Mastering Intermediate Square Dance: Essential Steps to Elevate Your Routine
You've mastered the basics—now it's time to take your square dancing to the next level. Intermediate square dancing opens up a world of intricate patterns, faster calls, and more complex formations that transform simple routines into captivating performances. Whether you're preparing for a competition or just want to impress at the next hoedown, these essential steps will help you elevate your square dance game.
1. The Seamless Spin Chain Thru
Spin Chain Thru is where timing and spatial awareness truly come into play. This call requires dancers to work in pairs, with each couple spinning 180 degrees before moving through the center to meet new partners.
Variation to Master: Try the "Spin Chain the Gears" where you immediately follow with a Zoom and Flutterwheel. This combination flows beautifully when executed with precision.
2. Flawlessly Executing Trade the Wave
Trade the Wave challenges dancers to exchange positions in an ocean wave formation. The key is recognizing your starting position (boys or girls in the middle) and knowing whether to trade with the dancer to your left or right.
Work on transitioning directly into other wave-based calls like Recycle or Swing Thru to build fluid sequences that keep your square moving dynamically.
3. Mastering the Challenging Relay the Deucey
Relay the Deucey separates intermediate dancers from beginners. This call involves a complex crisscross pattern where dancers trade places while maintaining their facing direction, creating an elegant weaving effect.
The most common mistake is losing track of your final facing direction. Always finish facing the same way you started unless the call specifies otherwise.
4. Elevating Your Square with Linear Action
Intermediate dancing introduces linear formations where dancers work in parallel lines rather than traditional squares. Calls like Tag the Line, Wheel and Deal from lines, and Chain Down the Line require different spatial thinking.
Practice transitioning between square and linear formations until they feel equally natural. The best intermediate dancers move seamlessly between all formations.
5. Perfecting the Art of the ¾ Tag
¾ Tag might seem simple, but its execution at intermediate speed requires precision. This call moves dancers three-quarters of the way around a formation, setting up for subsequent calls.
Pay attention to whether you're doing a ¾ Tag to the right or left—the hand usage and pivot points differ significantly. Practice both directions until they're equally comfortable.
Putting It All Together: Building Intermediate Sequences
The true mark of an intermediate dancer isn't just knowing individual calls, but smoothly connecting them into complex sequences. Work on common combinations like:
- Pass the Ocean → Extend → Swing Thru → Spin the Top
- Double Pass Thru → First Couple Go Left, Next Go Right → Pass Thru → Wheel and Deal
- Touch ¼ → Walk and Dodge → Circulate → Scoot Back
Moving from basic to intermediate square dancing is one of the most rewarding transitions in this classic American art form. With these essential steps in your repertoire and dedicated practice, you'll soon be dancing with the confidence and skill that turns heads on the dance floor. Remember—the best square dancers make complex calls look effortless through practice, precision, and that unmistakable square dance smile. Happy dancing!
