_______________________________________________There is a figure that is somewhat similar in some 4 facing 4 dances from the 1800s. In this case the couples slip past one another and then back with the couple on one side, I think I've seen both right and left, going in front each time.
For example:
La TempeteHillgrove (1863)4 Facing 4; Beginner-IntermediateA1 Lines of four go forward and back (1-4),That again (5-8)A2 All chassé across and back (1-8)
For the chassé in A2 keep hold of partner's hand. The left-hand couple takes eight slip steps to the right, passing behind the other couple, while the right hand couple slips to the left. Then slip back to place with the couple that went behind initially passing in front.
Perhaps the square dance figure was a variation on that.
Jonathan
From: Joe Harrington via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, September 5, 2025 12:54 PM
To: john@modernjive.com <john@modernjive.com>
Cc: Shared Weight Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Why is it a half-sashay?Interesting, and thanks! Clearly the "sashay" is a mispronunciation of French, similar to dosido and a few others.
I always thought of sashay as what the couple in a Virginia Reel does, a linear sideways gallop, and I've heard it called, "sashay down/up the middle". Does the circular sashay all the way around exist in other dances besides MWSD?
--jh--
On Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:Hi Joe,
First, I have always believed that some American mispronounced Chassee and it stuck. I recently saw this in the 1957 “History of Square Dancing”, page 18:
*** "chassee" (always pronounced "sashay" today; it is actually spelled "sasha" in John Burbank's New Collection of Country dances, Brookfield, 1799) ***
So, it looks like I was right, and it happened a long time ago!
https://archive.org/details/historyofsquared00damo/page/18/mode/2up?view=theater
Second, in Modern Western Square Dancing there was a move called “Full Sashay” or “Sashay All The Way Around” where you did it twice, the person on the right always going behind. MWSD no longer uses these terms, but the move we know is still a “Half”.
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
From: Joe Harrington via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: 05 September 2025 18:07
To: Shared Weight Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Why is it a half-sashay?
Would someone please explain why moving your right foot out to your right and following it by moving your body and left foot is only half a sashay? Seems like a full sashay to me. Half a sashay would be like, taking a wide stance and stopping. In ballet, a chasse' is walking by moving one foot out and following it up with the other, never crossing them. Based on some limited reading, I don't think it's counted (as in, chasse' three times), but rather refers to the style of walking, say as opposed to jogging. I could be mistaken.
"Roll away with a half sashay!" sure rolls off the tongue nicely, though...
--jh--
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