If someone tells me to rotate then I will turn on the spot :-) The move is called Box Circulate. It doesn't make sense to me to use "rotate" instead of "circulate". When you are calling then using instructions such as Men Cross, Ladies Turn (or just Circulate once they have got it) is obviously useful. One trick that I have seen at MWSD when teaching is to get everyone to look at the feet of the person whose place they are moving to. You have to step into the footprints of that person, i.e. don't turn if you are moving forwards. I usually start with a circle left one place, then circle left one place without hands, then circle left one place following the person in front, then that again. That gets them back to where they started and then I get them to make mini-waves (just two people) and teach the move. But the idea of starting using stars instead of circles is good - I might try that next time. I also use this little dance to familiarise people with the move. With just two couples in a set it is much easier to see where you are going! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Little Boxes by John Sweeney Two Couples; Scatter Mixer A1: Circle Left (your orientation when you stop is irrelevant) Balance the Ring; Men Roll the Ladies (Partner) Right to Left with a Half Sashay A2: Balance the Ring; Men Cross - don't turn - make Mini-Wave with Neighbour - Right hand to Right hand Balance the Wave (F/B); Box Circulate CW B1: Balance the Wave (F/B); Box Circulate CW Neighbour Swing - this is your new Partner B2: Promenade - find New Neighbours - make Circles of Four = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: Balancing Forward & Back (rather than Right/Left) is much better for Box Circulates as it gives you the momentum for the forward movement. With good momentum it is also much easier to throw in a spin as you cross the set :-).             Happy dancing,                    John John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/

Back in the 1980's, when I first encountered dances with this figure, the term "Box Circulate" hadn't been coined as far as I know. I've only been hearing that term fairly recently (which could easily be 10 years or more I suppose, I don't know when it was first used).

Back then the term I heard most often for this figure was "Rotate". The original poster was asking for a term to use while calling that was a bit less cumbersome than "Box Circulate" or even "Circulate". Going back to a more compact term used in the past seems like a reasonable idea.