Square Dance Lessons
Instructor:Molly Baines
Print out the flyer and hand it out to all your friends - the more the merrier!
Check this page for updates, notes, cancellations and information as the lessons progress
Stepping Stone Support Center
9032 W. Ken Caryl Ave, Littleton 80128Map
Lessons have Begun!
We are no longer accepting new students. Please contact us for information on when our next class will begin.
Come join us for an introduction to modern square dancing.
Shake off the cold, learn some moves and find out what all the fun is about. Dessert included (just in case you didn't get enough Christmas cookies this year 😕)
Shake off the cold, learn some moves and find out what all the fun is about. Dessert included (just in case you didn't get enough Christmas cookies this year 😕)
Please contact us for more information
Jan & John at 303-877-2442 or jjhormuth@yahoo.com
Jan & John at 303-877-2442 or jjhormuth@yahoo.com
Check out some photos of our dances.
The following sites are recommended for review of the figures you are learning in class:
Taminations is an animated site to demonstrate calls. It describes and shows you how to dance each call you will be learning. You can vary the speed for better comprehension and loop the call to repeat continuously.
Saddlebrook Squares uses live dancers to demonstrate the calls.
Class Review
The Basics
mouse over call for a description
The Basics
| Hand holds | Loose and comfortable, keep thumbs tucked in. No death grips |
|---|---|
| Normal Couple | Man on the left, Lady on the right. Hand hold comfortable, man right palm up, lady left palm down. The person on the left side of a couple is the 'Left Hand Dancer' while the person on the right side is the 'Right Hand Dancer' |
| Partner | Men – your partner is on your right. Ladies – your partner is on your left. During a dance, the caller may move your original partner away and you will have a new (temporary) partner. |
| Corner | Men – your corner is on your Left. Ladies – your corner is on your right. During a dance, the caller may move your original corner away and you will have a new (temporary) corner. |
| Positions | Home position, Heads, Sides, Partner, Corner, Opposite. Couple numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) starting from couple with backs towards the caller and counting counter clockwise (right). |
| Arm Turns | Dancers connect by placing specified hands on each other's forearm and walk forward around each other. Do not grab elbows. |
| Promenade Direction | Counter-clockwise (to the right). Wrong Way Promenade: Clockwise (to the left). |
| Specifiers | The caller may specify how far a figure is to move or turn (¼, ½, ¾, full). The dancer(s) will move to face a new wall for each quarter. If 'full', the dancer(s) will come around full circle to end where they started. |
| Line - facing in/out | A formation in which 2 couples are side by side and facing in the same direction. |
| Line - two faced | A formation in which couples are side by side. One couple is facing one direction, the other couple is facing the opposite direction. |
| Passing Rule | (Also referred to as the Right Shoulder Rule). If the definition of a call has two dancers on the same path and requires them to walk past each other, they should pass right shoulders (unless otherwise specified) and continue. (e.g., Pass Thru). |
| Trades | Ends, Centers, Boys, Girls, Couples, Partner. GENERAL RULE: Directed dancers exchange places by walking forward in a semi-circle ending in the other dancer's starting position. The key with Trades is, it is done with someone in your own line, you always walk forward, you always end up facing in the opposite direction from where you started, and if you meet someone while trading you always pass right shoulder to right shoulder. |
| Facing Couple Rule | A few specific calls that are defined to start from an Ocean Wave are also proper starting from Facing Couples. Examples include Swing Thru and Spin the Top. In these cases, the dancers first step into a momentary Right-Hand Ocean Wave and complete the call.
If the caller directs a left-hand call (for example, “Left Swing Thru”), the dancers first step into a momentary Left-Hand Ocean Wave. |
| Ocean Wave Rule | Some calls that are defined to start from Facing Couples are also proper starting from a Right-Hand Ocean Wave. Examples include Right And Left Thru and Square Thru. In these cases, the dancers have already stepped forward toward the facing dancer and are ready to complete the remaining action of the directed call. |
| Same Position Rule | If two dancers are required to occupy the same position at the end of a call, and are facing in opposite directions from each other, they form a Right-Hand Mini-Wave. If an adjustment is necessary (since they are now two dancers side-by-side in a formation that expected one dancer), the adjustment is sideways, towards the outside of the group in which they were working. |
| Twirl | Not a call. A dancing flourish practiced by some couples. Promenade Ending Twirl: Man raises his right hand holding the lady's right hand loosely as she twirls clockwise (right faced) underneath, ending in a squared up couples position. |
| Jan. 21 | Forward and Back; Dosado; Single (Inside) Promenade; Couples Promenade; (All 8) Circle left/right; Circle left/right; Single Circle; Arm Turns; Allemande Left; Right Arm Turn (Turn your partner by the right); Stars (Right and Left hand); Star Promenade; Pass Thru; Patner Trade; California Twirl; U-Turn Back |
|---|---|
| Jan. 28 | Right and Left Grand; Weave the Ring; Courtesy Turn; Two ladies Chain; Four ladies Chain; Rollaway; Ladies In, Men Sashay; Men In, Ladies Sashay; Half Sashay |
| Feb. 4 | Grand Square Right & Left Thru; Box the Gnat; Wrong Way Grand; Wrong Way Promenade |
| Feb. 11 | Pull By; Square Thru; Star Thru; Bend the Line Slide Thru; Trade By |
| Feb. 18 | Wheel Around; Veer left/right; Lead left/right; Chain Down the Line; Couples Trade Couples Circulate |
| Feb. 25 | Trades; Runs; Dosado to a Wave; Step to a Wave; Swing Thru; Balance |
| Mar. 4 | Pass the Ocean; Extend; Circulate; Box/Split Circulate; Column Circulate; Left Dosado; Left Square Thru; Left Swing Thru |
| Mar. 11 | Flutterwheel; Double Pass Thru; Sweep a Quarter; First Couple go Left/Right, Next Couple go Left/Right |
| Mar. 18 | Dive Thru Swing Separate; Separate Around 1 or 2 to a line; Separate Around 1 or 2 and come into the middle; Split; Backtrack; Walk Around the Corner; See Saw; Touch 1/4; Wheel and Deal; Ferris Wheel; |
| Mar. | Zoom; |
| Mar. | Single Hinge; Tag the Line; Half Tag; Scoot Back; Fold |
| Apr. | Circle to a Line; Centers In; Cast Off 3/4; Cross Run; Cross Fold; Recycle |
| Apr. | Spin the Top; Dixie Style to an Ocean Wave |
| Apr. | Walk Around the Corner; See Saw; Thar/Wrong Way Thar; Allemande Left to a Allemande Thar; Slip the Clutch; Shoot the Star; Shoot the Star Full Around; Do Paso |
| Apr. | Cloverleaf; Eight Chain Thru |
| Apr. | Pass to the Center; Walk and Dodge; |
| May | Review |
| May | Turn Thru; Spin Chain Thru |
| May | Review |
| May |
Review Tag the Line 1/4; Tag the Line 3/4 |
| June |
Review |
| June | Review, Review, Review |