Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts -- Tagging Calls

Excerpts from Appendix B in our book, the

Ceder Chest of C3. The material is copyrighted, so please treat it accordingly.

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The idea of a Tagging Call is a relatively recent development in challenge square dancing. Originally, there were simply a number of calls that seemed to be a variant on the theme of Tag The Line (where the caller could stop the tagging action at any of the fractional Tag formations: 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4), and several of these calls included the word 'Tag' in their name. Hence, we define a Tagging Call as a call wherein a part of the call (usually the last part) feels like a Double Pass Thru.

Tagging Calls:

Chase The (fraction) Tag [C3B] (Author unknown): From Back-to-Back Couples. Belles Right-face U-Turn Back as Beaus Fold; all Extend to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Circle The (fraction) Tag [C4] (Vic Ceder 1990): From Facing Couples. Circle Left 1/4; Beaus 1/2 Walk as Belles 1/2 Dodge (this is Circle The 1/4 Tag); Extend to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Cross Flip The Line (fraction) [C3B] (Ron Schneider 1973): From a Two-Faced Line. As one movement, Centers Cross Run and all Any Shoulder Tag The Line to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Cross Loop & (fraction) Tag [C3B] (Emanuel Duming 1972): From a Mini-Wave Box or Tandem Couples. Tandem Trade & Tandem Roll (Trail The Deal); Extend to the given fractional Tag position. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Dixie (fraction) Tag [C4] (Vic Ceder 2006): From Facing Couples or Single Double Pass Thru formation. From Facing Couples, put the Belle in the lead. Centers Right Pull By; all Left Touch (this is the 1/2 tag position); Extend to the given fractional tag position. If no fraction is given, complete a full tag the line. Dixie Tag starts like a Vertical Tag The Line, but finishes in a left-handed formation.

Double Pass Thru [Basic] (Madelline Allen 1956).

Flip The Line (fraction) [C1] (Jack Lasry 1973): From a Wave. As one movement, Centers Run and all Any Shoulder Tag The Line to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Invert The Column [C2] (Ed Foote & Russ McGowan 1974): The first n dancers (those corresponding to the given fraction. E.g., from Parallel Columns of 4, n=1 for 1/4; 2 for 1/2; 3 for 3/4; 4 for full), as a Tandem unit of n, Peel Off to end in Concentric Columns of n as the Trailing dancers Extend (using Circulates) to join hands creating a compact symmetric formation. Invert The Column is not a true Tagging call since there is no Zero Tag position or 1/4 Tag position.

Invert The (fraction) Tag [C4] (Vic Ceder): From Mini-Wave Columns. First Two Tandem U-Turn Back by turning away from the center of the set; all Extend to the given fractional Tag position, passing the shoulder that causes to First Two to move outside of the Last Two. That is, from a R-H Column, pass left shoulders, and vice versa. Invert The 1/2 Tag is the same as 1/2 Invert The Column.

Loop & (fraction) Tag [C3B] (Emanuel Duming 1972): From a Mini-Wave Box or Tandem Couples. Tandem 3/4 Out (Peel The Deal); Extend to the given fractional Tag position. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Pass & Roll [A2] (Lee Kopman 1972): Pass & Roll is not really a tagging call, but it is sometimes used that way. (e.g., Pass & Roll Your Neighbor, Pass & Roll Your Leader, Pass & Roll Chain Thru). The "1/2 Tag position" is after all Pass Thru; Centers Turn Thru as Ends Right-Face U-Turn Back; all Touch.

Snap The (fraction) Tag [C4] (Lee Kopman 1974): From a Line. Partner Tag; Outsides Right-face U-Turn Back; all Extend to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

(fraction) Tag The Line [Mainstream] (Will Orlich 1969): From a Line. Individually Turn 1/4 Toward the Center of the Line; Extend to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, Extend to the full Tag position.

Tag The Star (fraction) [C4] (Bill Hamilton 1971): From Facing Couples. 1/2 Reverse Swap Around; Diamond Counter Rotate 1/2; Points Roll (this is Tag The Star 1/4); Extend to the given fractional Tag formation. If no fraction is given, complete a full Tag The Line.

Track n [C3B] (Dick Bayer and Gus Greene 1976): From a Completed Double Pass Thru formation. Tandem Partner Trade; Extend n times (where 0 <= n <= 4).

Vertical (fraction) Tag (The Line) [C1] (Lee Kopman 1974): From a non-T-Bone 2 x 2. Vertical; Extend to the given fractional Tag formation.

Prefixes for Tagging Calls:

Reflected [C3B] (Clark Baker 1984): From various formations. Do the any Tagging call (or any variation of a Tagging call) to the 1/2 Tag position; Tandem Arm Turn 1/4 (i.e., Split Counter Rotate 1/4); complete the given call.

Revert [C4] (Author unknown): From various formations. Do the any Tagging call (or any variation of a Tagging call) to the 1/2 Tag position; Arm Turn 3/4; complete the given call.

When a Tagging call is used with one of the suffixes listed below, the part of the call name shown in bold-face type indicates what would be used (i.e., the italicized part is conventionally omitted).

Chase The Tag Circle The Tag Cross Flip The Line

Cross Loop & Tag Double Pass Thru Flip The Line

Invert The Column Loop & Tag Snap The Tag

Tag The Line Tag The Star Track n

Vertical Tag The Line

Suffixes for Tagging Calls: (some C4 calls have been omitted)

any Tagging call & Scatter [C3B] (author unknown): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scatter Scoot. Ends in Parallel Waves.

any Tagging call & Spin direction [C4] (author unknown): Do the any Tagging call to the 3/4 Tag position; Centers Arm Turn 3/4 as the Outsides individually Turn 1/4 toward the given direction.

any Tagging call Back (To A Wave) [C1] (author unknown): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scoot Back.

any Tagging call Back & Dodge [C4] (author unknown): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scoot & Dodge.

any Tagging call Chain Thru [C3A] (author unknown): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scoot Chain Thru.

any Tagging caller's Delight | Dilemma [C3A] (Lee Kopman 1971): Do the any Tagging call to the 3/4 Tag position; Delight | Dilemma.

any Tagging call Eroo [C4] (author unknown): Do the any Tagging call to the 3/4 Tag position; Centers Cast Off 3/4 as Outsides 1/4 To The Handhold & Circulate. Ends in Parallel Two-Faced Lines.

any Tagging call (Cross) Nuclear Reaction [C3B] (Lee Kopman 1988): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scoot Back, Centers To A Wave; (Cross) Nuclear Reaction.

any Tagging call (Cross) Reaction [C3A]: (Norm Poisson): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scoot Back, Centers To A Wave; (Cross) Chain Reaction.

any Tagging call (Cross) Reactivate [C3B]: Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Scoot Back, Centers To A Wave; (Cross) Reactivate.

any Tagging call The Top [C3B] (Bob Kennedy 1971 (Tag The Top)): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; 1/2 Circulate; Center Wave Spin The Top as the Others Trade. Ends in a Tidal Wave.

any Tagging call To A Diamond [C4]: Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; 1/2 Split | Box Circulate.

any Tagging call Your Criss Cross Neighbor [C4]: Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Criss Cross Your Neighbor.

any Tagging call Your Cross Neighbor [C4]: Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Cross Your Neighbor.

any Tagging call Your Neighbor [C2]: Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Follow Your Neighhbor.

any Tagging call Your Leader [C3A]: (Lee Kopman 1974 and Nonie Moglia 1976): Do the any Tagging call to the 1/2 Tag position; Follow Your Leader.

any Tagging call In | Out | Right | Left [Mainstream]: After completing the any Tagging call, turn 1/4 in place toward the given direction.