Star Wars

When Meta-Concepts and Supercalls Collide

By Bill Heimann

h2ideas@ix.netcom.com

Introduction

Not so long ago, in a square dance hall far, far away ...

Callers have begun combining meta-concepts with supercalls. Don't laugh, it could happen in your neighborhood. Actually, I recently overheard someone attending a C2 dance say that the metaconcept/supercall combination is being recommended as a C2 quarterly, so you'd better pay attention!

Definition of Terms

A meta-concept is a concept which requires another concept with it. For example, you can combine Tandem and Mix to get a perfectly legitimate combination of concept and call: Tandem Mix. However, if you want to use the concept Initially, it must be combined with a concept/call combination, not simply one call like in the Tandem Mix example. Calling Initially Stimulate doesn't make any sense, but adding another concept to the combination does make sense, for example, Initially Tandem Stimulate. This last example combines the meta-concept with a call/concept combination.

Hence, there are a few concepts which require applying them to a call/concept combination rather than the traditional concepts which only require a call. Presently, there are at least five recognized meta-concepts: Initially, Finally, Random, Piecewise, and Echo.

"Supercalls are a class of calls which falls in a currently undefined region between call and concept. The members of this class can be defined as those calls/concepts which require another call." - quoted from Lynette Bellini's paper titled Supercalls. You can see the entire discussion on her website at www.lynette.org/supercalls.html.

A few examples of supercalls are: Tally Ho But (Any Call), Breaker (Any Call), and Rims Trade (Any Call).

Strategy

Here's a strategy that can be used to solve these complex puzzles.

Let's employ the old "divide and conquer" technique and divide each puzzle into three parts:

1. The meta-concept.

2. The Concept. The main reason for writing this paper is to explore situations where The Concept is in reality a supercall.

3. The Call. By saying "The Call", I'm making a distinction between "the call" which is the entire combination, and "The Call" which is the call part of the combination.

For example, in the combination (the call) "Echo Split Phantom Boxes, Tandem Mix", the meta-concept is Echo, The Concept is Split Phantom Boxes, and The Call is Tandem Mix.

Examples

All these examples are taken from actual dances, the first four by Lynette and the last one by Ben Rubright.

Finally Buckle and Couple Up

The three parts are:

1. The meta-concept, Finally.

2. The Concept - in this case it's the Supercall, Buckle and (Any Call).

3. The Call, Couple Up.

Since the meta-concept is Finally, everyone should do the first part of The Call normally. Hence, everyone should do a split circulate. Now we apply the Supercall to the last part of The Call, so we'd do a Buckle and finish Couple Up. This means that the ends do the Buckle part, while the centers finish the Couple Up with each other.

In summary, the call "Finally Buckle and Couple Up" would be danced as:

1. Everyone split circulate.

2. Ends Buckle - I think of this as a counter rotate and roll - while the centers have the leads turn around so the centers end with facing couples.

If the call were started in waves, it would end in a zero-tag setup.

Initially Breaker Contour the Line

The three parts are:

1. The meta-concept, Initially.

2. The Concept, Breaker (Any Call) - another supercall.

3. The Call is Contour the Line.

The first part of The Call is Hinge. Since the meta-concept is Initially, we'd do the first part of The Call in The Concept mode, then all finish normally.

The call "Initially Breaker Contour the Line" would be danced as:

1. Breaker Hinge.

2. Then all do the remainder of Contour the Line - 2 Split Circulates, Hinge - in your own box.

Random Rims Trade Turn the Key

The three parts are:

1. The meta-concept, Random.

2. The Concept, Rims Trade (Any Call) - another supercall.

3. The Call, Turn the Key.

Since the meta-concept is Random, we want to dance the odd numbered parts in The Concept mentioned. The Call has three parts: Trade, Counter Rotate, Hinge.

The call "Random Rims Trade Turn the Key" would be danced as:

1. Rims Trade - Trade. Of course this means that everyone Trades for the Rims Trade part, then only the new centers (the original rims) would do the second trade.

2. Everyone counter rotate.

3. Rims Trade - Hinge. Again, everyone would Trade for the Rims Trade part, then only the new centers (the original rims) would Hinge.

Assuming the call started from waves, it would end in diamonds.

Piecewise Busy 2/3 Cross Cycle

The three parts are:

1. The meta-concept, Piecewise.

2. The Concept, Busy (Any Call) - another supercall.

3. The Call, 2/3 Cross Cycle.

Since the meta-concept is Piecewise, we want to dance each part in The Concept/The Call combination.

The call "Piecewise Busy 2/3 Cross Cycle" would be danced as:

1. Busy 1/3 Cross Cycle.

2. Busy Counter Rotate.

Assuming the call started in two-faced lines, it would end in interlocked diamonds.

Initially Replace the Column But Recycle

The three parts are:

1. The meta-concept, Initially.

2. The Supercall, Replace the Column But (Any Call).

3. The Call, Recycle.

Since the meta-concept is Initially, we should apply the first part of The Call, Recycle, to the Supercall. Hence, the first part becomes Replace the Column But 1/3 Recycle. The remainder of Recycle is done normally in each box.

The call "Initially Replace the Column But Recycle" would be danced as:

1. Replace the Column But 1/3 Recycle.

2. Each box, split counter rotate.

3. Each box, roll.

Assuming it started in columns, it would end in a T-bone 2x4 matrix.

Conclusion

Don't take this meta-concept combination lightly. It presents an extremely challenging puzzle, one that becomes even harder when the reality is that it must be solved in dance time. Remember, when you hit these combinations on the dance floor, don't panic, and try to maintain the discipline necessary to analyze them in this "divide and conquer" method.

Come to think of it, that's not bad advice for any of challenge dancing's puzzles.