Be a Better Dancer/ MCASD 

How to Make Lines During a Patter Call Breakdown 

You're dancing along to a patter call. Suddenly your square breaks down hopelessly. All is lost! Or is it? This is the time for On-the-Spot Square Boss to step up and say to fellow dancers in the square, 'We're down! Let's make lines."  
Here are the steps to make lines at the side -- the fastest way for a square to get back in the dance, according to CALLERLAB: 

  • Step 1: All go home

  • Step 2: Heads slide to the right to make lines at the side position 

  • Step 3: Wait for the caller to notice your square is down. The caller will then organize all the squares to be in lines. When the caller says, 'you've got lines!' - your square can start dancing again. Ta-da! 

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How to recover during a singing call breakdown

You’re dancing along to a singing call. Suddenly your square goes to pieces. All is lost! Or is it? This ois the time for On-the-Spot Square Boss to step up an say to fellow dancers in the square, “We’re down! Go home!”

Here’s what to do, step by step, during a singing call breakdown.

  • Step 1: Men go home

  • Step 2: Women - either go to your next spot in the progression, OR, go to any open spot next to a Man.

  • Step 3: Wait for the caller to complete that sequence of the call and get everyone home again, then resume dancing. Your square may not resolve, but who cares? You kept on dancing and that’s what counts.