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Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts
 
Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts
 
 
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Rotate [C1,C2,C3B]
   (Jim Davis)
C1: C2: C3B:     
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Rotates (Rotate, Reverse Rotate, Single Rotate, and Reverse Single Rotate) are listed on different challenge lists according to the starting formation. EN: 10

At C1, EN: 20
Rotates can only be called from a Generalized Squared Set, or from similar formations (e.g., from Columns, the Ends only). EN: 30
At C2, EN: 40
Rotates can also be called from Parallel Lines or from a 2 x 2 (e.g., In Your Block Single Rotate 1/4). EN: 50
At C3B, EN: 60
Rotates can also be called from Columns. EN: 70

Procedure for dancing Rotates: EN: 80
  1. Identify the center point of your setup. EN: 90

    The center point of your setup is the very center point of the square (commonly called the "flagpole center") except in the following cases: EN: 100

    1. If you are in a 2 x 4 formation and are in Lines, the center point is the Center of each Box (i.e., work Split). If you are in a 2 x 4 T-Bone, the center point for the Column dancers is the flagpole center, whereas the Line dancers are working Split. EN: 110

    2. If Rotate is preceded by the term Split, then divide your formation into two equal subformations. The center point is the Center of your subformation. From a 2 x 4, Split means to divide the setup into two 2 x 2s, not two 1 x 4s. EN: 120

    3. If Rotate is preceded by the name of a formation in which to work, the center point is the Center of that formation. For example, from Columns consider 'Each Column Single Rotate 1/4'. In this case, the center point is the Center of the 1 x 4 setup. EN: 130

  2. Turn 1/4 relative to that center point according to the following rules: EN: 140

    RotateAs Couples 1/4 To Promenade
    Reverse RotateAs Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade
    Single Rotate
    Individually 1/4 To Promenade EN: 150
    Reverse Single Rotate
    Individually 1/4 To Reverse Promenade EN: 160

    1/4 To Promenade
    Turn 1/4 so that your left shoulder is toward the Center of your formation. EN: 170
    1/4 To Reverse Promenade
    Turn 1/4 so that your right shoulder is toward the Center of your formation. EN: 180

  3. Counter Rotate the given fraction around that center point. EN: 190

    From a Squared Set, active dancers work around the outside of the set. The inactive dancers should move into the center of the set. EN: 200

When dancing Rotates, there are 3 things to listen for: EN: 210

  1. Single or not; EN: 220

  2. Reverse or not; EN: 230

  3. How far. EN: 240

C1 Rotates (

from Squared Set EN: 250
)

Rotate fraction [C1]:

(Those designated) As Couples 1/4 To Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center. EN: 260

Reverse Rotate fraction [C1]:

(Those designated) As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center. EN: 270

Single Rotate fraction [C1]:

(Those designated) Individually 1/4 To Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center. EN: 280

Reverse Single Rotate fraction [C1]:

(Those designated) Individually 1/4 To Reverse Promenade & Counter Rotate the given fraction around the outside of the set as non-designated dancers (if any) move into the Center. EN: 290

Notes:
  • Do not Face In or Bend The Line after a Rotate unless the caller explicitly tells you to do so. EN: 300
  • Non-designated dancers move into the center of the set without changing their facing direction. EN: 310

Rotate 1/4 (
from Squared Set EN: 320
)

 
   
before
Heads Rotate 1/4		 after
As Couples 1/4 To Promenade		 after
Counter Rotate 1/4
(done)
Single Rotate 1/2 (
from Squared Set EN: 320
)

 
     
before
Heads Single Rotate 1/2		 after
1/4 To Promenade		 after
Counter Rotate 1/4		 after
Counter Rotate 1/4 (again)
(done)

C2 Rotates (

from Parallel Lines, or from a 2 x 2 but not from Columns EN: 340
):

Work in each Box of 4. EN: 350

Rotate fraction[C2]:

As Couples 1/4 To Promenade and (working in the resulting Line of 4) Counter Rotate the given fraction. This is the same as As Couples Zag-Zig; Lockit n times (where n is the number of quarters within the given fraction: n=1 for 1/4, n=2 for 1/2, n=3 for 3/4, etc.). EN: 360

Reverse Rotate fraction [C2]:

As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade and (working in the resulting Line of 4) Counter Rotate the given fraction. Same as As Couples Zig-Zag; Lockit n times (where n is the number of quarters within the given fraction). EN: 370

Single Rotate fraction [C2]:

Individually 1/4 To Promenade and Box Counter Rotate the given fraction. Same as Zag-Zig; Box|Split Counter Rotate the given fraction. EN: 380

Reverse Single Rotate fraction[C2]:

Individually 1/4 To Reverse Promenade and Box Counter Rotate the given fraction. Same as Zig-Zag; Box|Split Counter Rotate the given fraction. EN: 390

Reverse Rotate 1/4 (
from Parallel Lines EN: 400
):

 
   
before
Reverse Rotate 1/4		 after
As Couples 1/4 To Reverse Promenade		 after
Line of 4 Counter Rotate 1/4
(done)
Reverse Single Rotate 1/2 (
from Parallel Lines EN: 400
):

 
   
before
Reverse Single Rotate 1/2		 after
1/4 To Reverse Promenade		 after
Split Counter Rotate 1/2
(done)

Cheat for Single Rotate 1/4 (from Lines): EN: 420
Leaders Left-faced U-Turn Back; Belles Walk; Beaus Dodge. EN: 430
Cheat for Reverse Single Rotate 1/4 (from Lines): EN: 440
Leaders Right-faced U-Turn Back; Beaus Walk; Belles Dodge. EN: 450

Be aware that there are many dancers who use these cheats. Also, experienced dancers often seem as if they are dancing this way (when they are Trailers they simply do some sort of Walk & Dodge movement). We believe it is okay to dance this way if you still think in your mind to 'turn 1/4 & Box Counter Rotate', so that you keep in mind that there is a flowing direction toward which you can Roll. Note that this cheat will not work if the fraction is 0/4. If the fraction is greater than 1/4 then use Box Counter Rotates for the rest of the call. EN: 460

C3B Rotates (

from Columns and other formations EN: 470
):

Rotate 1/4 (
from Columns EN: 480
):

 
   
before
Rotate 1/4		 after
As Couples 1/4 To Promenade		 after
Counter Rotate 1/4
(done)
Single Rotate 1/4 (
from Columns EN: 480
):

 
   
before
Single Rotate 1/4		 after
1/4 To Promenade		 after
Counter Rotate 1/4
(done)

Single Rotate 1/4 (

from a T-Bone 2 x 4 EN: 500
):

In this example, the dancers work as if they are in Columns whereas the dancers work as if they are in Lines (i.e., work Split) EN: 510

before
Single Rotate 1/4		 after
Some work Split: EN: 520
all 1/4 To Promenade
Some work Split:
all EN: 530
Counter Rotate 1/4
(done)

Split Single Rotate 1/4 (

from Columns EN: 540
):

before
Split Single Rotate 1/4		 after
Split 1/4 To Promenade		 after
Split Counter Rotate 1/4
(done)

Note: from Parallel Lines, Split Single Rotate is the same as Single Rotate. EN: 550

CONTRAST THE FOLLOWING:

This is the starting formation
for each of the following:
 
after
Single Rotate 1/4		   after
Diamond Single Rotate 1/4
( See Diamond anything Concept [C4])

This is the starting formation
for each of the following:

after
Single Rotate 1/4

after
Split Single Rotate 1/4

after
Split Split Single Rotate 1/4

Hints for dancing Rotates: EN: 560
  • On Rotate or Single Rotate, turn 1/4 (As Couples or Individually) so that your Left-shoulder is toward the center of your setup. EN: 570

  • On Reverse Rotate or Reverse Single Rotate, turn 1/4 (As Couples or Individually) so that your Right-shoulder is toward the center of your setup. ('Reverse' and 'Right' both begin with 'R'.) EN: 580

  • Rotate means As Couples; Single Rotate means Individually. EN: 590

  • If no fraction is given, then assume 1/4. In our opinion, the caller should always give a fraction. EN: 600

  • The caller can give the fraction 0 (or 0/4), in which case just turn 1/4 and do not Counter Rotate at all. EN: 610

Why is the Rotate FAMILY split across three levels? The answer is that the definition of Rotate is inconsistent, in the sense that the definition is formation-dependent. In our opinion, dancers should have one concise definition that can be applied to any legal starting formation. The C2-style Rotates are the culprits, and we believe these Rotates should have been named Split Rotate (instead of Rotate), and Split Single Rotate (instead of Single Rotate), so that there would be no conflict. Unfortunately, Rotates were not defined quite so cleanly. EN: 620

See also Counter Rotate [C1].

CALLERLAB definition for Rotate
CALLERLAB definition for Reverse Rotate
CALLERLAB definition for Single Rotate
CALLERLAB definition for Reverse Single Rotate

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
 
C1: C2: C3B:     

https://www.ceder.net/def/rotate_c1.php?action=edit&level=C2
23-October-2025 04:59:35
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