Command examples
- Sides Face, Grand Square
- Sides Face, Grand Square (16 beats later) Reverse
- Heads Face, Grand Square
- Heads Rollaway; Sides Face, Grand Square
Dance action
The designated dancers turn to face their partner. All dancers then perform the following series of steps, each of which takes one beat of music. Dancers are to be reminded that these are square dancing steps and NOT just walking.
Step (count 1), Step (count 2), Step (count 3), Step-Turn In (count 4)
Step (count 5), Step (count 6), Step (count 7), Step-Turn In (count 8)
Step (count 9), Step (count 10), Step (count 11), Step-Turn In (count 12)
Step (count 13), Step (count 14), Step (count 15), Step-Pause to Reverse (count 16)
Step (count 17), Step (count 18), Step (count 19), Step-Turn In (count 20)
Step (count 21), Step (count 22), Step (count 23), Step-Turn In (count 24)
Step (count 25), Step (count 26), Step (count 27), Step-Turn In (count 28)
Step (count 29), Step (count 30), Step (count 31), Step-You’re Home (count 32)
At all times during Grand Square, every dancer is facing another dancer either nose-to-nose or across the square.
On “Step(1), Step(2), Step(3), Step(4)” dancers who are facing nose-to-nose take 4 steps backwards away from each other. Dancers who are facing across the square take 4 steps forward until they are nose-to nose.
On the 4th Step-Turn In dancers turn in place 90 degrees during the step to face another dancer nose-to-nose or across the square. Like the other Steps, this takes one beat.
This continues for each group of 4 steps.
On “Step-Pause to Reverse” dancers take the 4th Step and then prepare to reverse directions without turning. The next “Step” will be in the opposite direction, as dancers start to retrace their steps.
On “You’re Home” those dancers designated to “face” at the start of the call face back in, making a squared set. The others take the last (fourth) Step and freeze in place.
ARC Decisions
(March 2017)
Q: Given the 2 sequences below resulting in the starting formation for the Grand Square, is it proper to call Grand Square from this formation:
Heads Square Thru; Split two around one to a line; Centers face; Grand Square
And:
Heads Pass Thru; Separate around two; Line up 4; Centers Face; Grand Square
A: ARC determined this to be improper. The current definition does not include starting formation of lines. The definition states: Starting formation: Squared Set (also see Comments). Comments section also refers to starting position as squared set. ARC’s mandate, unless otherwise requested, is to view the application through the lens of the program the call resides in, and in that regard, the members feel Grand Squares from Lines will create confusion.
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Comments
From a Squared Set, the caller must designate who faces for Grand Square. It is improper to call “Grand Square” and expect “Sides Face, Grand Square”.
The caller may designate the number of steps to take (e.g., “Grand Square, 6 Steps”).
The following variations on Grand Square may require workshopping.
Some callers, observing that each dancer dances the edges of a square (in their quadrant) and then reverses the path, relax the rule that “every dancer is facing another dancer either nose-to-nose or across the square”. For example, “Girls turn and face your partner, Everyone Grand Square” has each dancer dancing the edges of the same square, following the same pattern of stepping and turning as if they were facing other dancers (nose-to-nose or across the square) at the appropriate times.
In “Heads Star Thru; Sides Face, Grand Square”, dancers dance the edges of the same squares, making the usual turns, even though some of the dancers start and finish in the center of the set.