Some Comments About The Big Block, Stagger, Initially and Own Concepts

Big Block and Stagger - Tracks 1 - 24

The Big Block and Stagger concepts are nothing more than labels for distorted lines in the case of Big Block, and distorted columns in the case of Stagger - the labels "O" and Butterfly are merely special cases of Stagger and hence are also distorted columns.

Our recommended way of practicing Big Block, Stagger, O, and Butterfly calls is to adjust the setup to the appropriate lines (Big Block) or columns (Stagger, O, or Butterfly), dance the call, then readjust the resulting setup to the original footprints. This rigorous method may seem awkward at first, but it will improve your chances of completing the call correctly.

Dancing distorted figures is one of the hardest aspects of challenge dancing. While it may appear that good dancers aren’t following these steps, they really are. It’s just that they execute them very quickly and smoothly because they’ve practiced enough to do the adjustment and readjustment in their minds. We suggest you follow these steps rigorously, at least in the beginning.

Three points of caution. People’s attention is often diverted to the adjustment/readjustment aspect and they forget these points:

1. No one ever changes facing direction while making an adjustment or readjustment.
2. Don’t blow the call! This is the part that you presumably know. Make sure you execute it properly.
3. Wait for everyone to finish the call before anyone starts the readjustment.

For readjustment on Big Block and Stagger moves which involve the more traditional "diagonal" (e.g. from waves have the leads Press Ahead), we have two suggestions:

1. Note that there are only two possibilities for the diagonal. It either runs to the caller’s right or to her left. Fix some physical characteristic of the room in your mind to remind you of the corner of the room to which the diagonal would extend - the refrigerator, or perhaps the stairs.

2. When all 8 of you have completed the call, readjust this way: First, have the 2 appropriate people readjust to form the diagonal. Then it should be obvious who the other two are that need to readjust. If your group or square will discipline itself in this manner, you’ll improve your square’s chances of surviving to dance the next call.

A final note on readjustment. Whenever a Big Block/Stagger (including O and Butterfly) call is given with the suffix "... to a line/wave", it's a "getout" and no final readjustment is rquired. For example, Big Block Cast a Shadow To A Line ends in normal lines.

The Big Block/Stagger tracks on this CD have been organized in the following manner:

• 1-3 Big Block calls starting in an O or Butterfly.
• 4-6 O and Butterfly calls.
• 7-9 Big Block calls ending in lines.
• 10-12 Big Block calls ending in columns.
• 13-15 Stagger calls ending in lines.
• 16-18 Stagger calls ending in columns.
• 19-24 Random starting and ending positions.

Initially - Tracks 25 - 32

This concept means to dance the first part of the call in the concept mentioned, then finish it normally. We suggest you make it a habit to pause after the first part to make sure everyone is finished with it, then proceed. As you improve, you’ll find that the pause will become shorter and shorter.

Own Someone - Tracks 33 - 40

Here’s an example of the syntax of this call: From waves, "Own the leads for a circulate by scootback". In this case the leads would circulate, and the non-leads (the trailers) would scootback.

As a dancer, you should always do your part of your designated call as if everyone in the square were doing only that call. For example, say you’re #3 in a right hand column. On the call, "Own the ends single rotate ¼ by split circulate", you’d split circulate by flipping over, just as you would if everyone were doing a split circulate. Remember, just because the centers are all dancing the same call doesn’t mean they’re necessarily working with each other. Again, dance your part of the call as if everyone were doing it.

One other point. When the caller is giving the call, your square will be much more successful if all dancers stand still until the entire call is given.

Mixed Practice - Tracks 41 - 48

Each sequence in these last 8 tracks contains both the Initially and the Own Someone concepts.

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