Command examples
- Square Thru 4
- Square Thru 2
- Left Square Thru 3
Dance action
Square Thru (1,2,3,4) is defined here; for Left Square Thru (1,2,3,4) see the comments below.
In what follows, “Face partner” means to make a 90-degree turn in place to face one’s current partner. Complete as many of these actions as appropriate:
- Right Pull By (Square Thru 1 has been completed)
- Face partner and Left Pull By (Square Thru 2 has been completed)
- Face partner and Right Pull By (Square Thru 3 has been completed)
- Face partner and Left Pull By (Square Thru 4 has been completed)
Square Thru 2: 5
Square Thru 3: 7 or 8
Square Thru 4: 10
Styling
With the Pull By the hands are released as each dancer passes each other so as to avoid guiding one another to turn the wrong way.
As in Right and Left Grand, dancers should make their opposite hand available for their next Pull By (or the next call). On each Pull By, as dancers pass they should be facing Head or Side walls (unlike Right And Left Grand, which blends into a circle).
ARC Decisions
(July/August 2005)
Q: The following calls were used from a Static Square: “Heads Square Thru Three, Face Right and Single File Promenade 1/4.” After the Heads Square Thru Three, are they in the center of the square or further out on a squared set spot?
A: According to the current definitions, the dancers are still in the center of the square. However, it is possible to accomplish the above action with proper Command Timing of giving the succeeding call such as; “Heads/Sides Square Thru Three (on beat 4 or 5 give the next command) “Both Turn Right (rather than Face Right) and Single File Promenade Outside One Quarter.”
(June 2008)
A: According to a new section in the preface of the Basic/Mainstream definitions (the Squared Set Convention), the dancers are further out on squared set spots.
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Comments
Left Square Thru (1,2,3,4) is similar to Square Thru (1,2,3,4) except that it is started with the left hand and hands are alternating thereafter; the word “Left” is required. E.g., Heads Lead Right, Circle To A Line, Left Square Thru 4, Left Allemande.
The Ocean Wave Rule applies to this call.
The movement can be continued beyond 4 hands (e.g., Square Thru 5).
There are some alternative ways in which Square Thru can be called:
An extended application of Square Thru is “Square Thru, on the Third (or other) Hand…” where the Pull By action on the specified hand blends into the following call. For example:
Unless the caller specifies, the call “Square Thru, on the Third (or other) Hand” does not have a clear ending formation. Some believe it ends in facing couples, others in a wave. For this reason, the call that follows must be proper and have the same effect from both these formations; that is, the Facing Couple Rule or Ocean Wave Rule must apply. Historically Touch 1/4 and Left Touch 1/4 are exceptions that are considered proper, with the Pull By blending into the Touch:
The extended application Square Thru 1 1/2 (or 2 1/2, etc.) includes half of the next Pull By and ends in an Ocean Wave. Dancers are not expected to know this variation, so it should only be used following an appropriate workshop.