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All 4 Couples Right & Left Thru: From a Squared Set. EN: 50 Without turning, Pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 60 Right Pull By with the dancer you're facing. EN: 70 Without turning, Pass next dancer left-shoulders; EN: 80 Courtesy Turn with your original Partner. EN: 90 Ends in a Squared Set with everyone facing in. EN: 100   before All 4 Couples Right & Left Thru         after Pass corner right-shoulders EN: 110   after Right Pull By   after Pass next dancer left-shoulders EN: 120   after Courtesy Turn (done)

1. A set of traffic patterns on how to dance calls; and EN: 140
2. A rule of where to end if the ending formation for the call is a 2x2. EN: 150

• The given call usually involves interaction across the set with the opposite dancer (e.g., a Pass Thru, Pull By, or Step To A Wave). EN: 170
• Dancers execute the given call, usually moving around the outside of the set. EN: 180
• The traffic pattern of All 4 Couples is accomplished by a modified 'Weave the Ring'-action. See the section below entitled "Which shoulder do I pass with dancers from the other group of 4?". EN: 190
• Some definitions of All 4 Couples use a phrase such as 'Face Your Corner and Pass Thru' when describing how to start the call. This implies that you turn 45° to face the corner, Pass Thru, then continue to do the call. We believe it is preferable in most cases not to turn, but instead, pass by dancers from the other group of 4 turning only if you would turn when doing the normal version of the call. That is, for calls such as Pass Thru or Right & Left Thru, start the call by passing the corner without changing your facing direction (that is, "without turning"). EN: 200
• All 4 Couples can also be done while all eight dancers are circling left. In this case, assume normal Couples (Boys are Beaus, and Girls are Belles) and do the given call. EN: 210

• If the given call ends in a 2x2, then All 4 Couples ends in a generalized Squared Set with adjacent dancers holding hands. That is, everyone ends as if they were Ends of Columns. EN: 230
• If the given call ends in a Diamond or a 1x4 (e.g., All 4 Couples Pass The Ocean), then All 4 Couples ends in a generalized Thar formation. EN: 240

As a general rule, pass alternating shoulders with dancers from the other group of 4, using a 'Weave The Ring'-action. For example, on All 4 Couples Right & Left Thru, pass right-shoulders with the first dancer, then pass left-shoulders with the third dancer. However, there are cases where strict alternation doesn't feel right, so we prefer to refine this general rule as follows: EN: 260

• When starting from a Squared Set, pass right-shoulders with the first dancer. For example: EN: 270
  • All 4 Couples Touch 1/4: Pass right-shoulders with corner, then Touch 1/4. EN: 280
  • All 4 Couples Left Touch 1/4: Pass right-shoulders with corner, then Left Touch 1/4. EN: 290
• After starting the call, pass dancers from the other group of 4 via the shoulder that feels best for a 'Weave The Ring'-action. That is, if you just passed right-shoulders with a dancer from your group of 4, pass left-shoulders with the next dancer from the other group of 4, and vice-versa. This only applies when you are passing dancers around the outside of the set. It does not apply if the traffic pattern clearly involves inside and outside dancers (for example, when inside dancers are in a Center Star). EN: 300
  • From a R-H Thar, on an All 4 Couples (or All 8) Turn Thru, pass left-shoulders with the next dancer (since you just did a Right Turn Thru); EN: 310
  • From a L-H Thar, on an All 4 Couples Left Turn Thru, pass right-shoulders with the next dancer (since you just did a Left Turn Thru). EN: 320
• The handedness of the Pull By or Pass Thru with the previous dancer in your group of 4 determines which shoulder to pass with the next dancer from the other group of 4. Pass the other shoulder, since you are dancing a 'Weave The Ring'-action. EN: 330
• Follow the above rules as best you can, but be aware that there are situations where it is unclear as to which shoulder to pass (e.g., All 4 Couples Box the Gnat -- pass right-shoulders with corner, Box the Gnat with opposite, then back up into a Squared Set formation passing which shoulder???). In such a situation, move to your ending position as smoothly as possible, and avoid colliding with other dancers. EN: 340

All 4 Couples Pass Thru: From a Squared Set. EN: 360 Without turning, pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 370 Pass Thru with the dancer that you were originally facing across the set. EN: 380 You're not finished, because you're not 'Ends of Columns'. You must now do another 'Weave the Ring' action. Without turning, Pass next dancer left-shoulders. You should now be a Couple with the dancer who was your partner at the beginning of the call. EN: 390 Ends in a Squared Set with everyone facing out. EN: 400       WRONG     RIGHT       before All 4 Couples Pass Thru   (a possible ending formation?) Although the 'Pass Thru' has been completed, ending here is not correct because dancers are not 'Ends of Columns'. EN: 430   (done) Ending here is correct. Adjacent dancers are holding hands, as if they were Ends of Columns. EN: 440

Sample Traffic Patterns: EN: 450

All 4 Couples Touch 1/4:

From a Squared Set. EN: 460

1. Without turning, pass corner right-shoulders to end in their starting position; EN: 470
2. Touch 1/4 with the dancer you're facing. This should be the dancer that you were originally facing across the set. EN: 480

Ends in a Squared Set with everyone holding right-hands. EN: 490

All 4 Couples 1/4 In:

From a Squared Set. EN: 500

1. Without turning, pass corner right-shoulders. EN: 510
2. 1/4 In.

Ends in a Squared Set. EN: 520

All 4 Couples Turn Thru:

From a Squared Set. EN: 530

1. Without turning, Pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 540
2. Turn Thru with the dancer you're facing. EN: 550
3. Without turning, Pass next dancer left-shoulders. EN: 560

Ends in a Squared Set with everyone facing out. EN: 570

All 4 Couples Pass The Ocean:

From a Squared Set. EN: 580

1. Without turning, pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 590
2. Pass Thru;
3. Without turning, pass next dancer left-shoulders; EN: 600
4. 1/4 In and Step To A Right-Hand Wave. EN: 610

Ends in a R-H Thar. EN: 620

All 4 Couples Double Star Thru:

From a Squared Set, normal couples. EN: 630

1. Without turning, pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 640
2. Star Thru with original opposite dancer. Note that although the Girl uses the left-hand for the Star Thru, she actually passes right-shoulders with the Boy when going under the arch; EN: 650
3. Pass left-shoulders with the next dancer (since you just passed right-shoulders for the Star Thru); EN: 660
4. Meet the next dancer for a Mirror Star Thru. EN: 670

Ends in a Squared Set, facing out, everyone half-sashayed. EN: 680

All 4 Couples Spin The Top:

From a Squared Set. EN: 690

1. Without turning, Pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 700
2. Right Arm Turn 1/2;
3. Centers Left-Hand Star 3/4 as Outsides move up 1/4 of a circle around the outside. EN: 710

Ends in a R-H Thar. EN: 720

All 4 Couples Square Chain Thru:

All 4 Couples Square Chain Thru is probably the hardest instance of the All 4 Couples CONCEPT that you will encounter at A2. In fact, many years ago, it was explicitly on the C2 list.
From a Squared Set. EN: 730

1. Pass corner right-shoulders; EN: 740
2. Right Pull By with the dancer you're facing. EN: 750
3. Pass next dancer left-shoulders to end in their position, and 1/4 In. EN: 760
4. Left Arm Turn 1/2 with your original partner. EN: 770
5. Centers Right-Hand Star 1/2.
6. Left Turn Thru (Left Arm Turn 1/2 and Step Thru). EN: 780
7. Without turning, Pass next dancer right-shoulders. Note: this is one of those cases where some dancers may try to pass different shoulders. Do your best to get to your ending position without colliding with another dancer. EN: 790

Ends in a Squared Set with everyone facing out. EN: 800

All 4 Couples Do The Centers Part Of Load The Boat:

There are two ways this call could be danced: EN: 810

1. Piecewise, meaning each part of the call is done using the All 4 Couples CONCEPT. That is, do an All 4 Couples Pass Thru, then All 4 Couples 1/4 Out, then All 4 Couples Partner Trade, then All 4 Couples Pass Thru. EN: 820
2. Blended, meaning some parts of the call are blended together into a smooth movement. That is, Pass corner right-shoulders to face your opposite, Pass Thru; 1/4 Out; Trade, then All 4 Couples Pass Thru. EN: 830

The Blended method is the preferred way to dance this call. EN: 840

See also All 8 CONCEPT [A2].

CALLERLAB definition for All 4 Couples / All 8 Concepts

Choreography for All 4 Couples Concept

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

A2: