Batja's Breakdown

By Tom Hinds

The dance is named after long-time dancer and folklorist Batja Bell.

A1

• Shadows allemande left once
• Partners swing

A2

• Circle left once around
• Slide left along the long lines
• Circle left 3/4

B1

• Neighbors swing

B2

• Pass through to an ocean wave (4) (see below)
• Balance the wave (4)
• Neighbors allemande right halfway (2)
• Men allemande left halfway (2)
• Partners allemande right 3/4 (2)
  and look for shadow to allemande left as in A1

"Pass through to an ocean wave" (called "pass the ocean" in club square dancing) can be visualised in two ways. The latter more accurately reflects the usual flow. Note that an ocean wave is distinct from the typical "wavy line," because the women allemande halfway to trade places before forming the wave.

• Women allemande left halfway
  while men walk across the set
• Men take right hands with the convenient woman (in this case their neighbor) who's also the woman they began the figure with.
• OR
• Begin to pass through in the usual fashion
• While passing through, women catch convenient (left!) hands and turn 1/4
• Men continue the pass through until they can catch (Dan Pearl says "snag") convenient (right!) hands with the convenient woman.
• The figure ends with dancers in a line across the set.