The original “Rights & Lefts” was commonly four steps for each of four “changes”.

Square Dancers often do them at twice that speed, just two steps for each change.

My guess is that Contra Dancers found four steps too slow and wanted to add more energy, so they introduced the Balance Forward & Back then two quick changes.

Note: Square Dancers define Square Thru as finishing in the direction you were facing for the last change, with your back to the person you just passed; Contra Dancers liked the term, but ignored that bit of the definition!  Aren’t living traditions wonderful?

Of course, since a Balanced “Square Thru” is now a well-defined contra term, an Interrupted one should surely be:

Pull by Right, give Left Hand & Balance F/B, Pull by Left

:-)

            Happy dancing,

                   John

John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574

http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent