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Grand Working direction anything is a precise way to state how to do the Grand version of a 4-dancer call. In the past, the Grand version of each call often had to be memorized, since there were slight differences that no single rule would cover.

In order to define Grand Working, we must first define what we mean by a pair. A pair is a set of 2 dancers such that:

1. The 2 dancers within the pair are physically adjacent.
2. Each dancer is a member of only one pair.
3. Pairs are constructed along the long axis of the formation. To obtain the pairs within a formation you need to draw imaginary lines perpendicular to the long axis of the formation, dividing the formation into sets of 2 dancers.

Perhaps another way of looking at a pair is that if the caller were to call a 2-dancer call (such as Partner Tag or Right Roll To A Wave) the paired dancers would (usually) be working with each other.

Examples of pairs:

But be careful: the following diagram does not show pairs as defined for this purpose, since the grouping violates above rule #3:

With this understanding of a pair in mind, we now look at Grand Working. For Grand Working, each dancer within the overall formation selects a 4-spot sub-formation in which to work. This 4-spot sub-formation consists of the 2 spots in the dancer's pair and the 2 spots in an adjacent pair, which is determined by the given direction.

Each dancer who is in an Outside pair works within the 2 spots in their pair and the 2 spots in the adjacent Center pair.

Each dancer who is in a Center pair works within the 4-spot sub-formation that includes the 2 spots in their pair, and the 2 spots occupied by the nearest pair of dancers that exist toward the given direction. Each of these dancers must individually determine in which 4-spot sub-formation they are to work. The determination is done relative to their own facing direction or to their own position within the overall formation.

When the overall formation is a 1 x {n}, the sub-formations consist of 1 x 4s; when the overall formation is a 2 x {n}, the sub-formations consist of 2 x 2s.

The given direction can be any of the following:

• Right, Left, Forward, or Backward:
• Each dancer who is in a Center pair works with the adjacent pair that is toward the given direction.
• As identifier, where identifier is Centers, Ends, Beaus, Belles, Leaders, or Trailers:
• Each dancer who is in a Center pair works with the spots in their pair and the spots in an adjacent pair such that they are a Center, an End, a Beau, a Belle, a Leader, or a Trailer, respectively, of the 4-spot sub-formation.
• Together or Apart:
• Together and Apart are primarily applicable only from a 1 x {n}.
• Together means that each dancer who is in a Center pair works with the adjacent pair that is physically closest to their spot.
• Apart means that each dancer who is in a Center pair works with the adjacent pair that is physically furthest from their spot.
• Clockwise or Counter Clockwise:
• Clockwise and Counter Clockwise are primarily applicable only from a 2 x{n}.
• To determine with which pair to work, imagine each Outside pair as a single dancer, and draw a single imaginary ellipse that goes through each of the dancers in the Center pairs and also through the Outside pairs (e.g., similar to the Circulate path from Columns). Each dancer who is in a Center pair works with the adjacent pair that is Clockwise or Counter Clockwise to them on that imaginary ellipse.
• In our opinion, Clockwise and Counter Clockwise are rather difficult aspects of Grand Working and should not be used at C3B.

• Dancers in the Outside pairs only have one sub-formation in which they can work: they must work with the spots in their pair and the spots occupied by the adjacent pair.
• Identify the spots that you are working with, not the dancers. Some of the dancers occupying your spots may be working within a different set of spots.
• After identifying the four spots, do the call as if you were working with those 3 dancers. Do not re-evaluate who you are working with during the call.
• In most cases, there are several ways to specify the same Grand Working call. For example, from a R-H Tidal Wave, Grand Working Right is the same as Grand Working As Ends. From Columns, Grand Working Forward is the same as Grand Working As Trailers. It is up to the caller's discretion to use an appropriate name.

  I use the following convention:

  • From a 2 x {n}, use Right, Left, Forward, Backward.
  • From a 1 x{n}, use As Centers or As Ends.

Grand Working (from a 1 x 8):

From a 1 x 8 formation, there are three 4-dancer sub-formations consisting of adjacent pairs:       sub-formation # 1   sub-formation # 2   sub-formation # 3

Grand Working As Centers (Together): Dancers , , and work within sub-formation # 1. Dancers and work within sub-formation # 2. Dancers , , and work within sub-formation # 3. Grand Working As Ends (Apart): Dancers , , and work within sub-formation # 1. Dancers and work within sub-formation # 2. Dancers , , and work within sub-formation # 3.

Grand Working As Centers | Ends (from a 1 x 8):   This is the starting formation for each of the following:     after Grand Working As Centers Lockit   after Grand Working As Ends Lockit

Grand Working As Centers | Ends (from a 1 x 6):   This is the starting formation for each of the following:     after Grand Working As Centers Step & Fold   after Grand Working As Ends Step & Fold

More examples:

before Grand Working Left Travel Thru   after

before Grand Working Right Wheel Thru   after

See also Triple formations Working direction CONCEPT [C3B].

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

C4: