Ladies Chain Family
The general action of Ladies Chain has two or more women each
leave their current man, star (or right pull by) with each other, and
be courtesy turned by a man. The caller indicates which women are
involved and how far they star.
Two Ladies Chain (Regular & 3/4)
This definition covers the regular Two Ladies Chain. Two Ladies
Chain 3/4 is described in the comments section.
Starting formation Normal Facing Couples
Command examples
Head Ladies Chain
Right and Left Thru; Two Ladies Chain
Right and Left Thru; Ladies Chain
Side Ladies Chain Over; Side Ladies Chain Back
Dance action Women step toward each other and Right-Hand Star
1/2 (or Right Pull By). Each man Courtesy Turns the woman coming
toward him to end in Facing Couples.
Dance action
Ladies step forward, take right hands in a handshake grip and pull by
while each Man steps to his right and turns slightly to his left.
Each Man has his left hand out to receive the Lady’s left hand on top
of his for a Courtesy Turn. When Ladies Chain ¾, Ladies step forward,
form a (two person) Right Hand Star and turn the star ¾.
Ending formationFacing Couples
Ending formation
Facing Couples; 3/4 Chain ending as lines of 3 (boy, girl, girl).
Timing
Facing Couples: 6; Squared Set: 8
3/4 Chain: 10
Styling
Each man releases his partner and sidesteps to the
right while turning his right shoulder slightly toward the center of
the formation blending into the Courtesy Turn. Women use skirtwork for
the Courtesy Turn (and in the star, if used).
Styling
Men must be proactive and move into the spot their Lady has just vacated
in order to receive the Lady coming to them, PLUS angle their body slightly
to their left in order to be ready to initiate the Courtesy Turn.
Women use skirtwork for the Courtesy Turn.
Four Ladies Chain (Regular & 3/4)
Starting formationSquared Set, Infacing Circle of 8, or a
"turning your partner left" formation (the dynamic formation
obtained from a square plus all arm turn your partner by the left an
indefinite amount)
Command examples
Four Ladies Chain
Four Ladies Chain 3/4
All Four Ladies Chain Across
Chain Those Ladies Over and Back (i.e., twice)
Four Ladies Chain; Chain Them Home (i.e., twice)
Do Paso, partner left, corner right, partner left; Four Ladies
Chain
Shoot the Star; Four Ladies Chain
Dance action
All four women Right-Hand Star 1/2 (or 3/4, if
designated). All Courtesy Turn to face the center of the set.
Dance action
Similar to Two Ladies Chain except all Four Ladies step forward and make a
Right-Hand Star. They turn the star halfway to the opposite Man.
All Courtesy Turn to face the center of the set.
Ending formationSquared Set
TimingRegular: 8, 3/4: 10
Styling
Men use the Two Ladies Chain styling. Women use a palm
or finger tip star. If at least two women are wearing full skirts, an
elegant variation is for each lady to pick up and hold a bit of the
right edge of her skirt, or an arm's length of a long skirt, as she
reaches into the star. This arm's-length hold can be continued through
the Courtesy Turn at a comfortable height and longer if the next call
is Chain Them Back.
Styling
Men use the Two Ladies Chain styling.
If the Ladies are wearing skirts, the star should be formed with
their skirts – this leaves their left hands ready for the Courtesy Turn.
Teaching Tip
Teach the women how to ‘count’ the men. This will help them know who they
are supposed to finish the call with, especially when it’s ¾.
Chain Down the Line
Starting formation
General Line with the centers holding right hands
Starting formation
Right-Hand Two-Faced Line or Left-Hand Ocean Wave.
(At Basic and Mainstream, the Ends must be Men and the Centers must be Women).
Command example Chain Down the Line
Dance action
Centers Turn 1/2 By The Right while ends adjust as necessary.
Then the ends Courtesy Turn the centers to finish in Facing Couples.
Dance action
Centers Trade then the Ends Courtesy Turn the centers to end up facing
the couple who was in the line or wave with them.
Ending formation Facing Couples
Timing 8
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Two Ladies Chain is improper if either couple is sashayed or same-sex.
From a squared set with the men at home, Head Ladies Chain is danced by those currently at the Heads position, even if this involves the original Side women (e.g., after Four Ladies Chain 3/4).
The next four comments refer to uncommon or regional applications of Ladies Chain and may require workshopping.