WELCOME BACK TO THE 8 CHAIN FAMILY (Taken from Callerlink 162 Febuary 2004)
Jeff Garbutt

Now that we've got the "8 Chain" moves back in Mainstream - have you been using them effectively? Well just in case you're old notes got lost here's a few to get you started. (But you better check the timing first.)

Some Singers:

Heads pass thru - California twirl - Sides pass the ocean - extend - swing thru - spin the top - slide thru - 8 chain 4 - swing corner and promenade

Heads square thru 4 - slide thru with sides - pass thru - tag the line - face in - touch ¼ - boys run - 8 chain 4 - swing corner - promenade

Heads lead right - circle to a line - pass thru - tag the line - face in - touch ¼ - boys run - 8 chain 5 - swing corner - promenade

Heads lead right - circle to a line - pass thru - tag the line - face in - touch ¼ - boys run - 8 chain 3 - swing (RHL) - promenade

Heads pass thru - separate go around 1 - squeeze in make a line - star thru - zoom - centres pass thru - 8 chain 4 - swing corner and promenade

Head ladies chain - heads promenade ¾ - sides pass thru - 8 chain 6 - swing corner - promenade

Heads pass thru and promenade ½ - sides pass thru and California Twirl - heads star thru - pass thru - 8 chain 5 - allemande left - promenade (corner)

Four ladies chain - heads star thru - California twirl - pass thru - trade by - eight chain five- left allemande - promenade.

Heads promenade ½ - lead to the right circle to a line - up and back - star thru - dosado - 8 chain 5 - swing corner - promenade

Heads lead right and circle to a line - star thru - pass thru - trade by - right and left thru - just the outsides half sashay - 8 chain 3 (some are pretty some are not) - swing corner - promenade

Don't forget the "courtesy turn".

No matter how well we train our dancers, remind them or plead with them - they still fall into the habit of doing a "wrong way grand action" by leaving out the "courtesy turn". It's only human nature really. 

But are we adding to the problem by following "8 chain" with moves that encourage the use of simple "left hand pull by" endings? For instance, by using "8 chain 4" followed by "swing", we are making it easy for dancers to leave off the "courtesy turn".

So maybe we can use it in a way that will encourage the use the "courtesy turn" action - by making it uncomfortable to use the "left hand pull by" action. For example, use "8 chain 4" followed by:
* Outsides wheel around - everyone trade by
* Outside rollaway - step to a wave with centres
* Everyone slide thru
* Everyone flutter wheel

Naturally your dancers, especially your seasoned ones, will have trouble with the above. But after about the second or third time, they'll get the idea.