Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts -- Rotate [C1,C2,C3B]

Rotate [C1,C2,C3B]
(Jim Davis)

C1: C2: C3B:

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Rotates (Rotate, Reverse Rotate, Single Rotate, and Reverse Single Rotate) are listed on different challenge lists according to the starting formation.

At C1,: Rotates can only be called from a Generalized Squared Set, or from similar formations (e.g., from Columns, the Ends only).
At C2,: Rotates can also be called from Parallel Lines or from a 2 x 2 (e.g., In Your Block Single Rotate 1/4).
At C3B,: Rotates can also be called from Columns.

Procedure for dancing Rotates:

Identify the center point of your setup.
The center point of your setup is the very center point of the square (commonly called the "flagpole center") except in the following cases:
1. If you are in a 2 x 4 formation and are in Lines, the center point is the Center of each Box (i.e., work Split). If you are in a 2 x 4 T-Bone, the center point for the Column dancers is the flagpole center, whereas the Line dancers are working Split.
2. If Rotate is preceded by the term Split, then divide your formation into two equal subformations. The center point is the Center of your subformation. From a 2 x 4, Split means to divide the setup into two 2 x 2s, not two 1 x 4s.
3. If Rotate is preceded by the name of a formation in which to work, the center point is the Center of that formation. For example, from Columns consider 'Each Column Single Rotate 1/4'. In this case, the center point is the Center of the 1 x 4 setup.

Turn 1/4 relative to that center point according to the following rules:

Rotate	As Couples 1/4 To Promenade
Reverse Rotate	As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade
Single Rotate	Individually 1/4 To Promenade
Reverse Single Rotate	Individually 1/4 To Reverse Promenade

1/4 To Promenade: Turn 1/4 so that your left shoulder is toward the Center of your formation.
1/4 To Reverse Promenade: Turn 1/4 so that your right shoulder is toward the Center of your formation.

Counter Rotate the given fraction around that center point.
From a Squared Set, active dancers work around the outside of the set. The inactive dancers should move into the center of the set.

When dancing Rotates, there are 3 things to listen for:

Single or not;

Reverse or not;

How far.

C1 Rotates (from Squared Set)

Rotate fraction [C1]: (Those designated) As Couples 1/4 To Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center.

Reverse Rotate fraction [C1]: (Those designated) As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center.

Single Rotate fraction [C1]: (Those designated) Individually 1/4 To Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center.

Reverse Single Rotate fraction [C1]: (Those designated) Individually 1/4 To Reverse Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center.

Notes:

Do not Face In or Bend The Line after a Rotate unless the caller explicitly tells you to do so.
Non-designated dancers move into the center of the set without changing their facing direction.

Rotate 1/4 (from Squared Set)


before Heads Rotate 1/4		after As Couples 1/4 To Promenade		after Counter Rotate 1/4 (done)

Single Rotate 1/2 (from Squared Set)


before Heads Single Rotate 1/2		after 1/4 To Promenade		after Counter Rotate 1/4		after Counter Rotate 1/4 (again) (done)

C2 Rotates (from Parallel Lines, or from a 2 x 2 but not from Columns):

Work in each Box of 4.

Rotate fraction[C2]: As Couples 1/4 To Promenade and (working in the resulting Line of 4) Counter Rotate the given fraction. This is the same as As Couples Zag-Zig; Lockit n times (where n is the number of quarters within the given fraction: n=1 for 1/4, n=2 for 1/2, n=3 for 3/4, etc.).

Reverse Rotate fraction [C2]: As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade and (working in the resulting Line of 4) Counter Rotate the given fraction. Same as As Couples Zig-Zag; Lockit n times (where n is the number of quarters within the given fraction).

Single Rotate fraction [C2]: Individually 1/4 To Promenade and Box Counter Rotate the given fraction. Same as Zag-Zig; Box|Split Counter Rotate the given fraction.

Reverse Single Rotate fraction[C2]: Individually 1/4 To Reverse Promenade and Box Counter Rotate the given fraction. Same as Zig-Zag; Box|Split Counter Rotate the given fraction.

Reverse Rotate 1/4 (from Parallel Lines):


before Reverse Rotate 1/4		after As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade		after Line of 4 Counter Rotate 1/4 (done)

Reverse Single Rotate 1/2 (from Parallel Lines):


before Reverse Single Rotate 1/2		after 1/4 To Reverse Promenade		after Split Counter Rotate 1/2 (done)

Cheat for Single Rotate 1/4 (from Lines):: Leaders Left-faced U-Turn Back; Belles Walk; Beaus Dodge.
Cheat for Reverse Single Rotate 1/4 (from Lines):: Leaders Right-faced U-Turn Back; Beaus Walk; Belles Dodge.

Be aware that there are many dancers who use these cheats. Also, experienced dancers often seem as if they are dancing this way (when they are Trailers they simply do some sort of Walk & Dodge movement). We believe it is okay to dance this way if you still think in your mind to 'turn 1/4 & Box Counter Rotate', so that you keep in mind that there is a flowing direction toward which you can Roll. Note that this cheat will not work if the fraction is 0/4. If the fraction is greater than 1/4 then use Box Counter Rotates for the rest of the call.

C3B Rotates (from Columns and other formations):

Rotate 1/4 (from Columns):


before Rotate 1/4		after As Couples 1/4 To Promenade		after Counter Rotate 1/4 (done)

Single Rotate 1/4 (from Columns):


before Single Rotate 1/4		after 1/4 To Promenade		after Counter Rotate 1/4 (done)

Single Rotate 1/4 (from a T-Bone 2 x 4):

In this example, the dancers work as if they are in Columns whereas the dancers work as if they are in Lines (i.e., work Split)


before Single Rotate 1/4		after Some work Split: all 1/4 To Promenade		Some work Split: all Counter Rotate 1/4 (done)

Split Single Rotate 1/4 (from Columns):


before Split Single Rotate 1/4		after Split 1/4 To Promenade		after Split Counter Rotate 1/4 (done)

Note: from Parallel Lines, Split Single Rotate is the same as Single Rotate.

CONTRAST THE FOLLOWING:

This is the starting formation
for each of the following:

after
Single Rotate 1/4

after
Diamond Single Rotate 1/4
( See Diamond anything Concept [C4])

This is the starting formation for each of the following:
after Single Rotate 1/4	after Split Single Rotate 1/4	after Split Split Single Rotate 1/4

Hints for dancing Rotates:

On Rotate or Single Rotate, turn 1/4 (As Couples or Individually) so that your Left-shoulder is toward the center of your setup.

On Reverse Rotate or Reverse Single Rotate, turn 1/4 (As Couples or Individually) so that your Right-shoulder is toward the center of your setup. ('Reverse' and 'Right' both begin with 'R'.)

Rotate means As Couples; Single Rotate means Individually.

If no fraction is given, then assume 1/4. In our opinion, the caller should always give a fraction.

The caller can give the fraction 0 (or 0/4), in which case just turn 1/4 and do not Counter Rotate at all.

Why is the Rotate FAMILY split across three levels? The answer is that the definition of Rotate is inconsistent, in the sense that the definition is formation-dependent. In our opinion, dancers should have one concise definition that can be applied to any legal starting formation. The C2-style Rotates are the culprits, and we believe these Rotates should have been named Split Rotate (instead of Rotate), and Split Single Rotate (instead of Single Rotate), so that there would be no conflict. Unfortunately, Rotates were not defined quite so cleanly.