters, Extend, Grand Right and Left
Singer: [Single Hinge, Girls Trade Twice,] Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From Right-Hand Two-Faced Line with Boys in the Center:
Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend,
Girls Run, Couples Circulate,
Three-Quarter Tag the Line,
Girls Swing Thru, Boys U-Turn Back,
Extend, Single Hinge, Girls Circulate,
Patter: Boys Circulate, Turn Thru, Allemande Left, Promenade Home
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From BBGG Lines Facing Out:
Heads Pass Thru and Separate Around One to a Line,
Pass Thru, Three-Quarter Tag,
Center Wave Swing Thru Twice, Others Partner Trade, Extend,
Patter: Girls Trade, Girls Cross Run, Left Allemande, Face In at Home
Singer: Swing Corner and Promenade