Resolve the Square At Home - Facing lines - Background

This web page provides background for the Resolving the Square At Home Game.

In the first picture you are shown one of the 32 possible positions of the head couple when they are in Normal Lines. You are asked to select a call sequence so that the head couple is partnered. There are of course many call sequences which accomplish this but we are trying to make this simple so we have selected 4 sequences to use in the game. So under the first picture you are shown 3 of the 4 sequences in a random order and you must select one. We randomize the choices so that you will learn the calls and not just where in a list of 4 the correct sequence is. The goal is to identify the locations of the head couple and on instinct call the proper sequence.

The 4 sequences are:

1. Done. The number one couple is already paired.

2. L-Ch. Used when the head man and lady are facing.

3. P,Bend,L-Ch. Used when the head man and lady are in the same line. This sequence provides a better flow than just bend the line, Ladies Chain, in most situations.

4. L-Chain,P,Bend,L-Ch. This sequence is used every time the head man and lady are diagonal from each other.

The 32 positions and the call sequence for each is shown below, notice the pattern, you are looking for the positions of the two people in the head couple and their relation to each other.
image
Done
image
L-Ch
image
P,Bend,L-Ch
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L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
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Done
image
L-Ch
image
P,Bend,L-Ch
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L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
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Done
image
L-Ch
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P,Bend,L-Ch
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L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
image
Done
image
L-Ch
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P,Bend,L-Ch
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L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
image
Done
image
L-Ch
image
P,Bend,L-Ch
image
L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
image
Done
image
L-Ch
image
P,Bend,L-Ch
image
L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
image
Done
image
L-Ch
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P,Bend,L-Ch
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L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch
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Done
image
L-Ch
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P,Bend,L-Ch
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L-Ch,P,Bend,L-Ch

Once the task of pairing the head couple is accomplished you want to dance the head couple into the head position. Again there are many sequences that do this but we use only 8. Thus you are shown 3 of the 8 sequences in a random order and only one is correct. The 8 paired positions are shown below with the call sequence used to move the head couple into the head position.

image P,Bend,P,WhlDl image P,Bend,P,WhlDl,Zoom image PO,SwThru,BTr,BR,FerWhl image PO,Recy,DiveThru
image R&LTh,P,WhlDl image R&LTh,P,WhlDl,Zoom image
P,WhlDl
image P,WhlDl,Zoom

Once the head couple (and symetrically) the foot couple are in position you only need to resolve one couple of the center 4 dancers (we have chosen couple 4). Because of the calls we used in the previous section we have the center dancers facing when we start and there are only four combinations. Thus there are 4 call sequences we use to resolve the centers. We start each call sequence with the call Slide Thru (or Star Thru) so that you can have a moment to determine which other calls (if any) you must use. The four combinations and the appropriate call sequence are shown below.

image Slide,R&L Thru image Slide,RevFlutter image Slide,Flutter image Slide

In summary, to resolve a square at home from normal lines you need to: 1) select one of 4 call sequences to pair the head couple; 2) select one of 8 call sequences to move couple 1 (and 3) to home; 3) select one of 4 call sequences to resolve couple 4 to home. Note: You can use similar call sequences to resolve couple 2, 3 or 4 to their home and then resolve the centers as above. Also you can stir the bucket by resolving the head couple to the number 2 slot and couple 4 to the number 1 position. Using this method you only concentrate on one key couple at a time (although you must remember two) and you can use color coding or similar characteristics to pair them and remember their home position. If you are color coding make sure the colors are unique in the square.


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(07/19/19)