HICKORY HOEDOWN

The music for the Hickory Hoedown should be derived from formal square dancing and convey the feeling of country-western style. The dance should reflect enjoyment and fair throughout. The prescribed free leg action, showing good control and supple knee action, will add crispness and accent the character of this dance.

The Hickory Hoedown is a symmetrical half-rink pattern dance, where position is optional, Steps 1to 17. After Step 17, closed position is assumed. At the repeat of the dance, the skaters resume optional position.

Steps 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 are two chassés done simultaneously by both partners first toward the longitudinal axis then away but progressing generally up the ice at a fairly rapid pace. These are followed by a progressive sequence (Steps 7 to 9) that curves sharply toward center and a slide chassé begun with a RFO cross roll (Step 10), the slide (Step 11) and the exit edge (Step 12). Step 11 (and Step 16) are three beats in length.

At Step 11 (and 16) a new type of free leg expression is introduced. The free leg should extend forward on the first part of the edge, then bend at the knee, causing the foot itself to travel back to the skating knee. Additional free leg expression at this point is permitted as long as it is appropriate for the dance.

Step 12 begins the identical sequence in the opposite direction with the progressive (Steps 12 to 14), a LFO cross roll (Step 15), the slide (Step 16), and the exit LFO for the man (Step 17a) with a LFO three for the lady executed on a fairly deep edge that curves around the corner. Step 18 is a four-beat swing of the free leg for both partners followed by a rapid three-turn for the man and two more four-beat swings in the opposite direction (Step 20). Steps 21 to 22 form a quick, somewhat difficult RBO-LFO back-forward transition for the man while the lady executes a forward chassé then progressive sequence to complete the dance in open position.

The Hickory Hoedown is a light, carefree and airy dance which must be skated with a square dance feeling. Because of identical sequences in both directions, the content of the dance is largely symmetrical. Therefore, well-controlled knee bends, deep and well controlled edges, and firm and exaggerated leg extensions are essential for appropriate expression in this dance.

MUSIC RHYTHM: Country-Western (Hoedown) 4/4
TEMPO: 26 four-beat measures per minute; 104 beats per minute
ISU MUSIC INTRODUCTION: 32 beats, 18.5 seconds
PATTERN-TIMING: 1 = :23; 2 = :46; 3 = 1:09; 4 = 1:32
DURATION: Test 2 = :46 Competition 3 = 1:09 Adult Competition 2 = :46
SKATER’S CHOICE TIMING: See Skater’s Choice Pattern Dance Timing Chart on usfgureskating.org under the “Technical Info” link
PATTERN: Set
TEST: Bronze

INVENTORS: Wendy Weinstock Mlinar, Holly Genola Cole and H. Theodore Graves FIRST
PERFORMED: Hickory Hill FSC, Harvey School Rink, Jan. 25, 1987

HICKORY HOEDOWN — SET PATTERN DANCE