A list of common terms used in Square and Round Dancing to help you out.
Corners face and take left forearms. Walk around each other to own position.
An experienced dancer who attends classes to fill out squares and help the caller demonstrate the proper way to perform various moves.
Dancers designated by caller join hands in a circle and walk to the left.
Same as Circle Left going to the right.
Lady on gentleman’s left. Gentleman on lady’s right.
Dance by definition. Callers will test the dancers’ knowledge of calls by performing them from various starting points, or from non standard positions.
Partners, or those designated by the caller, face. Walk around each other passing right-shoulders and then left shoulders back to own position.
Three steps forward. High tens and back to position.
Couples with their back or facing the caller, also known as couples 1 & 3.
A dancer’s position in the square dance formation at the beginning of a session.
Partners, or those designated by caller, face. Ladies curtsy and gentlemen bow.
Another term for a patter call, the caller will announce moves rapidly and without pausing.
Ladies designated by caller walk to each other and take right hands. They pass by, dropping hands and give their left to that lady’s partner in his left hand. The gentleman place their right arm around the lady’s waist and turns her counter-clockwise to face the other couple. Ladies chain back the same way.
The lady to the gentleman’s right and the gentleman to the lady’s left.
The caller uses the music as a background for prompting the dancers’ moves.
Partners, or those designated by the caller, cross hands in a skating position and walker counter-clockwise to position with the right arm over the left.
Square dancing with six couples instead of four.
Couples 2 &4.
The caller actually sings parts of the song, intersperse with the moves.
A call for dancers to return to home position.
Couples, or those designated by the caller, walk to each other and join right hands in a star formation and walk in the direction they are facing (clockwise).
Level of Calls
The simplest and most straightforward, such as “allemande left”, “right and left grand” and promenade.
Calls a level above basic.
A step above mainstream, involving a series of related moved. They can appear complicated at first but are easy and fun once you learn them.