Zeros and Equivalents
by Orlo Hoadley - 2/25/96
- A formation is:
- The way the dancers are positioned in the set. Some of the most-used
Formations are the box, facing lines-of-four, parallel Ocean Waves,
parallel two-faced lines. Waves and two-faced lines are right-handed
or left-handed.
- A setup is:
- A formation plus knowing where each man and each lady is
positioned in the formation -- that is the Arrangement part of FASR.
"Setup" is also sometimes used to mean a sequence of calls that starts
with the squared set and puts the dancers into an A-Box (Allemande
Box, Box 1-4, or Zero Box) or Normal Lines (1P2P Lines or Zero Lines).
- A zero is:
- A call or sequence of calls that ends with the same setup it
started from; in other words, an equivalent to no call at all,
formation-wise.
- Equivalents are:
- Two calls or sequences of calls that start with the same setup and
end with the same setup.
(Note: SS = Squared Set)
Why Use Zeros and Equivalents?
1. To add variety to your calling. Also remember that you can use a
Zero in the middle of another Zero -- just don't forget to finish the
first Zero after the second one is completed. Also, a Zero sequence is
like a ring: if it ends up at the same place it started, it doesn't
matter just where you start. In other words, a Zero sequence can be
started from any formation that is made during the sequence, and will
return the set to the same formation when the sequence is completed.
2. If there is an awkward change of movement between two calls in a
pattern you want to use, or awkward use of the same hand twice in a
row, you can usually insert a Zero or replace one of the calls with an
Equivalent that is picked to match up well with the preceding and
following movements. This is another reason for having a good
assortment of Z/E's in your toolkit.
3. To feature a particular call or combination of calls that you want
to give your dancers some practice on.
4. To break up a commonly-used dance pattern and slow down hot-shot
dancers who are rushing or anticipating the caller.
5. If you are composing a singing call, a Zero might be handy to fill
out the time to the standard 64 beats of music, for instance, a Swing
(4 beats) or a Dos-a-dos (8) just before the final Promenade. Or, if
you've got too much action, you can often save some time with a
well-chosen Equivalent.
Points to Watch
Although a Zero puts the dancers back in the same setup where they
started, they may not end up facing in the same walls as when they
started. For instance, an Eight Chain Thru (8 hands) puts the dancers
back into the same footprints where they started from -- so it's a
Position Zero -- while Eight Chain Four is also a Zero but rotates the
whole set by 180o. That doesn't matter when you are calling hash, but
it is important if you want to use the Zero in a singing call. Some
Zeros will rotate the set by 90o or 270o, or a quarter turn to the
right or the left.
The movements of the dancers at the beginning and the end of a Zero or
Equivalent are not usually mentioned. This means that the caller
should be careful that the movement of the dancers at the beginning of
a Z/E (Zero or Equivalent) follows smoothly from their movement at the
end of the preceding call, and also that the movement at the end of
the Z/E should lead smoothly into whatever call he wants to use next.
Don't overuse a few simple Z/E's. Many of your dancers will catch on
real quick, and start to find your choreography boring. But don't
discourage yourself by trying to learn everything at once. Pick out a
few that sound interesting to you and practice with them until you are
confident with them and have found out how much variety you can get by
putting Zeros into the middle of Equivalents or other Zeros, and by
starting from different places in the sequence. Then start learning a
few more, to add to your toolbox. A good caller, like any other
professional, never stops learning new and better ways to do
things.
Some of the following Equivalents and Zeros can only be done starting
from "normal" formations, that is, where all couples have a man on the
left and a lady on the right. Others don't have any sex-sensitive
calls, which means they can be done no matter where the men and the
ladies are positioned in the formation. A good exercise is for you to
go through them and pick out which is which. Also pick out which can
be used in a Miniset (2 couples).
Zeros
Note: Because Right & Left Thru is a two-time zero, it doesn't matter,
to the formations, whether it is the first call or the last call of a
zero. Also, if it is left off the beginning or end of a zero
sequence, the rest of the sequence is a RLT equivalent.
- A. Zeros from Facing Lines of Four:
- 1. Right & left thru equivalent + Right & left thru equivalent
- 2. Flutter wheel + Ladies hang on and flutter wheel
- 3. Flutter wheel and sweep 1/4 + Star thru
- 4. Pass thru + Wheel & deal + Double pass thru + First couple go left,
Second couple go right
- 5. Pass thru + Bend the line + Pass thru + Bend the line
- 6. Right & left thru + Pass thru + Bend the line + Right & left thru +
Pass thru + Bend the line
- 7. Square thru 3 + Bend the line +Square thru 3 + Bend the line
- 8. Square thru + Face your partner
- 9. Square thru 3 + Courtesy turn
- 10. Square thru 2 + Face your partner + Slide thru + Star thru
- 11. Pass thru + Cast off 3/4 + Pass thru + Cast off 3/4
- 12. Pass thru + Tag the line in + Pass thru + Tag the line in
- 13. Right & left thru equivalent + Tag the line in
- 14. Half sashay + Pass thru + Tag the line in
- 15. Box the gnat + Pull by + Bend the line + (repeat)
- B. Zeros from Box:
- 1. Right & left thru + Dive thru + Pass thru + Right & left thru +
Dive thru + Pass thru (the "Chicken-Plucker" routine)
- 2. Square thru 3 + Trade by +Square thru 3 + Trade by
- 3. Eight chain thru (or four)
- 4. Swing thru 2x + Right & left thru
- 5. Square thru 2 + Bend the line +Square thru 3 + Bend the line +
Star thru
- 6. Right & left thru + Veer left (or right) + Ferris wheel + Pass thru
- 7. Swing thru + Centers run + Ferris wheel + Pass thru
(very common: don't overuse)
- 8. Swing thru + Centers run + Tag the line left + Ferris wheel + Pass thru
- 9. Swing thru, ends circulate + Swing thru, ends circulate +
Right & left thru + Dive thru + Pass thru
- 10. Swing thru + Spin the top + Slide thru
- 11. Curlicue + Scoot back + Slide thru + Ferris wheel + Pass thru + (repeat)
- 12. Star thru + Pass thru + Bend the line +Square thru 3 +
Bend the line + Slide thru
- 13. Partner tag + Bend the line + Box the gnat, pull by +
Bend the line + Star thru
- C. Zeros from Waves:
- 1. All eight circulate 2x
- 2. Ends circulate + Centers circulate + All 8 circulate
- 3. Scoot back + Scoot back
- 4. Cast 3/4 + Centers trade (or Scoot back) + (repeat twice)
- 5. Hinge 1/4 + Centers trade + (repeat twice)
- 6. Scoot back + Centers scoot back + Left swing thru
- 7. Scoot back + All 8 circulate + Scoot back + All 8 circulate
- 8. Scoot back + Split circulate + Scoot back + Split circulate
- 9. Scoot back + Split circulate 2x + Swing thru 2x
- 10. Curlicue + Scoot back + Hinge 1/4
- 11. Swing thru + Centers run + Bend the line + Pass the ocean
Equivalents
- D. Partners Trade Equivalents:
- 1. Cali-Twirl
- 2. Courtesy turn (Couples wheel around)
- 3. Men run + Ladies U-turn back
- 4. Ladies run + Men U-turn back
- 5. Half sashay + U-turn back
- (Note: Dancers doing a U-Turn Back should turn toward their
partners.) Exceptions: after a Crosstrail Thru or any
other call that ends with a turning movement to lead the dancers
into an easy direction for the turn, as in B2 and B3
below)
- 6. Ladies run + Men run + Half sashay
- 7. Men run + Ladies run + Re-sashay
- 8. Partners hinge + Slide thru
- 9. From facing couples: Square thru three
- E. Pass Thru (Pass By, Pull By) Equivalents:
- 1. Right & left thru + with a full turn around
- 2. Box the gnat + U-turn back (see note in A5)
- 3. Single circle + U-turn back (likewise)
- 4. Single circle + Box the gnat + Pull by
- 5. Right & left thru + Cali-Twirl
- 6. Right & left thru + Half sashay (Rollaway) + U-turn back
- 7. Right & left thru + Star thru + Square thru two
- 8. Right & left thru + Square thru three
- 9. Right & left thru + Star thru + Half sashay (Rollaway) + Star thru
- 10. Right & left thru + Half sashay (Rollaway) + Box the gnat + Pull by
- 11. --Use a RLT equivalent in 5-10
- 12. Square thru five hands (Don't use too often)
- 13. Star thru (Slide thru) + Square thru four
- 14. Dos-a-dos once and a half
- 15. Half sashay + Box the gnat + Cali-Twirl
- 16. Square thru two + Face partner + Box the gnat + Pull by +
Face partner + Slide thru
- 17. Veer left + Veer right
- 18. Veer right + Veer left
- 19. Circle half + Cali-Twirl
- F. Right & Left Thru Equivalents:
- 1. Crosstrail thru + U-turn back
- 2. Pass thru + Cali-Twirl
- 3. Pass thru + Partners trade
- 4. Circle four halfway
- 5. Half sashay + Box the gnat
- 6. Star thru (Slide thru) + Slide thru (Star thru)
- 7. Square thru three + U-turn back + Box the gnat
- 8. Star thru + Square thru 4 + Cali-Twirl (Partners trade)
- 9. Square thru two + Face your partner
- 10. Square thru four + Cali-Twirl + Star thru (Slide thru)
- 11. Square thru four + Partners trade + Square thru + Partners trade
- 12. Square thru two + Partners trade + Square thru two + Partners trade
- 13. Box the gnat + Men turn thru + Box the gnat
- 14. Box the gnat + Change girls & swat the flea + Change girls...
- 15. Star thru + Rollaway + Star thru & U-turn back + Box the gnat
- 16. Ladies chain + Flutter wheel
- 17. Flutter wheel + Ladies hang on and chain
- 18. Flutter wheel + Reverse flutter wheel
- 19. Reverse flutter wheel + flutter wheel
- 20. Right & left thru and sweep 1/4 + Right & left thru and sweep 1/4
- 21. SS: Heads separate + Promenade half + Star thru
- 22. SS: Head couples promenade half
- 23. Lines: Pass thru + Bend the line + Bend the line
- 24. Lines: Pass thru + Bend the line + Square thru three + Bend the line
- 25. Lines: Pass thru + Wheel & deal + Double pass thru +
First couple go right + Second couple go left
- G. Star Thru Equivalents:
- 1. Half sashay + Box the Gnat + Change girls & Swat the flea
- 2. Square thru four + Partners trade (Cali-Twirl, etc)
- 3. Pass thru + Face your partner
- 4. SS: Heads pass thru + Separate around one + come into the middle
- 5. SS: Heads pass thru & cloverleaf + Substitute
- 6. Square thru two + Partners trade + Right & left thru
- 7. SS: Heads square thru + Right & left thru + Dive thru
- 8. Swing thru + Box the gnat + Swing thru + Slide thru + Cal. twirl
- 9. Flutter wheel and sweep 1/4 + Right & left thru*
- 10. Ladies chain and sweep 1/4 + Right & left thru*
- *Right & left thru may be done first
- 11. SS: Heads box the gnat + Pull by + Divide + Star thru + Substitute
- H. Square Thru Two Equivalents:
- 1. Star thru + Pass thru
- 2. Half sashay (Rollaway) + Star thru (Slide thru)
- 3. Star thru equivalent + Pass thru equivalent
- 4. Star thru + Circle four 1/2 + Cali-Twirl
- 5. SS: Heads crosstrail thru + Divide & star thru + Substitute +
Square thru 3
- 6. SS: Heads pass thru + Cloverleaf + Substitute + Pass thru
- 7. Ladies chain + Same couples lead to the right
- 8. Ladies chain + Curlicue + Walk & dodge
- 9. Flutter wheel and sweep 1/4 + Cali-Twirl
- 10. Flutter wheel and sweep 1/4 + Square thru three
- 11. Pass thru + Partner tag
- 12. Box the gnat + Partner tag
- 13. Pass the ocean + Step thru
- 14. Flutter wheel + Ladies hang on & lead Dixie style + Step thru
- J. Square Thru Four Equivalents:
- 1. Right & left thru + Star thru + Pass thru
- 2. Right & left thru + Square thru two
- 3. Right & left thru + Half sashay (Rollaway) + Star thru (Slide thru)
- 4. --- Any RLT equivalent in 1-3
- 5. Right & left thru + Ladies lead Dixie style + Men trade + Step thru
- 6. Pass the ocean + Swing thru + Turn thru
- 7. Pass the ocean + Trade the wave + Step thru
- 8. Slide thru (Star thru) + Square thru three
- 9. Square thru three + Partner tag
- 10. Slide thru + Swing thru + Box the gnat + Pull by
- 11. Flutter wheel and sweep 1/4 + Pass thru
- 12. Ladies chain and sweep 1/4 + Pass thru
- 13. Box the gnat + Slide thru
- 14. Half sashay + Box the gnat + Slide thru + Pass thru
- 15. Half sashay + Box the gnat + Square thru two
- 16. Half sashay + Star thru + Cali-Twirl + Pass thru
- 17. SS: Heads box the gnat + Crosstrail thru + Separate around one +
Come into the middle + Pass thru
- 18. SS: Heads pass thru + Separate around one + In the middle
right & left thru + Pass thru
- 19. SS: Heads pass thru + Cloverleaf + Substitute + Square thru three
- 20. Swing thru + Spin the top + Step thru
- 21. Star thru + Cali-Twirl
- 22. Star thru equivalent + Partner trade equivalent
- 23. Swing thru + Box the gnat + Swing thru + Slide thru
- 24. SS: Heads crosstrail thru + Divide & star thru + Sides Square thru three +
Dive thru + Pass thru
- K. Lead to the Right Equivalents:
- 1. Ladies chain + Star thru + Pass thru
- 2. Ladies chain + Rollaway + Slide thru
- 3. Ladies chain + Square thru two equivalent
- 4. Circle four 3/4 + Cali-Twirl
- 5. Right & left thru and sweep 1/4 + Pass thru
- 6. Curlicue + Walk & dodge
- 7. Right & left thru + Ladies lead Dixie style + Step thru
- 8. SS: Heads Square thru three + Separate around one + In the middle
swing thru + Turn thru
- 9. SS: Heads partner tag + Go around one + In the middle swing thru +
Turn thru
- 10. Slide thru + right & left thru + Swing thru + Turn thru
- L. Lead to the Left Equivalents:
- 1. Flutter wheel + Star thru + Pass thru
- 2. Flutter wheel + Half sashay + Slide thru
- 3. Circle four 3/4 + Pass thru
- 4. Circle four 3/4 + Veer left + Veer right
- 5. Right & left thru and sweep 1/4 + Cali-Twirl
- 6. Ladies chain + Flutter wheel and sweep 1/4 + Pass thru
- 7. Ladies chain + Square thru equivalent
- 8. Curlicue + Box circulate 2x + Walk & dodge
- 9. SS: Heads pass thru + Separate around one + In the middle
Swing thru + Turn thru
- 10. SS: Heads Pass Thru + Cloverleaf + Substitute + Swing Thru + Turn Thru
- 11. Pass the Ocean + Swing Thru + Turn Thru
- M. Some Other Useful Equivalents:
- 1. Right & Left Thru + Ladies Chain = Flutter Wheel
- 2. Dive thru + Pass thru = Pass thru + Trade by
- 3. Pass thru + Half sashay = Crosstrail thru
- 4. RH (LH) Waves: Scoot back + Centers scoot back = (Left) Swing thru
- 5. 2F lines: Wheel & Deal (avoid) = Bend the Line + Sweep a
Quarter = Ferris wheel + Pass thru
Additional information may be found in the "Callers Guidebook to
Complete Choreography," including a discussion of three callers'
problems in Chapter 2, more detailed information on Zeros and
Equivalents as well as definitions of over 70 other square-dance terms
in Chapter 3, and how to use the individual Mainstream calls in
Chapter 4. Chapter 4 also has over two thousand dance examples,
including lots of Zeros and Equivalents, and some "Allemande Zeros."
Another recommended book is "Setup and Getout," by Will Orlich. A
"getout" is the opposite of a setup: it moves the set from a box or
facing lines back to the Squared Set. Both books may be ordered from
the American Squaredance Magazine.
From the Western Square Dancing Web page.
Copyright notice.
Maintained by Tom Dillander - -
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