11.b. Rollaway
Starting formations: Couple, Infacing Circle Of 8
Command examples:
Rollaway
4 Ladies Rollaway
Heads Rollaway
Circle Left; Rollaway; Circle Left
Veer Right; Ferris Wheel; Centers Rollaway
Roll The Girl Away
Boys Roll That Girl Away
Heads Lead Right; Veer Left; Bend The Line; Roll The Boys Away (uncommon)
Sides Promenade 1/2; Heads Chain Those Ladies Across, Turn That Gal; Roll Her Away
Dance action: From a couple, the dancer on the right (or the directed dancer) "rolls" across in front of the
other dancer, turning a full 360 degrees to end on the other side, as the other dancer steps back and
then forward, adjusting sideways as necessary, to move smoothly into the vacated position. At the
completion of the call, the dancers have exchanged positions.
From an Infacing Circle Of 8 of alternating men and women, unless otherwise directed, the women roll
left across and in front of the men.
Ending formations: Couple, Infacing Circle Of 8
Timing: 4
Styling: For the purposes of this styling, assume a normal couple and that the woman is being rolled away.
Hands held in normal couple handhold maintaining good arm tension and connection throughout.
From a couple, the man steps back on slight right diagonal as the woman folds to face him. Continuing
the momentum they change hands. He steps forward to his right and she finishes her dance action.
When the preceding dance action is a Courtesy Turn, the hand connection is slightly different. Dancers
already have left hands joined in front. This connection is maintained throughout most of the Rollaway.
Near the end, the lady lets go with her left hand and joins her right hand with the man's left hand.
From a circle in motion, the man interrupts the circling action by stepping back and then forward,
while the woman uses the momentum of the circle to accomplish the roll-across action.
Dancers who are doing the vine step footwork while circling should perform the Rollaway as they are
starting to turn toward each other. Callers should deliver the call to accomplish this timing.
Comments: In the past, "Rollaway" has also been called "Rollaway With A Half Sashay". This is improper
language and should not be used.
The command "Rollaway Once and a Half" is proper and sees occasional use. It ends in Facing Dancers.
See the section "Part 4: Additional Detail: Fractions".
