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TEACHING HINTS AND ROUTINES

You can view the formations at: Formations
Tom Fromm writes:
32. THAR FAMILY: (a) ALLEMANDE THAR: An allemande thar star is a formation and may be formed at the end of any left arm turn by the center dancers (or those directed) forming a right hand box star and backing up. Each outside dancer holds the left forearm of a center dancer and walks forward. (b) WRONG WAY THAR: A wrong way thar may be formed at the end of any right arm turn by the center dancers (or those directed) forming a left hand box star and backing up. Outside dancers hold the right forearm of a center dancer and walk forward.

STYLING: When the men are in the center backing up, their right hands will form a packsaddle/box star, taking the wrist of the man in front of him. When the ladies star, they will simply touch hands in the center. The dancers forming the star must remember to allow those on the outside to set the pace, since they have to travel a much further distance. If the centers move too fast, the result is that those on the outside will have to run to maintain the pace. As in any star, the ladies, while on the outside, may elect to hold their skirts. TIMING: SS, from allemande left to point of backup star, 12 steps.
When I get ready to teach this move, I try to show them the ending position first. I told them that I only wanted to show them a strange formation. I 've done this the week before teaching the actual move. I had them in a SS to start. I had them do a 1/2 sashay. Now I had them face their partner. Next, I had them walk up to each other, left shoulder - to left shoulder. Now I ask them to take a left arm hold with their partner. Now I have the boys adjust inward, till they can make a right hand star. At this point, I will make them familiar with the pack saddle grip. I am doing this, only to show them the formation. I am not concerned with definition or flow at this point. I won't tell them the name of the move, or anything else. I only want them to see the formation.
The following week, I will do the review on everything except the Thar formation. After we have a break, I will remind them of that formation we looked at last week. We will get into it again, the same way as before. I will then read them the definition, for a Thar. I will stress that we can go into this formation, after ANY left arm turn. I will first have them walk around the corner, turn the partner with a left hand, and make a thar. (I will tell the boys to wheel in and make that star thing.) Now I will have them stop. I want to look around to see if everyone has a Thar. Then I will have everyone trade with the left hand, saying girls you are in the center, and the boys on the outside. I will tell them that any body can be in the center. At this time, I will tell the ladies that they can just touch hands and don't need to make that thing like the guys did. I will use several different ways to get into a Thar. Having the girls star right, (when you find your partner, turn by the left, boys wheel in and make an allemande thar, is a fast movement that will make them think on the fly.) I will NOT use Do Paso to get there. I may wait 3 or 4 weeks before showing that. When I do show it that way, I want to make sure I use Do Paso by itself also. I also will not teach "slip the clutch" or shoot the star" for a few weeks. I will call them directionally, but not with any regularity. If needed, I will simply have them "go home" rather than make a pattern. Keeping in mind, that we can have the girls/boys run, and promenade like that, we have a lot of choices. I will wait till we have regular thars smoothed out, before going on to WW Thar. I don't want to get them confused, but want it understood. I will use about the same teaches, only with a mirror effect.

Jim Penrod

WRONG WAY THAR

The following came from several callers:
From: Bob Elling
I remember Beryl Main calling this and I have used it ever since. Allemande Left, Box the Gnat, Wrong way Grand, It could be worse, Meet Partner Dopaso in Reverse, Partner Right, Right Hand Lady by the Left, Partner Right, Men Swing in Make a Wrong Way Thar, Shoot the Star, Left Allemande...

From: Ron Nelson
Allemande left, box the gnat
girls promenade inside
turn partner right to a wrong way thar
girls to the center for a back up star
cast off 3/4 to an alamo ring, balance
turn by the left 3/4 to a wrong way grande

From: "Ron Nelson"
Allemande left, box the gnat, wrong way grande (another under used call), turn partner right to a wrong way thar (boys in the center), shoot the star, turn corner left to an allemnde thar (girls in the center), slip the clutch to a do paso....

From: "Ron Nelson"
Subject: allemande thar choreography
ALLEMANDE LEFT, ALLEMANDE THAR, GO RIGHT AND LEFT AND FORM A STAR MEN TO THE CENTER AND BACK UP YOUR STAR
SHOOT THE STAR WITH A FULL TURN AROUND
TURN YOUR CORNER BY THE RIGHT AND MAKE A WRONG WAY THAR
MEN TO THE CENTER WITH A LEFT HAND STAR
BACK RIGHT ALONG IN THE RHYTHM OF THE BAND
SHOOT THE STAR TO A LEFT ALLEMANDE

RIGHT AND LEFT GRAND.. MEET YOUR PARTNER
BOX THE GNAT, WRONG WAY GRAND..MEET YOUR PARTNER
TURN BY THE RIGHT TO A WRONG WAY THAR
BOYS TO THE MIDDLE WITH A LEFT HAND STAR
SHOOT THE STAR LIKE A WRONG WAY GRAND,
COUNT TWO HANDS AND STAR AGAIN
MEN TO THE CENTER AND BACK UP MAN
SLIP THE CLUTCH, SKIP ONE MAN
TURN PARTNER BY THE RIGHT TO ANOTHER THAR
GIRLS TO THE CENTER FOR A WRONG WAY THAR
SHOOT THAT STAR WITH A FULL TURN MAN
LEFT TO YOUR CORNER FOR A LEFT ALLEMANDE

From: "Alan Woods"
Allemande Left to an Allemande Thar -- then Shoot the Start a full turn give a right to your (original) partner make a Wrong Way Thar
I get our with shot the star -- go forward two make a wrong way thar -- shoot that star -- left allemande -- right and left grand but swing the third girl

From: "Ron Nelson"
Example #1 Allemande left, Box the gnat, wrong way grand.. Turn partner right to a wrong way thar..
Example #2 Do paso, partner left, corner right, partner left, turn corner by the right to a wrong way thar..
Example #3 Right and left grand, turn partner right, GIRLS to the center for a wrong way thar..
As for get outs.. How about these for the above examples?
Example #1 Shoot the star, Allemand left
OR
Cast off 3/4 to an alamo ring
Example #2 Slip the clutch and box the gnat with partner
Example # 3 Shoot the star with a FULL turn, Allemand left