Definition

1. Noun:
   • A square-dance figure: A specific movement or pattern performed in square dancing, a type of folk dance.
   • The movement itself: The action where two dancers approach each other, pass right shoulders, move around each other back-to-back, and return to their starting positions.

Usage

• As a dance call: The term is primarily used as a command by a square dance caller to instruct dancers to perform this specific figure.
  • The caller shouted, "Do-si-do your partner!"
• As a noun describing the figure: It can be used to refer to the movement itself.
  • The next part of the dance is a classic do-si-do.

Examples

• Noun:
  • In traditional square dancing, a do-si-do is a fundamental figure.
  • They performed a perfect do-si-do before moving on to the next sequence.

Advanced Usage

• "to do-si-do (with someone)": Used informally to describe any situation where two people or things circle around each other, often in a busy or avoidant manner.
  • We did a little do-si-do in the hallway trying to get past each other.

Variants and Related Words

• Dosado: An alternative spelling for the same square dance figure.
• Square dance: The category of folk dance in which the do-si-do is a common figure.
• Caller: The person who calls out the dance moves, such as the do-si-do.

Synonyms

• Circle figure: A general term for a dance move where dancers move in a circular path.
• Back-to-back pass: A descriptive phrase for the action.

Related Phrases

• "Do-si-do your corner": A specific square dance call instructing a dancer to perform the figure with the person diagonally opposite (their "corner") in the square.
• "Do-si-do your partner": The most common call, instructing dancers to perform the figure with the person they are paired with.

Noun

1. a square-dance figure; two dancers approach each other and circle back to back before returning to their original places