Big Appalachian Circle
Background:
The Big Appalachian
Circle is an American Folk Dance that uses Square Dance movements
with the dancers in one large circle instead of the traditional
square formation. In this way all the dancers are together
in one big circle sharing and socializing. This is an appropriate
dance for beginners of any age.
Grade: 4-12
Equipment: CD/MP3
player. Music, traditional square dance or fiddle music
Formation: One large single circle.
Dancers are assigned a partner and a corner partner. Small
sets or groups of 4-6 dancers are also identified.
Movements:
Individually
with
the whole group
- March in Place-
Individuals march in place.
- Circle Sideways to the
Right and then Left using Slides or Grapevine Steps
- Single File line of
dancers moving in a circle. Move counterclockwise using
the Walk, Run, Jog, Shuffle, Gallop or Skip.
- Forward and Back - Walk
four steps forward in to the circle and four steps back out of
the circle.
- Grand Right and Left -
Dancers face their designated partner, grab their partners
right hand and walk past each other and let go of hands.
They will now be facing a new partner. They grab this
person's left hand and walk past and let go, then another new
partner appears and the right hand is grabbed. This
pattern continues until the original partners meet.
- Weave the Ring - This is
similar to the Grand Right and Left however, hands are not
held. Dancers pass by each other using the same right -
left pattern.
With
a partner
- Greet Partner and Corner
Partner - Partners face each other an nod their head to say
hello. The same action is repeated to their partner on
the other side which is called their corner partner
- Do-Si-Do - Partners face
each other. Walk forward and pass right shoulders, take
one side step to the right and move backward passing left
shoulders.
- See Saw- Partners face each other.
Walk forward and pass left shoulders, take one side step to
the left and move backward passing right shoulders.
- Elbow Swing - Partners face each other.
Hook right elbows and walk or skip forward around in a
circle and repeat with left elbows hooked.
- High Five - Partners face each other.
Raise the right hand and high five your partner and walk
forward around in a circle and repeat with the left hand.
- Wrist Turn - Partners face each
other. Grab the right wrist of your partner and walk
forward around in a circle and repeat holding the left wrist.
- Promenade - Partners stand
side by side and face counterclockwise (line of direction) and
walk around the circle side by side. A shuffle, gallop,
skip or jog can also be used.
- Promenade Tunnel - During
the promenade, one set of partners face each other and make a
two hand arch. The next set of dancers moves under the
arch and also makes an arch. This pattern follows with all
dancers in the circle. When the last set of dances has
made an arch the first set of dancers dismantles their arch
and walks under all other arches using a single file
formation. All other partners do the same until everyone
is moving in a single file formation back to their original
spot in the circle.
Small
group
of four (could be six if there are not even groups of four)
- Circle sideways to the right by
sliding or using a grapevine step and repeat to the left.
- Single file around the
circle clockwise using a walk, skip, gallop, shuffle or jog.
- Forward and Back - Dancers
walk forward four steps to the center of their circle and walk
backward four steps.
- Pointed Star - Dancers
form a circle with their right side facing the center, raise
their right hand toward the middle and walk forward once
around, repeat with the left hand
- Basket Star - Dancers form a circle with
their right side facing the center and with their right hand
grasp the wrist of the person in front of them in the circle
and walk forward once around, repeat with the left hand.
Sample
Dance Description: The dancers begin in a large
circle and the caller will call out different movements in a
sequence that he or she has created.
Everyone circle 8
to the right. "Let's Slide"
Now circle left
Do-Si-Do your partner
See Saw your corner partner
Do-Si-Do your partner
See Saw your corner partner
Everyone forward and back
And forward and back again
Right Elbow Swing your partner
Left Elbow Swing your corner
partner
Right Elbow Swing your partner
Left Elbow Swing your corner
partner
Everyone Grand Right and Left
Wrist turn your partner
Wrist turn your corner
Wrist turn your partner
Wrist turn your corner
Everyone forward and back
And forward and back again.
Repeat the dance again from the
beginning.