While these are by no means complete, these basic movements and terminology will give the new dancer a look into square dancing.

• THE SQUARE: A square is formed by four couples facing in, with the backs of each couple parallel to a different wall in the hall. Depending upon the hall and space conditions, each couple is from seven to ten feet from the opposite couple. The lady is on the right of her gentleman.


• POSITIONS AND DESIGNATIONS: The couples are numbered One, Two, Three, Four around the square to the right (counterclockwise), starting with the couple whose backs are closest to the front of the hall.
  
  Head couples are One and Three.
  Side couples are Two and Four.
  The lady to the man's left is his corner (or left-hand lady).
  The lady across the set from the man is his opposite.
  


• HONORS: The men bow, the ladies curtsey.
• PARTNER: The person on the man's right (lady's left). Also called TAW, MOTHER, MA, PA, etc.
• CORNER: When in a square or circle formation, the corner is the person to the man's left or the lady's right at the time of the call.
• WALK: The square dance walk is a comfortable, effortless, SHUFFLE done to the beat of the music.
• CIRCLE LEFT AND RIGHT: Three or more dancers circle left (or right) as directed.
• FORWARD AND BACK: Those persons or couples designated, move forward three steps and stop (or touch), then back up three steps and stop (or touch).
• DO-SI-DO: Two dancers facing each other advance and pass right shoulders. Each moves to his right, passing in back of the other person and, without turning, passes left shoulders and moves back to place. Formerly called DO-SA-DO.
• WAIST SWING: Two dancers, standing right side to right side, move forward and around each other, turning in a clockwise direction.
• COUPLE PROMENADE: Within the confines of a square or large circle, the couple will always move counterclockwise with the man on the inside and on the lady's left. When the caller wants a couple to promenade clockwise, he will call "Wrong Way Back."
• SINGLE FILE PROMENADE: Dancers move one behind the other clockwise or counterclockwise.


• ARM TURNS: Two persons facing each other, use arms designated by the call to walk around each other.
• ALLEMANDE LEFT: Within a square or large circle, men face to the left and the ladies to the right, so that each is facing his corner. Turn the corner with a left arm, halfway around, then move by the corner and return to face your partner, or follow the next call.
• COURTESY TURN: The man takes the lady's left hand in his left, turns and places his right hand in the small of the lady's back, and while moving side to side and facing and in the same direction, the man backs up and the lady walks forward. The distance of the turn will be determined by the point at which they are to face upon its completion (facing another specified couple, the center of the square, etc.).
• TWO LADIES CHAIN: Start with two facing couples. The two ladies advance, give a right hand to the other lady, pull by, then give a left hand to the partner of the lady with whom she is chaining. The men Courtesy Turn them around in place. The movement is completed when the couples are facing. The two ladies will have changed partners.
• RIGHT AND LEFT THRU: Executed by two facing couples. Each person advances, taking the right hand of the opposite person momentarily, moving forward and passing right shoulders, and releasing right hands. The man puts his right hand in the small of his partner's back, and each couple does a Courtesy Turn. Upon completion, the couples are facing one another again, but have exchanged places. Do a Right and Left Thru back to starting position only if called.
• FOUR LADIES (GENTS) PROMENADE: Those indicated by the call will promenade single file to the right (counterclockwise) either inside or outside of the square as indicated. The distance to be covered (halfway, all the way, etc.) would be directed by the call. Those not active at the time will either move into the center while the others are promenading outside, or they will move away from the center while the others promenade inside.
• PASS THRU: Two facing couples move "through" each other, each person passing right shoulders with his opposite. Remain facing out until after the next directional call. If directed to turn back, the move is executed independently by each dancer.
• FRONTIER WHIRL (CALIFORNIA TWIRL): Used to reverse direction smoothly while remaining in place. Parthers take hands. The right hand is joined with the lady's left. They change places with each other by raising their joined hands. The man walks around the lady in a clockwise direction while the lady walks forward and under their joined hands, making a left-face turn. Parthers start out facing the same direction side by side, and they end facing opposite to their original direction, with the lady still on the right side of her partner.
• HALF SQUARE THRU: Executed by two facing couples. Take the opposite's right hand, pull on by. Turn a quarter to face partner; take partner's left hand, pull on by. Follow next call. Couples may be any combination of men and/or women.
• SQUARE THRU: Executed by two facing couples. Take the opposite's right hand, pull on by. Turn a quarter to face partner; take partner's left hand, pull on by. (A Half Square Thru has been completed at this point.) Turn a quarter to face partner; take partner's left hand, pull on by but do not turn. Follow next call. Couples may be any combination of men and/or women.
• CROSS TRAIL: Two active couples meet and, passing right shoulders with their opposites, Pass Thru. The lady crosses in front of her partner, to the left, while the man crosses behind her, to the right. They then follow the direction of the next call. (If a couple is already facing out, a Cross Trail can be started from that position without a Pass Thru).
• WHEEL AROUND: A couple in "normal" promenade position will, as a unit, reverse direction by the man backing up and the lady walking forward. The pivot point is the spot between the two people. The turn, unless otherwise called, will be a complete about-face. The man, who was originally on the inside of the square, will now be on the outside of the square.
• HALF PROMENADE: Two couples indicated by the call exchange places by moving counterclockwise to the right (men passing left shoulders) around each other. Then they Wheel Around to face the same couple. When the opposites are working, this will occur naturally inside the limits of the square. Couples will promenade half outside the square when indicated by the call.
• RIGHT HAND STAR: For a man, the right wrist hold is most common. Each takes the wrist of the man ahead. For ladies, a handhold (or a skirt handhold) in making the star is recommended. Those making the star should form it by putting the arm out a little lower than shoulder height. Move forward clockwise.
• BACK BY THE LEFT: In changing from a Right Hand Star to a Left Hand Star, those involved release the right handhold, make a half right face turn (turning in), and form a Left Hand Star, then move forward, counterclockwise.
• LADIES CENTER - BACK TO THE BAR: Ladies move from their home spot into the center of the square and then return to the starting position on the "bar" (which rhymes with "Star"). This is a preliminary movement and is followed by a Four Men Right Hand Star.
• STAR PROMENADE: From a Left Hand Star, those making the star pick up the person indicated by the call and, linked together, move forward in a Star Promenade.
• HUB BACK OUT - RIM IN: From a Star Promenade the centers back out while those on the outside move forward into the center.
• BREAK: To release hands; to let go.

DOCUMENTS

• Old Square Dances of America, a book.
• Square and Folk Dancing, an article.
• Square Dance, an article.
• Square Dance Shorthand, an article.
• Square Dancing, an article.
• Square Dances by Bing Crosby, an article.
• Style in Square Dancing, an article.

From "The Basic Movements of Square Dancing - Basic 50" Handbook
American Square Dance Society, Los Angeles: 1972.

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