
Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts
Mirror Concept [C3B]
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Mirror Concept -- [C3B]
   (Vic Ceder)

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The Mirror CONCEPT is accomplished by executing the definition of the given call and replacing:

  • Right with Left and vice-versa; and
  • Beau with Belle and vice-versa.

At any point where you would normally pass Right-shoulders, pass Left-shoulders and vice-versa. At any point where you would normally use the Right-hand, use the Left-hand and vice-versa. At any point where the Beaus do something, the Belles do it and vice-versa.

Mirror Swing Thru: Left Swing Thru
Mirror Flutter Wheel: Reverse Flutter Wheel
Mirror Here Comes The Judge: Sock It To Me
Mirror Tag The Line: Pass Left-shoulders instead of Right-shoulders
Mirror Slide Thru: Left Pass Thru; Boys 1/4 Left as Girls 1/4 Right
Mirror Wheel & Deal: (from a One-Faced Line): The left-side Couple goes in front

Mirror Wheel & Deal
  half-way  after

When doing the Mirror version of a call in which two dancers end on the same spot (such as an odd Tally-Ho) step to Left hands instead of Right hands! The Mirror CONCEPT is more binding than the Right-hand same-spot rule.

Note: The words Left and Reverse have traditionally been used to indicate Mirror (e.g., Left Swing Thru, Reverse Flutter Wheel) but their usage is inconsistent. Dancers may not know what is intended when something like 'Left Circle By' is called. Should one Circle Left the first given fraction then Left Touch the next given fraction? Or, since you are normally moving to the Left on a Circle By, should one Circle Right the first fraction? Reverse can also mean 'In Reverse Order', 'Rewind', or have other meanings ('Reverse Stack The Line': original Trailers instead of Leaders go across to right hands!). If we only had the choice of using Left or Reverse, what would the Mirror version of Shake & Rattle be called? The Mirror version of Shakedown is called Left Shakedown and the Mirror version of Reverse Split Swap is called Split Swap! The Mirror CONCEPT resolves these ambiguities.

Hint: If you can imagine dancing in a mirrored room and executing a call normally, your reflection would be dancing the Mirror version of that call.

Common misconceptions: A Mirror Pass The Ocean is not a Pass The Sea. A Mirror Pass The Ocean involves a Left-shoulder Pass Thru, whereas a Pass The Sea involves a Right-shoulder Pass Thru.

Note: For many calls, the Mirror version of the call is the same as the call itself. For example, a Mirror Scoot Back is a Scoot Back (since the definition of Scoot Back does not involve Beaus|Belles or Left|Right); Similarly, when starting from a Wave, a Mirror Spin The Top is the same as Spin The Top.

Mirror Circle By fraction By fraction | anything [C3B]: From Facing Couples. Circle Right the first given fraction and Step To A Left-Hand Wave; Arm Turn the second given fraction or do the anything call. This call has historically been known as Reverse Circle By.

Mirror Circle By 1/4 By 1/4
Circle Right 1/4 and
Step To A L-H Wave
Arm Turn 1/4

Mirror Recycle [C3B]: From Facing Couples. Belles Extend and Left-Face U-Turn Back as Beaus Dodge into the Belle's original starting position and Veer Right. Ends in a L-H Wave. Historically known as Reverse Recycle.

Mirror Recycle

Mystic CONCEPT [C4]: Center 4 work Mirror as the Outer 4 work normal, and all do the given call. If the call involves the Centers eventually working with the original Outsides, then the completion of the call procedes in a normal manner (i.e., the original Centers no longer work Mirror). In this case, it would be better if the caller said Initially Mystic.

Choreography for Mirror Concept

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

21-January-2020 06:07:40
Copyright © 2019 Vic Ceder.  All Rights Reserved.