Checker Board/Box

CONCEPT

From a 2x4 (or other applicable formations) with precisely two dancers in each 1x4 oriented as Leaders in Lines. In the following diagrams, "L" designates the Leaders in each Line as "O" designates the other dancers. The dancers designated by "O" can be oriented in any direction other than the same direction as the dancers designated "L" in their own 1x4.

Checker Board <anything>

The Leaders in each Line (“L” dancers) Trade with each other as the others (“O” dancers) do the <anything> call working in a distorted 1x4. Ends in a 2x4.





Note that although the four dancers start in a distorted 1x4, the result of the <anything> call may be some other four-person formation, such as a 2x2 or a Diamond, but they still end in the same four spots (e.g., as a distorted 2x2).

Checker Box <anything>

The Leaders in each Line ("L" dancers) Trade with each other as the others ("O" dancers) do the <anything> call working in a distorted 2x2. Ends in a 2x4.



Note that although the four dancers start in a distorted 2x2, the result of the <anything> call may be some other four-person formation, such as a 1x4 or a Diamond, but they still end in the same four spots (e.g., as a distorted 1x4).

Teaching Notes For both Checker Board and Checker Box, the dancers doing the trade typically move toward their new locations and point at the other spots as a way of helping the other dancers keep track of the spots where they should be ending up. While in principle the other dancers are doing their call "working in" that set of four spots (which doesn’t change as a result of the trade by the Leaders), and for simple calls it is best that they do it that way, for many calls they will find it easier to first form a non-distorted 1x4 or box, do the call, and then slide back into the original spots. In these cases, especially, such "pointing" can be very helpful. In these cases the dancers doing the trade will also typically stand back slightly, to leave room for the others to finish their call, before assuming their final positions.