For MWSD, most of us are familiar with 2-couple dancing. I want to show you a way to take all symmetric 2-couple dancing and make it work with 3 couples who star in a triangle. This is an offshoot of my Hexagon dancing. For now, see the section in that paper called "2-Couple Practice".
John Charmin has been working 3-couple squares and sent me some examples in 2005. Square up so that there are 2 heads and one side. If you can't do the call, you stand still. There are no phantoms. Here is an example:
Heads Square thru 4 Right and Left Thru Pass the Ocean, Others Hinge Grand Swing Thru 1 1/4 All Scoot Back All Circulate Centers Trade Boys Run Right and Left Thru Star Thru Home
A final type of 3-couple dancing encountered occasionally in the contra dance world are Ted's Triplets. These dances were inspired by 3-couple English country dance triplets, and are danced to contra dance tempo jigs and reels. Ted Sannella published 41 of these 3-couple dances and others have written more in the same style. They may appeal to certain MWSD groups.
One other one we use when we have one couple extra, but don't want to have them sit out is what we call 'Windmilling'.The extra couple starts standing behind one of the head couples, but is not involved in the dance. Each time the square is resolved and the dancers promenade home, the extra couple steps into the place of the couple they were behind. The displaced couple moves one spot counterclockwise to stand behind that couple and wait their turn to return to the square. This way, everyone rotates in and out, and dancers change from heads to sides as they go.
In traditional squares there is a popular 5-couple dance which is suitable for MWSD -- Levi Jackson Rag. You can find instructions for it here.
What is important about Bob's presentation is the great variety he gets without having to teach a lot of rules or make the dancing complicated. Also of interest is how he manages the choreography so he is able to find corners seemingly without effort.
Rectangle not hexagon
Head Couples in a line of four.
Sides normal.
Heads Square Thru — ends in 3 corner Boxes (Box 1-6).
Sides lead right and circle to a line ends in 1p2p3p line.
Why dance 6 Couple Squares?
No
Is it boring?
No
Most popular sequences work the same. Except for timing on the promenade it is almost identical. CRaMS is great because most modules that work in a square work here with no change.
Examples:
Box 1-6 Swing Thru, Acey Deucey, Boys Run, Bend the Line = 1p2p3p Spin Chain Thru, Girls Circulate Twice, Boys Run, Bend the Line = 1p2p3p Spin Chain the Gears is a zero (and reverse rotates 1 position). Eight Chain 6 is a zero (rotates square 1/2) Relay the Deucey (modified) is a zero 1p2p3p touch 1/4, Column Circulate, Boys Run = Box 1-6 Touch 1/4, Coordinate (modified), Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru, Slide Thru = Box 1-6 Sides Lead Right Circle To A Line = 1p2p3p Cool Setup Sides (Single Couple) Reverse Flutterwheeel and Back away Heads Pass Thru All Step Ahead Sides Star Thru Heads Wheel and Deal Triple Pass Thru First Couple Left Next go right Third Couple Partner Trade All Right and Left Thru = 1p2p3p A Line Zero Pass Thru Center Couple Partner Trade Others Wheel and Deal Behind Them Very Center Couple Zoom back 2 Triple Pass Thru First Couple Left Next go right Third Couple Partner Trade = 1p2p3p Lines Pass Thru Half Tag Rights Cast Off 3/4 Left Hands Trade Boys Run If You Can (end Couples) Square Thru 3/4 All Chase Right Boys Run Zero Sides Lead Right Circle to a Line Heads LeadRight (3 Boxes) Circle to a Line (Centers have a 2-faced line) Those Who Can Right and Left Thru and Pass Thru Those Who Can Right and Left Thru and Pass Thru Bend the Line (1p2p3p) or Wheel and Deal Triple Pass Thru * First Couple Left Next go right Third Couple Partner Trade All Right and Left Thru = 1p2p3p *Centers In Cast Off 3/4 Star Thru repeat zero Track 3 Swing Thru Boys Run Bend The Line Right and Left Thru = 1p2p3p Lines Pass Thru Tag the Line In Pass Thru Tag the Line In Zero (zero) Pass Thru Tag the Line In Box The Gnat Right and Left Thru Pass Thru Tag the Line In Box The Gnat Right and Left Thru zero Pass Thru 3x3 Bend The Line Pass Thru 3x3 Bend The Line Zero Pass Thru 3x3 Wheel and Deal Double Pass Thru Leads Turn Back Touch 1/4 Split Circulate Boys Run Those Who Can Right and Left Thru and Pass Thru Those Who Can Right and Left Thru and Pass Thru Bend the Line Right and Left Thru (zero rotates square 1/2)rules for relay the deucey, Ferris Wheel, Grand Ferris Wheel
Variations on Grand Square Individual Heads work as Couples Grand Slide might be a good novelty Tea Cup Chain many posibilities favorite Heads Right and Left Thru Pass Thru Wheel and Deal and Spread Head Girls work as couples Head Ladies Center for a Teacup Chain Heads Square Thru 4 Right Hand Star Star Left in the Middle Back to the Corner Sides Square Thru 6 hand Star Back to the middle 4 hand Star Centers Split the outside line Separate Artound 2 All Single Circle to a Slide Thru = Zero Box Thoughts Sides Promenade 1/2 while the heads load the boat Heads Square Thru 3/4 = Corner Box? Heads Pass Thru Tag The Line In Sides Star Thru and Spread (lines of 3, call some zeros) Pass Thru 3x3 Wheel and Deal Double Pass Thru First 3 left Next go right Line of 6 Ends Load the Boat Centers Pass Thru Tag the Line In You're Home!! Heads Pass Thru Bend The Line Right and Left Thru As Couples Spread Pass Thru Partner Trade End Couples do the ends part Load the Boat Centers Right and Left Thru, back away You're home!! Heads Square Thru Single Circle to a Wave Acey Deucey Boys Run Ferris Wheel Outsides Right and Left Thru Centers Touch 1/4 Center Girls Trade Centers Pass Thru Wheel and Deal and Spread Outsides Right and Left Thru Centers Star Thru Triple Pass Thru Cloverleaf Triple Pass Thru Cloverleaf Dixie Grand Left Allemande Heads Square Thru Pass Thru Trade By Box the Gnat Pass Thru Right and Left Grand On the third hand Bow to the Partner Heads Square Thru Eight Chain 2 Pass Thru Trade By Box the Gnat Pass Thru Right and Left Grand On the fifth hand Bow to the Partner Heads Pass Thru All Step Ahead Sides Right and Left Thru and Star Thru Heads Wheel and Deal Triple Pass Thru First Couple Cloverleaf Second Go Left Third Go Right You're Home Six Ladies Chain 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 5/6 Six Ladies Flutter Wheel (3rd man) Fun with Ping Pong Individual - Single Direction All six = Sometimes a crossed star in the middle Half as Couples Couples Cloverleaf Singing Calls How to structure 6 rotations