St. Louis Blues Square

"A very modern quadrille" by Dr. W. S. Hollycross of St. Louis,
Missouri.

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Record: LS X-85

Formation: Normal four couple square set.

Introduction
Measures
     1-2 WAIT for first two meas.
     3-4 FORWARD, 2, 3, 4; BACK, 2, 3, 4. All join hands and
     walk twd the center of the set 4 steps, and back to place in 4
     steps.

Part 1
     1-2 HEAD COUPLES TO THE RIGHT AND LINE UP FOR
     A WEATHERVANE
     First couple advances to the second, and third to the fourth.
     The second and fourth couples turn to face them as they
     advance. Each individual does a 3/4 dos-a-dos around the
     opp person, (first man around second woman, etc.)
     Stopping as the eight form a diag line across the square.
     Hook elbows, with the first and fourth couples facing one
     way, and the second and third the other, in the following
     order from the L (as seen by the caller): third woman,
     fourth man, third man, fourth woman, second woman, first
     man, second man, first woman.
     3-6 TURN WEATHERVANE AROUND AND BACK TO
     PLACE
     The whole line turns around once, the ends moving fwd in
     LOD, and half the dancers moving bwd. The second and
     fourth women almost mark time in the center of the line,
     while the first and third women, on the outside, have to
     hurry.
     7-8 CENTER LADIES TURN HALF AND ALL LEFT
     ALLEMANDE
     The center women (letting go with their L elbow, still
     holding with their R), continue turning until they have
     completed a half turn, and the first and third men back up
     twd their home pos, and all L allemande. The side couples
     turn 1 « times around.
     9-10 PARTNERS RIGHT, AND GRAND RIGHT AND LEFT
     Move directly into a regular R and L grand, straightening
     up the circle to be quite round.
          11-12     PROMENADE HOME
     All promenade home. Keep promenading (no bow at
     home), and go immediately into Part 2 with the first beat of
     the music.

Part 2
     1-2 PROMENADE IN SINGLE FILE
     With the ladies in the lead, end in opp pos.
     3-4 LEFT HAND STAR
     All touch left hands and continue circle.
     5-13 VENUS AND MARS
     The first woman leaves the star holding her R hand out, and
     the fourth woman follows touching her R hand, then the
     third and second women follow, each touching the other's
     R hand in star. The men continue star with their L hands.
     You now have two complete stars, one of the men twd the
     third couple's home pos andone of women twd the first
     couples home pos (12 steps in all).
       As the first woman and first man come tog again, the
     woman steps over in front of the man, and joins his star
     with her L hand; while the man steps across and joins her
     star with his R hand. The fourth woman then steps in front
     of her man and they exchange stars, followed by the third
     and second couples. It is done very smoothly, very
     naturally, very easily. Remember that each woman steps in
     front of her man in changing stars. (12 more steps are used)
       When they come tog again, the first man and the first
     woman change places in the stars again, the woman
     stepping in front of her man and joining R hands in his star
     again, while he steps behind her and joins her star with his
     L. Each couple follows in regular order, the woman
     stepping always in front of her man, as she joins the new
     star with her R hand. (12 more steps)
          14-16     PROMENADE HOME
     The first couple then join in Varsouvianna pos, followed by
     each other the others as the stars come around, and walks
     directly across the squrae to the side of the second pos, then
     turning L face, they march around the square in
     Varsouvianna (regular promenade dir) and back home
     again. Keep promenading, there is no bow.

Part 3
     1-8 CAPE ROLL BACK
     Each couple (in Varsouvianna pos) walks 4 steps. Then let
     each woman make a L-face turn back in front of her
     partner, while he "rolls" her back, retaining her hand until
     she is at his L side. She then goes to the man in back, and
     again takes Varsouvianna pos with him. (The men must
     step fwd to meet the girl coming their way.) Do this 4 times
     in all until each woman is back with her partner. Each man
     will have circled the ring twice and will be home again.
     9-12 PROMENADE HOME
     Each couple promenades clear around the ring and back
     home again.

Repeat the dance one more time (without introduction). This time
let the second and fourth go to the right for the weathervane, and
the third lady lead out for the Venus and Mars.

     1-3 ENDING. Retaining R hands, swing woman into center and
     bow. Woman comes back to place with a L-face turn under
     man's R arm and bows.