62. FOLD FAMILY: Starting formation -any two dancer formation in which the directed dancer has a shoulder directly adjacent to the other dancer. GENERAL RULE: Directed dancers step forward and move in a small semi-circle to end facing toward an adjacent dancer or position. The adjacent inactive dancer may be facing in any direction and does not move. If not specified, centers fold toward ends and vice versa.
(a) BOYS FOLD:
(b) GIRLS FOLD:
(c) ENDS FOLD:
(d) CENTERS FOLD:

Directed active dancers fold toward the inactive dancers using the general rule.

(e) CROSS FOLD: Starting formation -line, two-faced line, or wave. The directed (active) dancers who must either both be centers or both be ends, fold toward the farthest inactive dancer by walking in a semi-circle to end facing toward that same dancer. When the active dancers are both facing the same direction, they move forward in a semi-circle, pass each other and fold toward the inactive dancer.

STYLING: Hand position depends on starting formation, i.e., hands up from a wave, couple handhold from a line or circulate. Using appropriate hand position, the inactive dancer should exert slight pressure to adjacent dancer and assist in initiating folding action.

TIMING: Fold, 2 steps; cross fold, 4 steps.

Since Fold and Cross Fold should be taught as two different calls, they will be handled here in like manner.
FOLD:This is a two dancer movement, meaning that only two dancers work together. We will not get into the possibility of Couples Fold.

The dancers may be facing the same direction or opposite directions (mini-wave). Some have described Fold as 1/2 of a Run. As the definition states, the caller must direct one dancer (boy, girl, center, end) to be the Active dancer. That active dancer will step forward then turn 90 degrees toward the other dancer, take a step forward then turn 90 more degrees toward the inactive dancer. The caller should, after demonstrating the call, get the dancers to make the two turns in a smooth simi-circle movement.

The other dancer, Inactive, will not move.

If the dancers are facing the same direction, they will end face to face. If they are in mini-waves, the Active dancer will be facing the Inactive dancer's back.

CROSS FOLD:This is a four dancer movement. As the definition states, it can be called from Waves or Two Faced Lines. Again the caller must establish the Active dancers.

In a either formation, have the active dancers step forward and turn 90 degrees toward the inactive dancer that is NOT next to them. Ask them to locate the "other" Inactive dancer but not to move yet. Tell them that when they finish their part of the call, they will be standing in front or behind that Inactive dancer. So that the Active dancer can understand the CROSS in Cross Fold, ask them to locate the other Active dancer. When they are traveling to the Inactive dancer notice that they pass by each other even if there is distance between them. This is the "Crossing action" refered to in the movement.
When called from Waves the Active dancer will be facing the Inactive dancer. When in Two Faced Lines, the active dancer will be behind the Inactive dancer.

Lines: When all dancers are facing the same direction in a Line, and the call Cross Fold is used, the dancers will use the Passing Rule when they meet. Otherwise, the calls are taught the same.

There are othe comments and teaching hints after the below routines. In some of the routines you may notice that the caller has EVERYONE active. This usually done from mini-waves. Both dancers become active. Both step forward, do the turns, ending facing. Since this is not really specified in the definition, some consider it a gimmick. Most believe it is legal.

Heads Promenade
1/2 Square Thru Four
Split Two
Separate (around one)
Pass Thru
Ends Fold
Pass Thru
Trade By
Slide Thru
Right & Left Thru
Pass Thru
Centers Fold
Swing Promenade
or Square Thru Four Split Two
Separate (around one)
Pass Thru
Ends Fold
Right & Left Thru
Veer Left
Ferris Wheel
Pass Thru
Swing Thru
Girls Cross Fold
Swing
Promenade

Judy Obee writes:
My favorite singer figure using Fold.

H Square Thru 4
Dosado
Touch 1/4
Scoot Back
Boys Run
Right & Left Thru
Pass the Ocean
Everybody Fold
Swing corner, promenade.

I have found that the less experienced dancers have a problem with that "Everybody Fold" bit.

So, the first time or two, I say, really fast, "Girls fold behind the guy, Girls tap him on the shoulder, him turn around, swing, promenade". I end up with a lot of excitement in my voice, and it goes over well. Then, the next time, I switch genders: "Boys fold, boys tap her on the shoulder, her turn around, ...."Then, the last figure, I'll toss in the "Everybody Fold", and it works.

I get a lot of chuckles from the floor when I do it this way. So I do it every so often.

Anything to make them have a good time.

Jim Penrod writes:
A singing call:
H Sq. Thru
Do Sa Do (for timing only)
Touch 1/4
Scoot Back
Boys Run
Rt & Lt Thru
Ladies Lead Dixie Style to a Wave (if you have taught it)
Balance Forward and Back
Boys CROSS FOLD
Swing, Promenade

H square thru
Do Sa Do to an Ocean Wave
Girls Trade
Swing Thru
Single Hinge
BOYS FOLD
Double Pass Thru
Girls U Turn Back
Touch 1/4
Boy Run
BOY FOLD
Swing, Promenade

Heads Promenade 1/2
Heads Square Thru
Rt & Lt Thru
Dive Thru
Centers Pass Thru
Swing Thru
Boys Trade
Single Hinge
Boys Fold
Girls Turn Thru
Star Thru, Promenade

Dan Koft writes:
The way that I teach it is to get them to do the motion then tell them the name and the correct definition. I set up lines or waves (any arrangement except BBGG) and say:

Boys/Girls imagine what you would do if I told you to Run. Now what I want you to do is that, BUT I want the Girls/Boys to stay as they are while you do that. Ready? Boys/Girls do a run but the Girls/Boys stand still.

I'll then tell them they should be facing someone’s front/back and that the motion is called Fold.

I then take the other people through it and then move onto the formations where they face someone’s back/face. I then mention that you could think of Run as a Fold followed by the other people dodging out of the way (thus setting up for or using Walk & Dodge). I later mention that there may be times where a Fold will put you facing a shoulder rather than a face or back. I show them this and dance it a little but find little use for it at MS or even plus.

Jim Penrod writes:
In response to a posting by: Dan Koft. If Dan takes this as flame, then I apologize from the start. It is not.

I would NEVER teach Fold as a Run, except that I might tell them that is like a half run the turn 1/4. Any RUN will put the runner on the other side of the other person. I believe that this will (could) only confuse the dancer to some extent. When I teach the call from the beginning, I have the dancers facing the same way with boy and girl as pairs. I ask them to think of an open book. One side of the book is the girl and the other the boy. Now we are going to FOLD the book. When we fold the book one side usually stays still while the other side is closed. Now boy (or girl) FOLD. "Step forward, turn to face the girl".

I will do this with the girl. Then I will put them in mini waves and do the same thing. After some practice, I will put them in facing lines. I will ask the girls to take a step or two backward. I will ask the boy to FOLD. At this time I will explain that if the other side of the book is still there one will either stand in front or back of the other person. If they are not there then the one FOLDING will take the foot steps of person. Now this is the way I teach the movement. Whose to say it is better or worse than Dan's? Maybe I over teach, but it sure helps when it comes to teaching Scoot Back.

Note: One caller noted that his dancers would probably say, "I close the book both covers at the same time."

Clark Baker writes:
There are a few calls where I find the technique of doing the call, undoing the call, doing the call, undoing the call is helpful.

For example,
Heads lead right, circle to a line, pass thru.
Teach fold and ends fold.
Do an Ends Fold. Now undo what you just did.
Say a few more words about fold and ends fold.
Do another Ends Fold. Now undo it. Ends Fold. Undo it.
We can have people other than the ends do the fold.
Centers Fold. Undo it.
Girls Fold. etc.

When the call is short, and undoing it is not too painful, giving the dancer the ability to go forward and backward in the call help them get lots of examples of the call and really see how it works with respect to other dancers (instead of blindly following some rules or a definition). It helps some people internalize the call.

Stewart Kramer writes:
In response to a posting by: Judy Obee
"Everybody Fold" used to be more common (in the 1970's, I think). The motion is the same as the Advanced call Single Wheel, which has almost totally replaced it. A relic of it can be found in the calls Ramble and Cross Ramble, where "Everybody Cross Fold" is used as the Cross version of a Single Wheel.

What makes "Everybody Fold" a peculiar call is that each dancer is Folding to face another dancer who is moving at the same time. This idea of aiming for a moving target means that it's not like the other versions of Fold, where the inactive dancer can be told to do something else, and the Folding dancers work towards the original spot, not where the dancer in that spot is going (as in the Plus call Crossfire, which starts with Ends Cross Fold while the Centers Trade).

I think that's why it was not included in the original Callerlab lists, even though it was commonly used. It didn't seem like "Everybody Fold" was consistent with the other usage. Now that it's not on any list, few callers teach it or use it.

Daryl Clendenin writes:
In response to a posting by: Stewart Kramer
Guess I'm one of the few. I don't call it often but one of my favorite get-outs right now at Mainstream is: From an across the street box (in sequence) (eg. Heads Star Thru, Pass Thru, Right & Left Thru) Step to A Wave, All Eight Circulate, Everybody Run Right, Everybody Fold, Allemande Left. The Single Wheel seems un-appropriate at MS.

Bob Elling writes:
I don't use everybody fold because the ending position must be adjusted. I would think that the ending position could be argued to be the equivalent of a trade then back up 2 steps thus setting up a disconnected swing thru.

It works for a singing call figure because the next call is swing your corner. It is also a stretch that gets a good reaction from dancers. The combination could also be used in patter any time you can call a right and left grand from a wave set up you could have everybody trade and everybody fold to a right and left grand.