Folk & Square Dance Terminology

Sashay

Originally, this was a short, sideways, sliding step. Today, it is performed very much like a do-si-do, with the dancers facing the center of the set.

Allemande Right

Partners face and take right hands. Walk around each other to own position.

Grand Right and Left

Partners face and take right hands. Walk by each other and take left hands with the next person, right with the next, left the next, meet own partner (back to home position).

Do-si-do

Partners or those designed by caller, face, walk around each other passing right and then left shoulders back to own position.

Honor

Partners, or those designated by caller, face. Ladies curtsy, gents bow.

Promenade

Partners, or those designed by caller, cross hands in skating position and walk counter-clockwise to position. Right arm should be over the left.

Swing

Partners, or those designed by the Caller, face. Gents take one step to the center. (If with corner, gents take one step to the left) and walk along side the lady. The outside of the right feet should touch the start. The left foot is about six inches to the side with the toe of the left foot in line with the heel of the right. Take a regular dance arm position, leaning back just a bit so as to obtain leverage. With slight pivot step on the ball of the right foot keep shoving around on the left as if on a scooter.

Elbow swing

To walk around the designated person by hooking the right or left elbows.

Circle Left

All those designated by caller, join hands and walk to the left until next call.

Circle Right

All those designed by caller, join hands and walk to the right until next call.

Home

The dancers' original starting positions.

Corner

Lady on Gent's left, gents on lady's right.

Partner

Lady on Gent's right, gents on lady's left.

All in the Center

All join hands in the set and walk three steps to the center, honor, and walk backwards to place

Allemande Left

Corners face and take left hands. Walk around each other position.

Star by the Right

Couples or those designated by the Caller, walk to each other and join right hand in a star formation and walk in the direction they are facing (clockwise).

Forward and Back

Couples, or those designated by caller, walk three forward, honor, retire to position

Sets (Square)

Each couple having their backs to one of the four walls. Couples with their backs to the caller or record player are couple #1, couple on couple one's right are #2. Facing couple one's position is couples #3. Facing couple two's position is couple #4. Couples two and four are side couples. Distance between facing couples; about six feet.

Back to back

Ladies and gents turn back to back

Cross Over

Ladies designated by Caller, walk pass partner directly opposite each other in route to the other person position.

Ladies Chain

Ladies designated by caller, walk to each other take right hands. Pass by, dropping hand, ad give left hands to that lady's partner in his left hand. Gents place their arm around the Lad's waist and turns her counter clockwise to face the other couple. Ladies chain back the same way.

Forward & Pass By

Three walk forward and pass opposite by right shoulder.