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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Read the Card
-
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 in a column on the left as letters (e.g., A to H).
-
Number of couples are shown across at top (e.g., 5 to 25).
How the Cards are Used
-
Prior to each tip, a dance representative (often the caller) announces
the tip and number of couples (e.g., "The next tip is B-16")
-
Each couple 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 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.
-
Newly arriving couples are given the next sequential card.
-
Often, the first tip and last tip of the dance are not on numbers,
since dancers often arrive late or leave early.
Such 'open tips' can also be held at other times during the dance.
Again, a club representative announces that the next tip will be open.
-
At the last tip on numbers, cards should be collected from the squares
prior to the start of the tip.
Singles
-
Singles can be handled by only giving a card to the single dancer who
dances the 'Boy' role. Prior to each tip, each single 'Boy' finds a
single 'Girl' with whom to dance.
-
Some clubs have a "Singles Board",
a poster-sized board with columns labeled, Boy, Girl, and Out.
Each single registers by writing their name on a 1.5x1 inch sticky tab.
Someone manually places the Boys in one column, and the Girls in another.
Dancers look at the row in which their name appears to find their partner.
Prior to each tip, one of the columns is rotated by moving the topmost
item to the bottom and shifting the other items up one column.
-
A single may also dance with one of the dancer from a sitout couple.
Hints and Tricks
