I don't know where theses class quizzes came from, but I used to include them in e-mail both when I took the class and when I was class coordinator. I enjoyed them during the class.
If we want to use them again, we'll need to make sure they're appropriate to the material recently taught.
The quiz for week 3 would be sent a few days before week 3's class.
Week 3
Grand Square has a well-defined algorithm: After every three steps, you turn 90 degrees (such that you never turn out of the square) and after 16 beats everyone reverses. So, what happens if you leave the basic definition in place, but change the starting conditions? Typically, the Sides start facing their partner and the Heads start as couples at home. What happens if:
- The Heads start facing their partner and the Sides start as a couple at home?
- Both the Heads and the Sides start facing their partners?
- The Sides start in the middle rather than facing?
(They would begin their Grand Square by backing up) - Everyone starts as they typcially do, but the Heads start the Grand Square four beats later than the Sides?
(and reverse four beats later than the sides)
Week 4
Some calls can be disorienting because they leave you turned 90 degrees from where you started. For example, a Star Thru will always turn you 1/4. If you started facing a "head" wall, you will end up facing a "side" wall. This can be disorienting because it leaves you facing someone different, perhaps even in a different formation. You've learned other calls after which you end facing 90 degrees from where you started; can you name them?
Week 5
After some calls, you end exactly where you staretd the call. For example, dosado. After other calls you exactly end where you started if you dance them twice in a row, like California Twirl. How many consecutive times must each of these calls be danced before everyone is exactly back where they began?
- Starting from facing lines, Box the Gnat
- Starting from a squared set, Heads Star Thru
- Starting from facing lines, Bend the Line
- Starting from facing lines, Ends Run
- Starting from back-to-back lines, Men Run
- Starting from waves, Circulate
- Starting from left-handed waves, Swing Thru
- Starting from right-handed waves, Swing Thru
- Starting from two-faced lines, Couples Trade
- Starting from a squared set, Four Ladies Chain 3/4
(Hint: The answers total to 32.)
Week 10
In some calls, the definition has everyone doing essentially the same thing, e.g. Pass Thru. Then there are calls that are defined as two separate parts. For example, for Wheel Around the person on the right side of the couple walks forward while the person on the left backs up. The parts aren't always distinguished by which side of the couple you are on. Sometimes it's centers vs. ends, or those facing out vs. those facing in, or gender, or simply the ones the caller designates. It can be helpful to notice your starting position before moving so you know which part of the call you should be doing. For the following calls, how are the parts distinguished?
- Half Sashay
- Walk and Dodge
- Flutterwheel
- Pass to the Center
- Chain Down the Line
- Star Thru
- Zoom
- Fan the Top
- Dixie Style to a Wave
Week 12
Imagine doing a Circle Left. The person directly across from
you is called your Opposite. It is the person who is the same
head/side-ness as you and dancing the same gender as you.
Because 99% of what callers call is symmetric, your Opposite
should always be across the center of the square from you and is
always the same person thoughout a tip.
Just as it can be helpful to note your Partner and Corner when
you square up, it can be helpful to notice your Opposite. After
you've done a hard call or scrambled to get caught up, it can be
helpful to check that your Opposite is still across the square
from you. =)
If you are X, where is your Opposite?
Squared set
vX v7 >1 <6 >2 <5 ^3 ^4
Tidal wave
\^1 v2 \^X v3 \^4 v5 \^6 v7
Double pass thru
>1 >2 <3 <4 >5 >6 <X <7
Diamonds
>1 >2 ^X v3 ^4 v5 <6 <7
Waves (right-handed)
\^1 v2 \^3 vX \^4 v5 \^6 v7