8. MARCHING

The Grand March

While marching is somewhat apart from dancing, still it is not wholly so, and it may be expedient to treat of it here. Marching has always found much favor and will continue to do so. It may be said to open, to elaborate a function with some pomp and circumstance. To lead the Grand March, be it for your Lodge or your Sorority dance, will ever be a unique and distinguishing accomplishment.

If no side rooms permit the meeting of partners, form on the right side of hall or room as in Diagram A. The gentleman on the left side of lady, her left arm in his right. Both start with left foot.

Having made a complete tour of the hall, turn and walk down the center to the fore end.

The gentlemen separate from the ladies at the lower end.

The ladies and gentlemen meet at the top; he walks in front of his partner in single file. It is to be remembered that the precedence is not always the established form; it altogether depends on the auspices of the affair; under the auspices of a lady's caption a lady takes precedence.

At the lower end the line divides, each lady following her respective partner.

Having reached the top of the hall the gentlemen and ladies come together in twos.

At this part, two gentlemen and two ladies go the same way as they divide; the ladies follow their partners.

The gentlemen, meeting two from each side, march down centre, four abreast; the ladies follow also in fours.

In this figure they move as composite units of eight; four gentlemen abreast, four ladies abreast. They divide at lower end; the gentleman on the inside stands as a pivot, making the turn in true military fashion; the ladies likewise.

The last turn should be carefully made, as this is the crowning point in achieving the march, the gentleman on the inside acting as a pivot; each in line, keeping his body well together so that those on the outside have to take longer steps to negotiate the turn with the right military effect.

After the lines are all formed in platoons of eight, the line of gentlemen march down to the end of the hall, while the rest of the participants remain standing. When the first line of gentlemen has reached the lower end, turn and face the marchers. As the ladies' line marches down toward them, the rest remain standing until the ladies reach the end and are facing their partners. Remain so. Then the next line of gentlemen march down the same way, face about, and find at this point the ladies and gentlemen are standing back to back or facing partners. Then the ladies march down the same and are facing their partners. And so on until the entire participants have come to the lower end of the hall. Then the orchestra starting a One Step, the dance proper begins.

The forms achieved at the end of the march are usually symbolic of the affair — some significant form, as the Maltese Cross, triangle, alphabetical arrangements, etc. Diagrams K and L are added to show possible arrangements and the general principle of movement In Diagram K, namely the winding and unwinding spool the couples go into the centers of the top and lower halls in order to get space for the two spools.

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