Index to Modules: Keep Order Modules Change Order Modules
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This article introduces basic mental image concepts by describing a simplified method for doing mental image calling. The idea behind mental image calling is that you can start from a squared set, call extemporaneously (make it up as you go, following rules of course) and then resolve the square without ever looking at dancers in a square. All critical information is tracked mentally while calling. The particular method presented here is relatively easy to use because limits are placed on what can be called so that only a few things need to be tracked.
"Order" has only two states: "In Order" and "Out Order". Everything you call, either single calls or short call modules, does known things to the "order state" as defined in a very special way below.
What Does "Order" Mean?In any 2 x 4 (or 4 x 2) formation when everyone has their original partner in the same quadrant (quarter) of the formation like this...
...the "order state" is determined by using "S" and "R" of FASR...
When the pairing is like this...
I call this "Stripe Pairing" (because it looks like stripes) The "order state" with stripe pairing is determined by the girls' sequence. In order to have stripe pairing, the boys' sequence must be different than the girls' sequence.
Girls RuleOrder is determined by the sequence of the girls.
The girls' sequence determines the order in both (all) cases. |
"Order state" is defined for convenient application to lines and waves ([L], [F], [W]) as well as these specific general column formations: [B], [P], [T] and [M]. "Order state" is like "sequence" extended to make it possible to call through these most common general column formations and accurately track what we normally think of as "sequence". At first, we will only be able to do this when everyone is paired with their partner. Later we'll introduce some variations that will extend the number of FASR states that can be tracked easily. Order state applies to every FASR state, however it is beyond the scope of this article to present more than the most basic application. Keep in mind that "order state" is a convenient definition that just works out well with many Basic, Mainstream, and Plus calls.
To make this method easy to use, we have these arbitrary restrictions...
In 'wide' formations, we require "quadrant pairing" so the boys' sequence will need to be the same as the girls' sequence to achieve this partner-pairing pattern. In 'tall' formations, we require "stripe pairing" so the boys' sequence will need to be opposite of the girls' sequence to achieve this partner-pairing pattern. Since the formation will determine which paring pattern we'll have, we never need to think about it.
These restrictions just happen to offer some handy benefits as shown by the next example.
Start from [SS] (squared set)...
...the dancers remain "In Order". We started "In Order" and called only calls that maintain the order state.
If we had started "Out Order" instead, the same calls above would have kept the order state "Out Order".
From 'tall' formations (general columns: [B], [P], [T] and [M]) and "stripe pairing", certain calls maintain the order state - We call these "Keep Order" calls or "Keep Order" modules. Others change the order state - We call these "Change Order" calls or "Change Order" modules. Many other calls will mess things up, so we will avoid them for now. Calls in the left-hand column below are examples of calls that keep the order state - either keep "In Order" or keep "Out Order". Calls in the right-hand column below are examples of calls that change the order state - change from "In Order" to "Out Order" or change from "Out Order" to "In Order".
Keep Order | Change Order | ||
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To keep order...
To change order we must disrupt the sequence by actively breaking the rules that keep order - in a careful way.
If the centers were to Trade, the order changes because they "cut through" the middle. If the centers leap-frog to the ends as in the call Zoom, the order changes because they changed the order in which they follow each other around the perimeter. As long as dancers move along the path around the perimeter of the square (as they do on the call Eight Chain Thru) and no one cuts in front of anyone moving along this path, they will "Keep Order".
See Evaluating Order State With "Stripe" Pairing to help recognize the patterns you'll want to spot if you are sight calling and notice the dancers are paired like strips. |
We have looked at (and defined) two order states: "In Order" and "Out Order". Now let's take a closer look at the two types of calls or call modules we'll allow in this simple mental image method: "Keep Order Modules" and "Change Order Modules". "Keep Order" calls and/or modules maintain the order state as it is. "Change Order" calls and/or modules change the order state to the other state.
START | MODULE | END |
"In Order" | Keep Order Modules | "In Order" |
"Out Order" | "Out Order" | |
"In Order" | Change Order Modules | "Out Order" |
"Out Order" | "In Order" |
Take a look at the modules: Keep Order Modules and Change Order Modules for examples that will hopefully get you started writing your own.
Throughout this web site, I append the order state to applicable FASR notation to help clarify this often confusing notation. I use special symbols to help clarify "stripe" or "quadrant" pairing. This is an attempt on my part to reduce the confusion between "order" and "sequence" where it makes a difference.
PAIRING | ORDER STATE | SYMBOL |
"Quadrant" | "In Order" | "in seq" |
"Out Order" | "out seq" | |
"Stripe" | "In Order" | "s-in" |
"Out Order" | "s-out" |
The "s" in "s-in" and "s-out" means "Stripe" pairing.
Points of clarification:
In general, use "quadrant" paring in lines or waves and
"stripe" pairing in general column formations.
While this is not a requirement, it is beyond the scope of this
article at this time to deal with other pairings since this would require
that the caller track more information while calling.
All of the modules listed below adhere to the following restrictions...
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When you are ready for more complexity and want to add a little spice, you can throw in one call or module that changes the order state. This will change from "In Order" to "Out Order". You will need to make a mental note of this. You continue calling only calls and/or "modules" that keep the order state but you need to remember that the order state is "Out Order", Before you resolve, you must call another call or module that changes the order state back to "In Order". You may now use a memorized "In Order" get-out to get the dancers to their corner for an Allemande Left or to their partner for a Right And Left Grand. You may want to start out calling two "Change Order" calls or modules one after the other so you will not have to remember the order state is "Out Order" for very long.
When you change the order state, you take on the burden of remembering to change it back before resolving. You may also change it back as part of the resolve by using an "Out Order" resolve.
"In Order" get-in | --> | "Keep Order" (as many as you want) and/or "Change Order" (an even number of times) |
--> | "In Order" get-out |
As it turns out, many of the traditional calls used by professional callers to keep the dancers in standard sex arrangement are the same calls we will use to keep the dancers "In Order". This will help us use common calls that will deliver a high success rate with average dancers. The trick is that everyone stays more or less with, or near, their partner throughout.
To help disguise the fact that dancers are near their partner, you might want to mix in your own memorized "zeros", call pre-written segments with knowledge of how the order state is affected, or use other techniques such as "isolated sight". This mental image method becomes a means for "gluing together" your zeros and for setting up the resolve. Even if you limit yourself to the simplest memorized modules that maintain the order state, there is still a great deal of variety in what you can call.
From [SS]: H-LeadR --Cir2L = [L1p] "in seq" More [L1p] Get-ins H-T1/4- -Wk&Dg = [B4c] "s-in" More [B4c] Get-insSee Get-ins and Opening Calls for many more of these.
From [L1p]: --SldTh --SqTh3 --AL More [L1p] Get-outs From [B4c]: --SwThr --TrnTh --AL More [B4c] Get-outsSee Get-outs From Common Formations for many more of these.
You'll then need to memorize enough of the following modules (or make up your own) so that you always have something to call from every formation you expect to be in.
Remember - You'll still need to track the formation, body flow, level-of-difficulty, etc. so you know what you can call! (see Points for Better Calling for a list of such details) |
Modules are single calls or series of calls that do known things to the dancers. In this mental image system, we want modules that will move the dancers around in a fun way and either keep the order state or change it. Click on the following links for a list of examples that will hopefully encourage you to create your own!
Index to Modules: "Keep Order" "Change Order"
"In Order" get-in | --> | "Keep Order" (as many as you want) and/or "Change Order" (ODD number of times) |
--> | "Out Order" get-out |
"Out Order" get-in | --> | "Keep Order" (as many as you want) and/or "Change Order" (even number of times) |
--> | "Out Order" get-out |
"Out Order" get-in | --> | "Keep Order" (as many as you want) and/or "Change Order" (ODD number of times) |
--> | "In Order" get-out |
From: [0L1p] ("in-seq") --T1/4 --Col.C B-Run [B1c] "AL" From: [0B4c] ("s-in") --SwThr G-Cir B-Trd B-Run --Cpl.C --Feris C-PasTh [B1c] "AL"
From: [B1c] (all facing corner) --SwThr G-Cir, B-Trd [5W1p] "in seq" B-Run [F1p] "in seq" --RLT --StrTh --T1/4 --Col.C B-Run --StrTh [Lip] "in-seq" --StrTh --PasTh --BendL --T1/4 --Col.C B-Run --StrTh [L1p] "in-seq"
More modules = More variety = More fun!
However too many = Mistakes = Not much fun. (!) |
Make sure you are having fun so your dancers will be having fun with you!