Basic Part 1
Circle Left / Circle Right
Links: Define – Standard – Analysis – Modules – Other
Choreography for Patter Teaching with Singing Call Options:
Teaching Tips:
Circle Left / Right
A.) Boy palms up, girl palms down.
B.) Shuffle along to the beat.
C.) Don’t grip! The boys hand will act as a platform for the girls to rest her hand in.
D.) Face slightly in the direction you are traveling.
More teaching suggestions:
a) Many callers use a big circle to teach Circle Left, Circle Right, Forward and Back, Dosado, and Promenade during the first tip. If you choose to do that, save the examples for four and two dancer applications until you form squares. Look at Forward and Back, Dosado, and Promenade for more examples of big circle choreography.
b) Explain the handhold to be used.
c) Emphasize the smooth gliding steps in time to the music. Dancers should turn their body slightly toward the direction of motion and shuffle their feet to the beat of the music so that they dance smoothly forward without bouncing.
d) Discuss the goal of keeping the elbows slightly bent to maintain connection without stretching arms or pulling the dancers on each side. Dancers should always keep their own body under control with proper posture and balance. The catch phrase is “Nose over Toes”.
e) This is the ideal time to make the dancers aware of the 8-beat phrasing in square dance music. Attempt to pre-cue to give the dancers the opportunity to begin a new circling direction on the first beat of the 8-beat phrase.
Global view: When moving in a circle of eight, dancers maintain the same position relative to each other.
Quick quote: “Smooth steps, stand tall, nose over toes, gentle handhold”
Teaching Standard Applications:
All Eight Circle:
Join Hands (Men’s palms up, Ladies palms down) (or Left hand palm down, right hand palm up)
Circle Left, Step to the music, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Circle Right
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Circle Dance, Singing Call Break, or No Partner Change Figure:
Circle Left (16), Circle Right (16),
Circle Left (8), Circle Right (8),
Solo Turn to the Left (8),
Solo Turn to the Right (8)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Just Four Circle:
Heads Circle Left full around to home,
Sides Circle Left full around to home
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Circle Left halfway around and back out there,
Sides Circle Left halfway around and back out there,
All Circle Right halfway around to home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Head Gents and their Corner Lady Circle Left full around and back out at home,
Side Gents and their Corner Lady Circle Left full around and back out at home
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Four Ladies Circle Left for 8 steps then Circle Right for 8 steps back to home,
Four Gents Circle Left for 8 steps then Circle Right for 8 steps back to home
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Singing Call Break or No Partner Change Figure:
Heads Circle Left (8) then Circle Right (8),
Sides Circle Left (8) then Circle Right (8),
All Circle Left (16) then Circle Right (16),
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Singing Call Break or No Partner Change Figure:
Ladies to the middle Circle Left (8) then Circle Right (8),
Gents to the center and Circle Left (8) then Circle Right (8),
All Circle Left (16) then Circle Right (16)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Two Dancers Circle:
Head Ladies Single Circle Left Halfway to exchange,
Side Ladies Single Circle Left Halfway to exchange,
All Circle Left once around,
Head Gents Single Circle Left Halfway to exchange,
Side Gents Single Circle Left Halfway to exchange,
All Circle Left Halfway to home
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Circles of Four, Two and Eight:
Heads Circle Left once around, back to home,
Sides Circle Left once around, back to home,
Head Ladies Single Circle Left back to home,
Side Ladies Single Circle Left back to home,
All Eight Circle Left,
Circle Right back to home