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Square Rotation Program (SQROT) ==> Cards

How to interpret cards

I went to your web page and downloaded your Square Rotation Cards. I printed out the ones that cover 5 to 25 couples, 8 tips.

I've never used these things before and I need to understand them.

As I look at these cards there are letters vertical on the left side of the cards. I assume those are the tips.

Then I look at the numbers across the top. I assume those are the couple numbers.

The part that I don't understand is the numbers across the top start with 5. What happened to couples number 1,2,3, & 4 ?

Do I need a different set of cards ? The advance clubs that I call for usually run from 1 to 3 squares.

A typical card looks like this:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
                5 to 25 Couples, 8 Tips                   Couple # 2

   2|  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
  --+---------------------------------------------------------------
T  A|  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1
i  B|  1  1  1  1  1  2  -  2  2  2  1  4  3  4  -  4  3  3  4  3  6
p  C|  1  -  -  2  2  -  1  3  2  2  -  2  1  2  4  2  3  2  2  2  2
   D|  -  1  1  1  -  2  1  1  3  -  2  1  2  -  4  3  4  -  3  6  3
  --+---------------------------------------------------------------
   E|  1  1  -  2  1  1  2  1  -  1  3  1  1  2  1  2  5  2  -  4  4
   F|  1  -  1  1  2  2  -  2  2  1  1  4  2  3  4  3  4  5  5  5  -
   G|  1  1  -  1  1  1  1  3  1  1  2  3  3  2  1  3  -  5  3  6  2
   H|  1  1  1  2  1  -  1  3  2  2  -  2  3  1  -  5  1  4  4  2  4

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The couple number (e.g., Couple # 2) is displayed in the upper right corner. This number is also displayed in the far left column at top.

The top row (e.g., 5 to 25 Couples, 8 Tips) indicates the range of couple numbers and the maximum number of tips to which this card set applies.

In the example above, the first number is 5 since a card set for fewer than 5 couples is meaningless.

Tips are shown at left as letters (e.g., A to H).

Number of couples are shown at top (e.g., 5 to 25).

Prior to each tip, a dance representative (often the caller) announces the tip and number of couples (e.g., B-16)

Each couple then looks at their card for the corresponding tip row and couple column to find their square number. A dash indicates a sitout. (e.g., for B-16, Couple #2 is in square 4).

Prior to the dance or tip, a dance representative explains how squares are oriented in the hall (e.g., 3 rows of across, starting at the top of the hall, with square #1 to caller's left).

If cards are passed out prior to the dance, start with tip A.

Otherwise, after the first tip, have the couples hold their squares and pass out cards in sequential order to those couples. Then pass out cards to couples who did not dance the first tip.

Couples in square #1 are given cards 1 thru 4,

couples in square #2 are given cards 5 thru 8, etc.

Couples arriving late are given the next sequential card.

Often, the first tip and last tip of the dance are not on numbers, as dancers often arrive last or leave early. These are known as 'Open Tips'. Sometimes one or more open tips are also held during the dance.

At the last tip on numbers, cards are often collected from the squares prior to the caller starting the tip.

last modified: 30-December-2021

ID: 784