JAP – Just another Proposal
Recently there is a big discusssion on “THE PROPOSAL” coming from Callerlab. As I do not agree to this approach I have another Proposal.
I won’t discuss why I don’t like THE PROPOSAL. I just had my thoughts on how a bigger change could revitalize Square Dance. The key for me is that we need to include the dancers and stop telling them what program they have to follow because “we are the kings and we know everything”.
JAP in short – for those who don’t like reading
I propose:
- To drop all programs – at least up to PLUS and only use ONE list
- that this list should comprise all calls including plus. Alltogether there would be more than 120 Calls in addition to 25 Starter calls.
If you wonder why there are so many : I believe that we have more calls than in the current programs. As example take “Wheel and deal”. There is one version from 2-faced-lines and one from outfacing lines. The definitions even allows infacing lines although this is seldom used. For the dancers these are 3 units to learn although our lists just count them as 1 call. Let start to be honest to the dancers on how much they have to learn.Another example would be “Allemande left”. For me there are at least 6 variations that dancers have to learn over time (from circles on first evening; from boxes some time later; from infacing lines, from outfacing lines; from trade-by formation and from left-hand-ocean waves). There are even more! - to organize this list in ascending order of difficulty and complexity. To some extent choreographic reasoning would be included in the evalutation. Some calls may be grouped in Blocks as they somehow belong together and should the taught together. These blocks can be offered to the dancers after the Starter-Program
- to establish a “Starter-Program” with a maximum of 25 calls. Depending on the group this can be taught within 2 – 10 hours. This could be 2 weeks of 2 hours (for fast learning groups) or up to 10 weeks (if the group needs it) or it could be one weekend or any other timing depending on the groups (and the callers) abilities. After finishing these 25 calls they will be handed a diploma greeting them as “Square Dancers”. Do away with graduations and “tests”.
- that after the “Starter-Program” it is the DANCERS who decide whether to stay at this level or if they ask the caller to teach another 1 to … calls. It is no longer the program dictating them to continue nor the caller telling them that they have to learn more.
- that Festivals, Clubnights, Square Dance events will be announced as “Starter plus XX” where XX is a number on the new list.
Present dancers will only be affected if they choose to be. They would only announce their dances as “Starter plus xx”. But there would be a much larger flexibility and the main advantage: It would be the dancers telling us callers how far they want to go in learning.
And this approach will convince more people to TRY Square Dance as it will only cost them a few hours. Once we have them into the door it is up to the callers and long-term dancers to convince them to stay. This requires we follow THEIR needs and not what a caller wishes.
Programs and list
For me there is a big difference between these 2 terms.
A PROGRAM is a number of calls that are combined to serve a certain purpose.
As an example take SSD:
- the program is emphazising the social aspects of dancing
- The calls are selected so they can be taught in 12 weeks
- The program is an entry program, but at the same time supposed to be a destination program. This means most dancers should stay at SSD and not move on to higher programs.
- Another example is PLUS:
- The dancers are required to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the FASR – at least the formations
- Restrictions from Mainstream (and below) are no longer valid (eg. Courtesy turn with boys on right is acceptable)
- There are more calls that require all 8 dancers to perform their moves individually (as opposed to the lower programs where most calls can be executed if your partner knows what to do).
- In most cases the pace is higher.
A LIST has other purposes:
- It identifies the call by a number
- It is in most cases implying a teaching order
- Lower numbers should imply EASY and higher numbers DIFFICULT or TOUGH choreo.
The most problematic use of the PROGRAMS is that dancers are required to learn ALL calls of a given program. Either they know them all or they are out. If they have to stop for a while because of private reasons the only option is to start from scratch again in a new class.
AND – this is decided by Callers only. Dancers have nothing to say regarding the level they want/can dance at.
History – why do we have lists and programs?
Programs and lists were introduced by Callerlab. Here you can read about the history of callerlab: https://callerlab.org/the-history-of-callerlab/
The initial goal of Callerlab included:
- Put the Dance back into square dancing
- Establish standardization for calls.
- Provide adequate training for callers.
- One of the strongest challenges facing this new organization was to stem the flood of new calls that had brought frustration to dancers and callers alike. The result was the Mainstream list of calls, established in 1975 and accepted throughout the world.
In a presentation from a CALLERLAB History / Heritage / Tradition session in 2005, Jim Mayo recounts some of the events that led up to the founding of that organization in 1974. He discusses how square dance choreography changed from the common Goal Post routines with the introduction of the Chicken Plucker routine that started in 1957. As modern squares developed in the 1960s, traveling callers started introducing a flood of new calls; dancers and local callers were hard pressed to keep up. The activity also saw the creation of note services, which spread the new figures and new routines. By the early 1970s, there was a widespread plea to bring some order to the chaos.
So the main achievements of Callerlab was the standardization. They did this by introducing lists and internationally accepted definitions.
But Callers never ceased to change these programs. As example I found a document from 1979 where there was a Basic program (Calls 1-37), an extended Basic program (1-54), a Mainstream program (1-68), a Plus I (14 calls) and a Plus II (12 calls). Calls have constantly been moved between programs. And it is always discussion about Standard applications and extended application. For some time there were instructions regarding APD (All position dancing) etc.
All this was thrown on to the dancers by us callers. If WE choose they had to forget about Fan the top and we moved out 8-chain-4 and brought it back in.
Again – The dancers had nothing to say in this.
And now we want to implement THE PROPOSAL and again don’t ask the dancers?
So from my point of view it is time again to bring order to the chaos.
My question is: WHY DO WE NEED PROGRAMS? The initial goals of Callerlab have been achieved. There is no longer the need to stem a flood of need calls. We have a set of well defined calls. Only downside of the definitions is that in order to cram even more calls into a PROGRAM we have combined many calls into “families”. So we only have the Tag-family which included 4 calls (1/4 tag, 1/2 tag, 3/4 tag and tag the line) – not counting the english language terms as Face in/out/right/left which are on no list at all – but will be learned by non-english speaking dancers as additional calls.
So my proposal is: Get rid of all programs and just keep ONE LIST of calls. The definitions should be refined to have one definition per unit that a dancer has to learn. As mentioned wheel and deal from 2-faced lines and from outfacing-lines are 2 different calls for the vast majority of dancers. Only few brainiacs are capable of seeing that the principle is the same: you have a pivot point and turn towards this point – in doubt right before left. But for the rest of the dancers they learn 2 calls.
The combined list
I have created a LIST that would suit my beliefs. However the final list would be something to be processed by a committee and endorsed by the caller associations.
- I divided calls that dancers anticipate as different (and have to learn and memorize separate from each other) into extra calls and placed them where they are most appropriate.
- The calls are grouped in “Blocks” according to my understanding of the calls.
- A Caller could choose to offer such a block to his dancers to learn next or just choose single callls from that BLOCK
- NOT included in this list are the 25 Calls from the Starter-Program (see next chapter)
| New number | Call | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| BLOCK A | Remaining Ring Figures and left outs from Starter | |
| 1 | Single File promenade | Columns, Circle of 8, Squared Set |
| 2 | Backtrack | From Promenade; Star Promenade; Single file promenade; Wrong way promenade |
| 3 | RH Star then LH Star in the middle (1/2, Full) | Combinations feel different for dancers |
| 4 | Dopaso | – including abbreviations (LH,RH wheel in to …) |
| 5 | Ladies in, Men Sashay | Circle of 8; B/G mixedd |
| 6 | Walk around your corner | Infacing lines, Squared set |
| 7 | See saw | Infacing lines, square set |
| 8 | Grand Square | Later: – only xx Steps – Boy face partner – GS and other |
| 9 | Wheel around | – Couples – From promenade |
| BLOCK B | Separate etc | |
| 10 | Half sashay | Couple |
| 11 | Split 2 | |
| 12 | Separate and … | … when meet do xxx (Star thru, Touch 1/4) |
| 13 | Separate around x to a line | |
| 14 | Separate around x into the middle | |
| BLOCK C | Lines and Boxes | |
| 15 | Lead right/left | – Couple from static square – After promenade |
| 16 | Veer left/right | Facing couples |
| 17 | Veer left/right | 2 faced line |
| 18 | Bend the line | Tidal line of 8 dancers |
| 19 | Circle to a line | |
| 20 | Allemande Left | Trade By |
| 21 | Allemande Left | Outfacing lines |
| 22 | Double pass thru | Facing tandems |
| 23 | Dive thru | Facing couples; normal box |
| 24 | Square thru 1-x | – Normal |
| 25 | Box the gnat | Facing dancers; Sex dependant |
| BLOCK D | **Ocean Waves and associated | |
| 26 | Step to Ocean Wave / Balance | |
| 27 | Dosado to a wave | |
| 28 | Pass the ocean | |
| 29 | Swing thru / Left Swing thru | OW and Alamo Ring |
| 30 | Allemande Left | LH Ocean Wave |
| 31 | Alamo Style and Ring | |
| 32 | Allemande Left | – Allemande Thar – Alamo Ring |
| Square thru 1-x | – From Ocean waves | |
| Reteach all Figures according to OW Rule | RLT etc | |
| 33 | Extend | From 3/4 Tag only |
| BLOCK E | Circulates | |
| 34 | Circulate | Named dancers |
| 35 | Box Circulate | Boxes |
| 36 | Split Circulate | Ocean Waves and Colums |
| BLOCK F | Trade/RUN | |
| 37 | Trade | – Named dancers from lines |
| 38 | Trade | – Named dancers from Mini Waves |
| 39 | Chain down the line | |
| 40 | Partner trade | Couples |
| 41 | Couples trade | |
| 42 | Run | Mini Waves and couples |
| 43 | Cross Run | General line |
| 44 | Single file Circulate | Columns |
| BLOCK G | Deals and wheels | |
| 45 | Wheel and deal | – Outfacing lines |
| 46 | Wheel and deal | – 2 faced lines |
| 47 | Flutterwheel | |
| 48 | Reverse Flutterwheel | |
| 49 | Flutterwheel from Squared Set | – All 4 ladies Flutterwheel |
| 50 | Sweep 1/4 | – After Flutterwheel – after Wheel and Deal – after Recycle |
| 51 | Ferriswheel | 2 Faced lines |
| BLOCK H | Basic Wrap Up | |
| 52 | Zoom | – Tandem couples – Box Circulate – Ends Zoom |
| 53 | Trade By | Trade by formation |
| 54 | Touch 1/4 | Facing dancers only |
| BLOCK X | Extended applications of Basic calls | (Can be left out – optional) |
| O1 | Swing thru | Other teaching positions – L SWT from RH Wave – SWT from LH Wave – SWT from facing couples – SWT Tidal Waves |
| O2 | Lead right/left | From facing couples; ending back to back |
| O3 | Dive thru | From lines (allowed by definitions); ends in 2-faced lines |
| O4 | Square thru on x hand | |
| O5 | Allemande Left | Others – LH 3/4 Tag – Inverted Lines – AL, Dosado, AL |
| O6 | Wheel and deal | – infacing lines |
| O7 | Extend | – From DPT – From 1/4 – From 1/2 Tag |
| O8 | Square thru 1-x | – Variation: Left Square thru |
| BLOCK M1 | EASY MS | |
| 55 | Cloverleaf | – Completed Douple Pass thru |
| 56 | Cloverleaf | – 2 Couples facing out |
| 57 | Turn thru | Facing dancers |
| 58 | Turn thru | Ocean Waves |
| 59 | 8 Chain 1-8 | |
| 60 | Pass to the center | |
| 61 | Hinge | Mini Wave |
| 62 | Couples hinge | – from 2 faced lines – One faces lines ending in RH 2-faced lines |
| 63 | Slide thru | Mixed sex |
| BLOCK M2 | Medium MS | |
| 64 | Centers in | From DPT or 8CT or Facing couples |
| 65 | Cast off 3/4 | – Outfacing lines |
| 66 | Cast off 3/4 | – Mini Wave |
| 67 | Fold | Couple and Miniwave |
| 68 | Cross Fold | General Line |
| 69 | Spin the top | – From Ocean wave – Teaching: LH Spin the top |
| BLOCK M3 | MS HARD | |
| 70 | Walk and dodge | |
| 71 | XX Walk, others dodge | |
| 72 | Dixie Style to OW | – Tandems – Facing couples |
| 73 | Slide thru | Same Sex |
| 74 | Spin chain thru | |
| 75 | Scoot Back | – Normal – Once and a 1/2 |
| BLOCK MO1 | Optional Hard 1 | |
| 76 | Thar Family – Allemande Thar | |
| 77 | Allemande left to Allemande thar | |
| 78 | Wrong way thar | |
| 79 | Slip the Clutch | |
| 80 | Shoot the Star | – 1/2 – to another thar |
| BLOCK MO2 | Optional Hard 2 | |
| 81 | All 4 Ladies Dixie Style | |
| 82 | Reverse Dixie Style | |
| BLOCK MO3 | Optional Hard 3 | |
| 83 | Tag the line | – Including english language directions like Face in/out/left/right |
| 84 | 1/2 Tag | |
| 85 | 1/4 Tag | |
| 86 | 3/4 Tag | |
| 87 | Recycle | |
| BLOCK P1 | Plus Easy | |
| 88 | Acey Deucey | – Parallel Wave – 2 faced lines – Others with certain conditions |
| 89 | Grand Swing thru | |
| 90 | Triple Scoot | Columns |
| 91 | Follow your neighbor | |
| 92 | Fan the top | |
| 93 | Dixie Grand | |
| 94 | Single Circle to a wave | |
| BLOCK P2 | Plus Medium | |
| 95 | Anything and spread | |
| 96 | Ping Pong Circulate | |
| 97 | Peel off | Tandem, Box Circ and Z |
| 98 | Track II | |
| 99 | Explode the wave | Waves only! |
| 100 | Explode and …. | Waves only! |
| BLOCK P3 | Diamond = new formation | |
| 101 | Diamond circulate | |
| 102 | Cut the Diamond | |
| 103 | Flip the diamond | |
| BLOCK P4 | PLUS Hard | |
| 104 | Coordinate | |
| 105 | Anything and Roll | |
| 106 | Crossfire | |
| 107 | Linear Cycle | |
| 108 | Peel the top | |
| 109 | All 8 Spin the top | |
| 110 | Trade the wave | |
| BLOCK P5 | Long Fun Calls | |
| 111 | Teacup chain | including from 1/2 sashayed |
| 112 | Spin chain the gears | – Parallel OW – Variations allowed |
| 113 | Spin chain & exchange the gears | Variations allowed |
| 114 | Relay the Deucey | |
| 115 | Load the boat | – Remember “Do the center part” |
The starter-program
The intention of the starter programm is to make potential Square dancers aware of the very basic formations and moves.
The program should be taught in a very short period depending on the abilities of the dancers. Fast learning groups (often young and energetic people) should master it after 2 evenings of 2 hours. Others may need up to 5 evenings.
This is assuming that a class is lasting 2 hours. Often this is not possible as the class has to be embedded in a normal club night or the attention span of the dancers will not last 2 hours.
It might be a good idea to use a weekend (for example Saturday and sunday from 15.00 to 18.00).
The starter program will introduce them to circles, promenade, stars. But it also should touch other formations like lines and boxes.
The Starter Program completes with a diploma (NO graduation; no fooling around) and a welcome to the new dancers. From now on they are square dancers.
As the time used is only up to one month you would be able to do a Starter-Program every 2 months. People who are interested in square Dance do not have to wait until a new “CLASS” is starting and they do not feel like kids in school again.
Advertizing such a program should much easier and more people would be willing to try it out – after all it is just one weekend or a few evenings. No talking about a long term obligation.
Once we have them in it is up to us to keep them and let them ask for more.
Here is the starter program I could image
| New number | Call | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circle left/Circle right | – 8 dancers; Circle – 4 dancers; Facing couples – 2 dancers; Facing couples |
| 2 | Forward and back | – Circles, facing lines |
| 3 | Dosado | |
| 4 | Swing | |
| 5 | Couples Promenade (Full, 1/2, 3/4) | – outside the ring – Wrong way promenade |
| 6 | Named dancers promenade | – inside the ring |
| 7 | Star Promenade | |
| 8 | Allemande Left | – Circle – Infacing Lines (Join hands) |
| 9 | Allemande Left | Zero Box – maybe number 24 |
| 10 | Arm turns (1/2, 3/4, Full) | Facing dancers Mini Wave |
| 11 | Right and Left grand | – Normal – Wrong Way |
| 12 | Weave the ring | |
| 13 | Stars (LH/RH 1/2, 3/4, Full) | |
| 14 | Pass thru | and step thru Facing dancers, many applications |
| 15 | Rollaway | Couple, Circle of 8 |
| 16 | U turn back | Single dancer |
| 17 | Courtesy turn | Sex dependant |
| 18 | 2 ladies chain 1/2 and 3/4 | |
| 19 | 4 ladies chain 1/2, 3/4 | |
| 20 | Bend the line | |
| 21 | Couples circulate | Couples (may need Veer left to get to 2-faced line) |
| 22 | Right and left thru | Facing Couples Restriction: B/G |
| 23 | Star thru | Sex dependant |
| 24 | First couple R/L, Next R/L | Completed DPT |
| 25 | California Twirl |
With this set of calls it is possible to move the dancers through several formations and also there is a lot of singing call material possible.
It should also be possible to modify the SSD Workbook to this level and provide starting Callers with a set of Sequences and Singing Calls that they can easily learn. So this may attract new callers as well.
What comes after the Starter-program
When the Starter-Program completes and they have their diploma we ask them to come back the following weeks. We will have fun with them just using what they have learned as long as they like.
We may mention there are 100ths of calls waiting for them to be explored. They may drop out a few weeks and rejoin when we do another Starter-Program or if we have others still maintaining the starter-level.
I’m pretty sure after a while the dancers will ask about “more” and the caller may offer them the next set of calls. For this purpose I have grouped the Calls in Blocks that would give the dancers certain new aspects of Square Dancing. But a Caller may divide the Blocks into several groups just selecting a few calls out of it. Again it would only be a few weeks until they have accomplished these new calls and from now on they dance that level. Again they can stay or move on to the next level.
This process can continue until the DANCERS decide “This is enough – we will stay here!”
Those that are not intending to travel or visit other clubs; those that just want some entertainment once a week – They will stop after a while to ask for more and will be satisfied doing Square Dance whenever they feel they would like to. They can drop out and rejoin as their private live allows them. This is what is required in our modern world that has so many challenges to the individual.
Others may see that most open dances/festivals etc. are announced around the MS Blocks and they will ask to be brought up to that level. Some may even want to embrace ALL Calls on the combined list becoming what before were PLUS dancers. Everything is fine as long as it is a vote of the dancers to continue. Before letting dancers move on the callers should make sure that they have really mastered the previous blocks. Otherwise some reteach would be necessary.
And again: The important thing is that not the callers force them into something where their success rate is falling apart. (Like the Peter principle: You are promoted until you have reached your level of incompetance :-)). It must be the dancers asking for more.
New callers can grow with their dancers gradually. After they manage the Starter-Program they do only have to concentrate on few new Calls and options. By and by they will get more and more experience. So my hope would be that new square dance groups will evolve including new callers.
How to announce Square dance events
Every dance will no longer be announced as Basic, Mainstream, SSD or PLUS. Instead the announcmnent would be “Start PLUS Call XX”. If the Blocks are accepted the announcement could also name the Blocks used.
There would be no more Mainstream or SSD or Plus clubs. Just Square Dancers knowing a certain number of calls.
This would apply to anything with the label MWSD:
– Club nights
– Specials
– Conventions
– Demonstrations
This would be much more flexible in determining the expected crowd.
Impact on existing dancers
- As already today and in the past it will require some willingness of the existing dancers to angel for the new dancers as they climb the number of calls. If the majority of a group decides to stop and no longer continue they need to find other venues or go with the majority. If there are not enough dancers supporting the education of new dancers it would be necessary to grow the NEWBIES outside the existing community – meaning callers (hopefully new callers) will form new groups.
- PLUS dancers should have no problems. They can continue as today – BUT see 1.
- Mainstream Dancers should have no problems – No change to today – BUT see 1.
- SSD dancers should have little problems. Maybe some alignment of the lists (=teaching order) may be necessary. But if they really consider the SSD level as their destination level – no big changes required.
If this works out there will be a more heterogen dancer population. We could cater for the casual dancer as well as for those that want to climb the levels.
Starting from the A1/A2 level I think this is the approach anyway. You continue learning new calls that get more and more complicated, introduce new formations and concepts. They will not be affected at all. However if THE PROPOSAL is accepted there will be less people climbing up the ladder because there is a big gap between the entry program and the Plus program. This would mean less dancers in the A-C programs as well – maybe over time to an extent that these groups will die.