GRAND MARCH VARIATIONS

Unfamiliar with dance cue terminology? Learn more here.
American Mixer

LS E-6

Music: Medley of traditional tunes

Musicians: Folklore Quintett Werner Brock

Courtesy: FudulaFON

Meter: 4/4

Introduction: 8 counts

GRAND MARCH TO FORM TWOS

The Grand March to Form Twos is a useful and enjoyable method of getting children in pairs.

Children march up the middle to the head of the hall, toward the instructor. Boys turn to their own left, girls turn to their own right, and march to the side of the hall and down the side to the foot. The leaders of these lines turn, with all others following, and march to meet in the center at the foot of the hall. There they turn and march by twos, up the middle, to the head of the hall, inside hands joined. They may separate, march to the foot, and repeat this, or march around with their partners to form a circle.

GRAND MARCH TO FORM FOURS AND EIGHTS

The children march to form twos, as above. They march by twos up the middle to the head of the hall, inside hands joined. There the first couple turns to their own left, the second couple right, third left, fourth right, and so on. The couples march to the sides of the hall, turn, and go down the sides again to the foot of the hall. When these lines of twos meet in the center at the foot of the hall, they face up, join hands in fours, and march up the middle to the head of the hall in lines of four.

To form eights, have the lines of four turn alternately to the left and right, as did the couples. At the center of the foot of the hall, the lines of four join into lines of eight and march back up to the top of the hall.

CRISS-CROSS VARIATION

Beginning with all the children in a single line in the center of the hall facing up towards the teacher, the children march up the middle to the head of the hall. Boys turn to their own left, girls turn to their own right, and march to the side of the hall and down the side to the foot.

When the leaders reach the corners at the foot of the hall, they face diagonally toward the opposite corner at the head of the hall and lead their lines across, through the center, on this diagonal line; let the girls cross in front of the boys when meeting in the center. When the children reach the opposite corners they turn sharply outward and march straight down the sides to the foot of the hall. From there they cross again on the other diagonal to the opposite head corner, turn sharply once more to the outside and march down to the corner at the foot of the hall. Now they can meet their partners in the center to form pairs.

ARCHES

The children march to form twos, as above. They march by twos up the middle to the head of the hall, inside hands joined. There the first couple turns to their own left, the second couple right, third left, fourth right, and so on. Designate the first couple number one, and the second couple number two. These are the leader couples. Following their leaders, all couples march to the sides of the hall, turn, and go down the sides again to the foot of the hall. When these lines of twos meet in the center at the foot of the hall, all couples behind couple number one form arches, and all those behind couple number two pass under the arches. Inside hands only are joined to make the arches and both lines continue to march forward. When all those couples following couple number two have passed under the arches and the lines meet again at the head of the hall, then couple number two and the line following make arches for couple number one and all following to pass under. When the arching is completed, the couples continue marching until they reach the center at the foot of the hall.

OVER AND UNDER ARCHES

Couples alternately arch and dive, beginning with couple number one who arches over couple number one, then dives under the arch formed by the next couple, and arches over the third couple, etc. to the end of the line.