Exploding Squares consists of 4 squares in a 2x2 grid (see pictures below).
To do Exploding Squares within CSDS, from the
CSDS Main Menu,
select 'Specialty | Exploding'.
The caller moves dancers between squares,
moves 8 dancers into an inner square and does a few calls,
then moves those dancers back to their original squares.
Dancers are moved as follows:
-
The caller calls until couples at the Head position or Side position (or both) are facing out.
(e.g., after Heads or Sides Square Thru 3; or after All Four Couples Pass Thru).
-
The caller calls Move On.
Dancers facing towards another square
move forward to face the next couple as the out-facing dancers
California Twirl to face back in. This results in four inside boxes of 4, and the
other 8 couples facing in.
-
The caller calls to the inside four boxes until dancers are back-to-back,
90° from their original facing directions (e.g., after a Square Thru, or a Star Thru + Pass Thru).
At this point, two dancers in each box are facing the center of the hall,
and the other two dancers are facing out.
-
The caller calls Move On.
In-facing dancers walk forward
to form a single square in the center of the hall, as the out-facing
dancers step forward and California Twirl to face back in.
-
The caller calls to the inner square, as the other 12 couples watch.
-
The caller then reverses the process. Dancers in the inner square are
maneuvered to be in a squared set facing out.
-
The caller calls Move On.
The dancers in the inner square walk
forward as the outside dancers facing them also walk
forward to form four inside boxes.
-
The caller calls to the inside four boxes until those dancers are back-to-back,
90° from their original facing directions
(e.g., after a Square Thru, or a Star Thru + Pass Thru).
-
The caller calls Move On.
All dancers walk forward, as necessary to form four complete squares.
-
If the caller has successfully maneuvered dancers back to their original squares,
a getout may be called.
Sample Sequence
-
(2 Man and 3 Lady to innner square)
Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Square Thru 4
Move On
Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Star Thru
Pass Thru
Move On
Allemande Left
Starting position:
|
- After
- Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
- Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead:
|
After Move On:
Active dancers shown with white background.
|
After Square Thru 4:
Active dancers shown with white background.
|
After Move On:
Active dancers shown with white background.
|
- After
- Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
- Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead:
Active dancers shown with white background.
|
After Move On:
Active dancers shown with white background.
|
- After
- Star Thru
- Pass Thru:
Active dancers shown with white background.
|
After Move On:
|
After Allemande Left:
|
Other Sequences:
(3 Man and 2 Lady to inner square)
Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Star Thru
Pass Thru
Move On>
Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Square Thru 4
Move On
Allemande Left
|
(4 Man and 1 Lady to inner square)
Heads Pass Thru & Step Ahead
Sides Pass Thru & Step Ahead
Move On
Square Thru 4
Move On
Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Star Thru
Pass Thru
Move On
Allemande Left
|
(1 Man and 4 Lady to inner square)
Heads Pass Thru & Step Ahead
Sides Pass Thru & Step Ahead
Move On
Star Thru
Pass Thru
Move On
Head Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Side Position Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead
Move On
Square Thru 4
Move On
Allemande Left
|
Additional notes:
-
Keep sequences short for the inner square,
as the other 12 couples are doing nothing other than watching.
-
To make it easier to resolve, when in the inner square, always
do an equivalent of a Heads Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead +
Sides Square Thru 3 & Step Ahead. This places everyone from the
inner square back to their original four boxes of 4.
-
As with any gimmick, don't over do it.
