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Specialty Squares - Exploding Squares

Exploding Squares consists of 4 squares in a 2x2 grid (see pictures below).

To do Exploding Squares within CSDS, from the CSDS Main Menu, select 'Specialty | Exploding'.

The caller moves dancers between squares, moves 8 dancers into an inner square and does a few calls, then moves those dancers back to their original squares.

Dancers are moved as follows:

  1. The caller calls until couples at the Head position or Side position (or both) are facing out. (e.g., after Heads or Sides Square Thru 3; or after All Four Couples Pass Thru).
     
  2. The caller calls Move On.
    Dancers facing towards another square move forward to face the next couple as the out-facing dancers California Twirl to face back in. This results in four inside boxes of 4, and the other 8 couples facing in.
     
  3. The caller calls to the inside four boxes until dancers are back-to-back, 90° from their original facing directions (e.g., after a Square Thru, or a Star Thru + Pass Thru). At this point, two dancers in each box are facing the center of the hall, and the other two dancers are facing out.
     
  4. The caller calls Move On.
    In-facing dancers walk forward to form a single square in the center of the hall, as the out-facing dancers step forward and California Twirl to face back in.
     
  5. The caller calls to the inner square, as the other 12 couples watch.
     
  6. The caller then reverses the process. Dancers in the inner square are maneuvered to be in a squared set facing out.
     
  7. The caller calls Move On.
    The dancers in the inner square walk forward as the outside dancers facing them also walk forward to form four inside boxes.
     
  8. The caller calls to the inside four boxes until those dancers are back-to-back, 90° from their original facing directions (e.g., after a Square Thru, or a Star Thru + Pass Thru).
     
  9. The caller calls Move On.
    All dancers walk forward, as necessary to form four complete squares.
     
  10. If the caller has successfully maneuvered dancers back to their original squares, a getout may be called.
     

Sample Sequence

(2 Man and 3 Lady to innner square)

Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Square Thru 4
Move On
Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Star Thru
Pass Thru
Move On
Allemande Left

Starting position:

After
Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead:

After Move On:

Active dancers shown with white background.

After Square Thru 4:

Active dancers shown with white background.

After Move On:

Active dancers shown with white background.

After
Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead:

Active dancers shown with white background.

After Move On:

Active dancers shown with white background.

After
Star Thru
Pass Thru:

Active dancers shown with white background.

After Move On:

After Allemande Left:

Other Sequences:

  (3 Man and 2 Lady to inner square)

  Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Move On
  Star Thru
  Pass Thru
  Move On>
  Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Move On
  Square Thru 4
  Move On
  Allemande Left
  (4 Man and 1 Lady to inner square)

  Heads Pass Thru & Step Ahead
  Sides Pass Thru & Step Ahead
  Move On
  Square Thru 4
  Move On
  Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Move On
  Star Thru
  Pass Thru
  Move On
  Allemande Left
  (1 Man and 4 Lady to inner square)

  Heads Pass Thru & Step Ahead
  Sides Pass Thru & Step Ahead
  Move On
  Star Thru
  Pass Thru
  Move On
  Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
  Move On
  Square Thru 4
  Move On
  Allemande Left

Additional notes:

  • Keep sequences short for the inner square, as the other 12 couples are doing nothing other than watching.
     
  • To make it easier to resolve, when in the inner square, always do an equivalent of a Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead + Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead. This places everyone from the inner square back to their original four boxes of 4.
     
  • As with any gimmick, don't over do it.

last modified: 30-May-2024   Unique ID: 718

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