The most general case of Separate is described first. The two most common applications
are described in greater detail next.
Starting formation: Couple. The couple must be active or designated.
Command examples:
Heads Separate and Star Thru
Heads Pass Thru; Separate and behind the Sides Touch 1/4
Heads Pass Thru; Separate and come back home and Swing
Heads Star Thru; Double Pass Thru; Heads Separate and Star Thru
Heads Pass Thru; Separate go Around Two; Meet Your Partner and Dosado
Couple #1 Separate around the ring ... pass her once ... and pass her again;
Allemande the corner
Heads Pass The Ocean and Swing Thru, Others Separate and Everybody Right and Left Thru
Dance action:
Case 1: The active or designated couple is on Squared Set spots
The dancers turn back-to-back and start walking forward in opposite directions around
the outside of the square away from each other until they meet another dancer.
The call ends here unless further instructions are given (e.g., "and come back home").
Case 2: The active or designated couple is in the center facing out of the square
(e.g., after Heads Slide Thru, Square Thru 2)
The couple steps forward and then performs the Separate action described above.
Ending formation: Facing dancers on the outside of the set or determined by the next command
Timing: 2, or determined by the distance traveled around the outside
Styling: Those not active move into the center to get out of the way of the actives.
Men's arms in natural dance position; woman's skirt work optional.
Comments: While Separate is usually followed with instructions for walking
around some number of inactive dancers, the active dancers can also be directed to perform
some other action (e.g., Separate, walk around the outside passing 2 dancers and Star Thru
with the third).
From a squared set, calling "Heads Square Thru 2; Heads Separate, ..." would be
improper because the heads are initially facing the sides and when they start
in the center they must be facing out of the square rather than facing other dancers.
