Barbara G posted Nick Boulet's "Warmin' Up the Car" and started with:
"start in ocean waves along the side of the set"
I have always thought that an Ocean Wave was a wave of four people; in a
contra they would normally be across the set.
I know these terms for waves:
Wave: a formation of two or more dancers holding adjacent hands and with
each dancer facing in the opposite direction to that of the adjoining
dancer(s).
Ocean Wave: Wave for four (though in a square dance it could be from 3
to 7 people - maybe more if you do a grid square!)
Tidal Wave: Wave for all along the line of the whole set (can be down
the centre for just the Ladies or just the Men)
Alamo (Style) Wave/Ring: Circular wave
Mini Wave: Wave for two
Radial Wave: Waves for two in a Circle Mixer - all the couples like the
spokes of a wheel
Microwave: Having described some of the above to the dancers, hold up
one hand and wiggle the fingertips saying "and this is a microwave". :-)
Are these universal? What other terms do people use?
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent