Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts -- Load The Boat [Plus]

before
Load The Boat

after
Centers Pass Thru
as

Ends Pass 1st dancer EN: 70

(1/4)

after
Centers Face Out
as

Ends Pass 2nd dancer EN: 80

(1/2)

after
Centers Partner Trade
as

Ends Pass 3rd dancer EN: 90

(3/4)

after
Centers Pass Thru
as Ends Face In
(done)

Load The Boat [Plus]
(Holman Hudspeth 1966)

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From Facing Lines or other applicable formations. EN: 10

Centers: 1. Pass Thru;; 2. Face Out

(turn 1/4 in place away from the center of the set); EN: 20; 3. Partner Trade;; 4. Pass Thru.
Ends: Walk forward (using Circulates) to Pass 3 dancers (right-shoulders) and immediately after passing the third dancer EN: 30; Face In

(turn 1/4 in place towards the center of the set). EN: 40

Facing Lines end in an Eight Chain Thru. EN: 50

Load The Boat is a 4-part call. EN: 60

From Facing Lines:

From Inverted Lines:

Notes:

The caller may have just the Ends or just the Centers do the call. For example, EN: 130
- Just the Centers Load The Boat EN: 140
- Ends (only) Load The Boat while Centers do something else EN: 150
When the starting formation is other than Facing Lines, don't necessarily expect to end facing someone at the completion of the call (i.e., the ending formation could be T-Bone). EN: 160
The Ends can not start in Columns. That is, Load The Boat can not be done from formations such as a starting Double Pass Thru. EN: 170
Normally Load The Boat is done without touching hands. However, when learning the call or dancing with inexperienced dancers, it often helps if the Centers touch hands after each part, especially after the Face Out. EN: 180
The Ocean Wave rule applies to Load The Boat. For instance, Load The Boat can be done from a R-H Wave of 8. EN: 190
Hint for the Centers: After the Face Out, lightly touch hands with your new Partner (this makes your new partner aware of you and helps to orient them!) before doing the Partner Trade. EN: 200

Variations:

Load The Boat, Centers To A Wave: Load The Boat, but Centers go 7/8 (i.e., Pass Thru, Face Out, Partner Trade, and 1/2 Pass Thru (i.e., Step To A Wave)). EN: 210

Load The Boat But (Centers) anything [NOL]:

Centers replace the final Pass Thru with the anything call. EN: 220

anything The Boat [C4]:

Do the anything call; Finish Load The Boat (i.e., do the last 3/4 of Load The Boat: Centers Face Out, Partner Trade, and Pass Thru as the Ends Pass 2 dancers right-shoulders and Face In). EN: 358

CALLERLAB definition for Load The Boat

Choreography for Load The Boat

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