An understanding of Leaders and Trailers is important, as they are used to define calls (e.g., Cloverleaf)
and teach calls (e.g., Zoom). Also, these terms are used by some callers during a dance (e.g., Leaders
Trade).
Command Examples:
Double Pass Thru; Leaders Trade
Lines Forward And Back; Pass Thru; Tag The Line; Leaders U-Turn Back
Description: In any box-type formation (e.g., box circulate, tandem couples), those facing out of the box
are Leaders and those facing into the box are Trailers.
In other 2-dancer formations (e.g., a tandem, facing dancers, back-to-back dancers), those facing
directly away from the center of the 2-dancer formation are Leaders, and those facing directly toward
the center of the formation are Trailers. Anyone else is neither a Leader nor a Trailer.
In the diagrams below, the dancers marked "L" are Leaders and the dancers marked "T" are Trailers.
Comments: At Mainstream, the use of Leaders and Trailers is usually restricted to tandem couples or
tandem dancers.
Often there is more than one option for designating active dancers. Even though "Leaders/Trailers"
may be correct, the more commonly used "Boys/Girls", "Centers/Ends", "First/Next" might be a better
choice for dancer success.