17.a. Tag the Line (In/Out/Left/Right)

Starting formation

General line

Command Examples:

• Tag the Line
• Tag the Line All The Way
• Tag the Line, Face Right
• Tag the Line, Left
• Tag the Line, Face In

Dance Action

Each dancer turns 90 degrees, in place, to face the center of the line (i.e., turning toward the far end of the line) and then walks forward, passing right shoulders with all dancers in the other half of the line, until the last dancers in each half have passed each other. If a facing direction is given, each dancer then turns 90 degrees, in place, toward the specified direction.

Ending formation

Tag the Line ends in back-to-back Tandems.
If a direction is given, the ending formation depends on that direction (e.g., “Tag the Line, Face Right” ends in a Right-Hand Two-Faced Line).

Timing: 6

Styling

Arms in natural dance position, hands ready to assume appropriate position for the next call. If the centers start holding right hands, a flowing type of movement can be achieved by taking a slight step forward while turning toward the center of the line.

Comments

Tag the Line is a 4-dancer call. From a General Line of 8, the phrase “Each Side” (or “Each Four”) is helpful but not required.

After Tag the Line, the direction In (or Out) means to turn toward (or away from) the center of the set. From General Lines, Tag the Line, Face In (or Out) ends in Facing Lines (or Lines Back-to-Back).

The direction given does not have to be the same for all dancers, e.g., Tag the Line, Boys Face Left, Girls Face Right.

An extended application of Tag the Line begins from a General Line containing six or eight dancers. The caller must explicitly identify the line, e.g., “Line of Eight, Tag the Line”. The application from a line of two dancers is improper at Mainstream; it has a separate name and is in another program.

17.b. Fraction (1/4, 1/2, 3/4) Tag

Starting Formation

General Line

Command Examples

• Half Tag
• 3/4 Tag the Line
• Tag the Line 3/4
• 1/4 Tag

Dance Action

Each dancer turns 90 degrees, in place, to face the center of the line (i.e., turning toward the far end of the line) and starts walking forward, as necessary passing right shoulders with dancers from the other half of the line. For 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4, dancers stop at a Right-Hand Single 1/4 Tag, Right-Hand Box Circulate, and Right-Hand Single 3/4 Tag formation, respectively.

Ending Formation

1/4 Tag: Right-Hand Single 1/4 Tag
1/2 Tag: Right-Hand Box Circulate
3/4 Tag: Right-Hand Single 3/4 Tag

Timing

1/4 Tag: 3
1/2 Tag: 4
3/4 Tag: 5

Styling

If the centers start holding right hands, a flowing type of movement can be achieved by taking a slight step forward while turning toward the center of the line.

Comments

These are 4-dancer calls. From a General Line of 8, the phrase “Each Side” (or “Each Four”) is helpful but not required.

From General Lines, 3/4 (or 1/4) Tag ends in a Right-Hand 3/4 (or 1/4) Tag formation because outside dancers move together to become a couple. See “Additional Detail: Dance Action: Square Breathing”.

The fraction is often given first because dancers may begin moving before the caller has said the entire call. “Tag the Line One-Quarter” is strongly discouraged because the call takes only three beats.

Callers often abbreviate the fraction, using “Half” (or “Quarter”) for “One-Half” (or “One-Quarter”). For emphasis, the full fraction can be used or “the Line” can be added, such as “One-Quarter Tag the Line”.

 

ARC Entscheidungen

(April 2002)

Q: After the call “Half Tag” would it be proper to give facing directions (i.e., Right, Left, In, Out)?

A: Yes. The committee stresses that although it is proper to give facing directions, callers should refrain from using “in or out” at Mainstream & Plus without a workshop.

(July 2011)

Q: Is proper to call Tag the Line from an Ocean Wave formation?

A: This is proper as an Ocean Wave is a general line in accordance with approved pictogram #76 & 77. (Note: There are some applications of this call from Ocean Waves that DO NOT dance well and callers must make themselves aware of these. Body flow, hand positioning and caller timing is very important to the success of this application.)

 

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