Square Dance Calls List: 71 Calls Explained

Every call a beginner meets in modern Western square dancing, grouped by CALLERLAB program and written in plain English. Learn the Basic list first — most clubs teach it over a few weeks of classes.

Basic program 51 calls

CallWhat dancers do
Circle LeftDancers join hands in a ring and walk to the left (clockwise) until the next call. Circle Right is the same movement in the opposite direction.
Forward and BackFacing dancers or lines walk forward three steps and pause on the fourth beat, then walk back three steps and pause — eight beats in all.
DosadoTwo facing dancers walk forward passing right shoulders, slide to the right back to back, then walk backward passing left shoulders to end where they …
SwingPartners take a modified ballroom hold and rotate clockwise with a buzz step, ending side by side facing the center of the set, the woman on the man's…
PromenadeCouples in promenade hold walk counterclockwise around the square until they reach the man's home position, then face the center. Single File and Wron…
Allemande LeftCorners join left forearms, turn half around by the left, and step back to face their partners — usually followed by a Right and Left Grand.
Arm TurnsTwo dancers hold right (or left) forearms and walk around each other the fraction the caller names — a quarter, half, three quarters or full turn.
Right and Left GrandFacing partners join right hands and pull by, then give a left hand to the next dancer, alternating right and left around the ring until partners meet…
Weave the RingThe same path as a Right and Left Grand, but dancers weave in and out without touching hands.
Wrong Way GrandA Right and Left Grand traveled in the reverse direction, men moving clockwise and women counterclockwise.
Right-Hand StarDesignated dancers step into the middle, put right hands together and walk forward around the star until the next call. A Left-Hand Star uses left han…
Star PromenadeFrom a left-hand star of men, each man puts his right arm around his partner's waist and the whole star turns as a unit with the women on the outside.
Pass ThruFacing dancers walk forward past each other, right shoulder to right shoulder, ending back to back.
Half SashayTwo dancers side by side exchange places: the dancer on the right sidesteps to the left in front of the partner while the dancer on the left sidesteps…
RollawayThe right-hand dancer rolls across in front of the partner, making one full turn while moving to the left, as the partner sidesteps right behind — an …
U-Turn BackEach dancer turns in place 180°, normally turning toward the partner, to face the opposite direction.
SeparateActive dancers turn back to back with their partners and walk around the outside of the square in opposite directions, as far as the caller directs.
Split TwoDancers walk forward between the two dancers of the couple they face, who step apart to let them through, then turn as directed.
Courtesy TurnThe man holds the woman's left hand in his left and puts his right hand on her back; the couple turns as a unit counterclockwise (he backs up, she wal…
Ladies ChainFacing women give right hands and pull by, then give left hands to the opposite man, who courtesy-turns them. Four Ladies Chain uses a right-hand star…
Do PasoA left forearm turn with the partner, a right forearm turn with the corner, then a left hand back to the partner for a courtesy turn.
Lead RightDesignated couples walk forward and around a quarter of a circle to the right to face the couple on their right. Lead Left goes the other way.
Veer LeftCouples step forward and diagonally to the left without changing their facing direction. Veer Right moves diagonally to the right.
Bend the LineA line of four breaks in the middle; the ends move forward and the centers back up so each half of the line turns to face the other half.
Circle to a LineTwo facing couples circle left halfway, then the leading man releases his left hand and both couples back out into a line of four facing the center.
Right and Left ThruFacing couples join right hands with the opposite dancer and pull by, then each couple courtesy-turns to face the other couple again.
Grand SquareA 32-step figure in which the head and side couples walk opposite square patterns — forward, face, back up, face — so the whole set traces two squares…
Star ThruA facing man and woman join his right hand with her left; she turns a quarter left under the raised hands while he turns a quarter right, ending side …
California TwirlPartners raise joined inside hands; the woman turns left under the arch while the man walks around her to the right, so the couple exchanges places an…
Walk Around the CornerEach dancer walks completely around the corner, left shoulders adjacent, and returns to place.
See SawPartners walk around each other with left shoulders adjacent — a left-shoulder dosado — usually right after Walk Around the Corner.
Square ThruFacing dancers pull by with right hands, turn a quarter in to face, pull by with left hands and keep alternating for the number of hands called (four …
Box the GnatA facing man and woman join right hands; she turns left under the raised hands as he walks forward and turns right, exchanging places and ending face …
Ocean WaveA line in which adjacent dancers face opposite directions with hands joined. Step to a Wave forms it from facing dancers; Balance means step forward a…
Alamo StyleDancers in a ring alternate facing in and out with hands joined, forming a circular ocean wave, often followed by Balance and Swing Thru.
Swing ThruFrom an ocean wave, those who can turn half by the right, then those who can turn half by the left.
RunA designated dancer walks a half circle around the adjacent dancer into that dancer's spot, ending facing the opposite direction, while the adjacent d…
TradeTwo designated dancers exchange places by walking a semicircle toward each other, ending in each other's position facing the opposite direction (Boys …
Pass the OceanFacing couples pass thru, turn to face their partners, and step into a right-hand ocean wave.
Allemande TharAfter a left forearm turn, the men form a right-hand star in the middle and back up while the women walk forward on the outside, all holding left fore…
Shoot the StarFrom a thar, dancers turn half by the arm they are holding, release the star and move on to the next dancer.
Slip the ClutchFrom a thar, dancers release their arm holds; the star keeps moving forward and everyone steps up to the next dancer for the following call.
CirculateEach designated dancer moves forward to the next position along a set path — box, split, column, line or all eight.
Couples CirculateEach couple moves forward to the next couple position, as in a circulate for single dancers.
Wheel and DealFrom a line of four facing the same way, the right-hand couple wheels to the left and the left-hand couple wheels to the right, ending as facing coupl…
Double Pass ThruFrom a double pass thru formation, dancers pass thru twice, ending back to back with the dancers they passed.
ZoomIn a tandem, the lead dancer rolls away from the center in a full circle back to the trailing dancer's position while the trailer moves forward into t…
Turn ThruFacing dancers join right forearms, turn half by the right, then step forward and release, ending back to back. Left Turn Thru uses the left arm.
FlutterwheelFrom facing couples, the right-hand dancers step into the center, turn by the right to the opposite dancer, pick that dancer up with the left arm and …
Sweep a QuarterAfter a call that ends with turning, couples continue turning a quarter more in the same direction.
Trade ByFrom a trade by formation, the center dancers pass thru while the ends do a partner trade.

Mainstream program 14 calls

CallWhat dancers do
CloverleafCouples facing out separate and walk a three-quarter loop, meeting new partners to walk into the center as couples, tracing a cloverleaf.
Spin the TopFrom an ocean wave, the ends and adjacent centers turn half by the right; the new centers turn three quarters by the left while the others move up a q…
Tag the LineDancers in a line face the line's center and walk forward single file past each other until the line ends in a column facing out. Half Tag stops halfw…
Walk and DodgeIn a box or column, the walker moves forward one position while the dodger sidesteps into the walker's vacated spot.
Slide ThruFacing dancers pass thru; the man turns a quarter right and the woman a quarter left, ending side by side — like a Star Thru without hands.
FoldA designated dancer walks forward in a half circle around the adjacent dancer to end directly in front of, and facing, that dancer. Cross Fold moves t…
RecycleFrom an ocean wave, the ends cross-fold while the centers follow them around, so the wave becomes two facing couples.
Touch a QuarterFacing dancers step forward to join right hands in a mini-wave and turn a quarter by the right.
Scoot BackIn a box with some dancers facing in and some out, those facing in step forward, turn half by the right and step out to the position of the dancers fa…
Cast Off Three QuartersTwo dancers or couples turn three quarters around a designated pivot point, as if on an arm turn.
Spin Chain ThruFrom parallel waves, ends and adjacent centers turn half; the new centers turn three quarters, the very centers turn half, and the centers turn three …
Pass to the CenterFrom an eight-chain formation, everyone passes thru; the outside dancers partner-trade while the center dancers pass thru again.
HingeTwo dancers in a mini-wave (Single Hinge) or two couples in a line (Couples Hinge) turn a quarter around their handhold or center point.
Centers InFrom lines or boxes with the centers facing in, the centers step forward between the ends to form lines.

Plus program 6 calls

CallWhat dancers do
Acey DeuceyFrom parallel waves or similar setups, the center four dancers trade while the outside four dancers circulate.
Diamond CirculateDancers in a diamond formation each move forward to the next position in the diamond.
Grand Swing ThruA Swing Thru done across an eight-dancer tidal wave: those who can turn half by the right, then those who can turn half by the left.
Trade the WaveDancers in a wave trade with the dancer in the wave facing the same direction, turning the wave into the opposite-handed wave.
Triple TradeThe six center dancers of a line of eight or tidal wave trade in pairs.
RollAdded to a call that ends with turning motion: each dancer turns an extra quarter in place in the same direction.

Program lists follow CALLERLAB, the International Association of Square Dance Callers. Definitions are written by LesWatanabe.com for learners; callers should use the official CALLERLAB definitions.