alexseanchai: Katsuki Yuuri wearing a blue jacket and his glasses and holding a poodle, in front of the asexual pride flag with a rainbow heart inset. (Default)
let me hear your voice tonight ([personal profile] alexseanchai) wrote2012-01-06 07:41 pm

Fandom Snowflake Challenge Day 5

In your own space, share something non-fannish you are passionate about with your fannish friends. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

Oh good, you weren't scared off by the mention in the cut text of square dancing. Good. Very good.

Get up from the computer. Find a big open space. I don't care if you're a wheelchair user, I don't care if you're a screenreader user. If you have mobility and a big empty space, you can do this.

Imagine you're standing, or better, actually stand, next to someone. That's your partner. Gentleman on the left, lady on the right; same-sex couples are okay, genderqueer folks are okay, but gender roles are important in square dancing (yeah, it sucks), so pick one.

Across from the pair of you is another couple. There are two more couples forming the other sides of the square. The person catty-corner to you is your corner. Say hi to your corner.

Everybody join hands. Circle left. Now circle right.

You're square dancing! Two calls down. Easy, right?

Shake left hands with your corner. Slide your hand up till it's a forearm grip. Walk in a half circle until you're facing your partner. That's an allemande left. Face your corner and allemande left.

Facing your partner? Good. Note the direction in which you're facing. You will continue to face that direction throughout the call. Step forward and to the left so that you and your partner are standing right shoulder to right shoulder. Step forward and to the right so that you and your partner are back to back. Step backward and to the right so that you and your partner are standing left shoulder to left shoulder. Step backward and to the left so that you and your partner are face to face. That's a do-si-do; I hear the name is from the French for 'back to back'. Do-si-do your partner. Face your corner; do-si-do your corner. Left allemande your corner.

Shake right hands with your partner. Step forward, passing your partner and dropping hands as you pass. Shake left hands with the next person. Pull by. Shake right with the next. Pull by. Shake left with your corner. Pull by. That's a right and left grand. Do-si-do your partner. Right and left grand.

Your square broke down, didn't it? That's because you're dancing with seven ghosts. It's more fun with real live people. Google the square dance club nearest you—if you live near Chestertown, Maryland, it's the Pepper Steppers and we dance second Saturdays eight to ten-thirty in the basement of First United Methodist on Mill St, and while we're midway through lessons for the year and won't have a new class till like September, we'd love to have you at the dances, and our usual caller is delighted to do beginner tips.

Come have fun with us!
highlyeccentric: Sign on Little Queen St - One Way both directions (Default)

[personal profile] highlyeccentric 2012-01-07 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
*envies*
highlyeccentric: Sign on Little Queen St - One Way both directions (Default)

[personal profile] highlyeccentric 2012-01-07 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
Oh sure, although my preference would probably be Scottish Country Dancing. Matter of ~time~ though.
andeincascade: (Default)

[personal profile] andeincascade 2012-01-07 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
I ADORE square dancing! The most fun!
cantarina: donna noble in a paper crown, looking thoughtful (Default)

[personal profile] cantarina 2012-01-07 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
I have a friend from the Canadian prairies who taught us a little bit of a square dance. The only word I have for it is AWESOME. Frankly, if it's dancing, I find it hard to go wrong :)