M31 — Ocean Wave Family
Teaching unit M31 of the CALLERLAB (New) Mainstream Suggested Teaching Order, effective
1 September 2026. Prerequisites: Ocean Wave,
The Ocean Wave Family is five related calls that all begin or end in a wave — the line of dancers with alternating facing directions that most of square dancing is built on. You meet them together because each one is a doorway into the same formation.
a. Alamo Style
At a glance
| Starting formation | The Allemande Left starting formation — a squared set, each dancer facing their corner |
| Ending formation | Alamo Ring |
| Timing | 4 beats |
| Unit | M31a of 50 |
Animation
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Dance action
"Dancers start an Allemande Left but continue the Arm Turn until the men are looking toward the
center of the square and the women are looking out. Maintain the left handhold and join right hands
with the adjacent dancer to form an Alamo Ring."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
What you do
- Face your corner — the dancer diagonally across the set from you — and take a left forearm hold, exactly as you would for an Allemande Left.
- Walk around each other by the left. This time do not stop halfway.
- Keep going until the Men are facing the center of the square and the Women are facing out. That is a little more than half a turn.
- Keep your left hand where it is and reach out with your right hand to the dancer now beside you.
You finish in a ring of eight dancers with all adjacent hands joined and everybody alternately facing in and out. That is an Alamo Ring.
Timing
4 beats — two bars of music. It is the same timing as the Allemande Left it is built from, which is why the two are usually called as one phrase.
Styling
"Bring both hands up at the same time, sliding smoothly out of the forearm grip of the Allemande
Left, to blend into the same styling as Step to a Wave."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
Both hands arrive together. Do not finish the arm turn and then reach for the right hand — the two handholds overlap.
Common faults
| What happens | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| You stop in a normal Allemande Left and drop hands | The old habit took over | Keep turning past the half turn until you are looking in (Men) or out (Women) |
| The right-hand hold never forms and the ring has gaps | Reaching late | Bring both hands up at the same time as you finish the left turn |
| You end up back-to-back with your corner | You turned the wrong way | The turn is by the left, the same direction as an Allemande Left |
| The ring is lopsided | Some dancers took a shortcut through the middle | Walk a smooth circle; the left hold stays unbroken |
Where you meet it
Alamo Style is almost always called as one phrase — "Allemande Left in the Alamo Style" — and it is usually followed immediately by Balance. See the course overview for where this unit sits.
Related calls
- Allemande Left — the same turn, stopped halfway. See M04.
- Balance — the call that almost always follows it. See M31b.
- Step to a Wave — the styling it blends into. See M31c.
Also called / formerly
The full command is "Allemande Left in the Alamo Style". Many callers shorten it to "Alamo Style" and expect you to know the rest. "Right to Partner and Balance awhile" is an added instruction, not a different call.
b. Balance
At a glance
| Starting formation | Mini-Wave — usually inside an Ocean Wave or an Alamo Ring |
| Ending formation | Mini-Wave |
| Timing | 4 beats |
| Unit | M31b of 50 |
Animation
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Dance action
"Each dancer steps forward on one foot, using moderate tension in their connection with adjacent
dancer(s), and pauses while bringing the other foot forward and touching it to the floor without
transferring weight. Each dancer steps back on the free foot and pauses while touching the other
foot beside it."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
What you do
- Keep every handhold you already have. Do not let go.
- Step forward on one foot — a short step, no farther than shoulder-to-shoulder — and lean gently against the hands you are holding.
- Touch your other foot to the floor beside the first. Do not put your weight on it.
- Step back on that free foot, and touch the other foot beside it.
That is one Balance: forward and back, four beats. It is a gentle rocking motion, not a lunge.
Timing
4 beats — forward on the first two beats, back on the last two. Callers often call it as "Balance, and Balance again" to fill eight beats.
Styling
"Dancers maintain handholds throughout the call."
"Dancers should go forward no farther than shoulder-to-shoulder."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
The tension in your joined hands is what holds the wave together. Keep your arms springy and your step small.
Restrictions
The manual records that the Facing Couples Rule does not apply to Balance. If the caller wants a Balance, you must already be in a wave or a ring — the rule that normally lets dancers add a Step to a Wave to reach a wave does not rescue this one.
Common faults
| What happens | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| You step a long stride forward | Treating it as a walk | No farther than shoulder-to-shoulder; the step is short |
| The wave pulls apart or collapses | Letting go, or pulling hard | Keep the handholds and use moderate tension — a spring, not a tug of war |
| You put your weight on the touching foot | The foot came down flat and heavy | Touch the toe, then step back with it — the weight never transfers |
| You finish facing a different way | Adding a turn | Balance has no turn in it at all; you end exactly as you started |
Where you meet it
Balance is the standard way to mark time inside a wave. It is called from an Alamo Ring and from Ocean Waves, most often as "Allemande Left in the Alamo Style, and Balance". See the course overview for where this unit sits.
Related calls
- Alamo Style — the call that usually precedes it. See M31a.
- Step to a Wave — how you get into the wave you are balancing in. See M31c.
- Swing Thru — the other thing callers do from a wave. See M33.
Also called / formerly
You will hear "Balance forward and back", "Balance up and back", and "Balance awhile". They all mean this call.
c. Step to a Wave
At a glance
| Starting formation | Facing Dancers |
| Ending formation | Right-Hand Mini-Wave |
| Timing | 2 beats |
| Unit | M31c of 50 |
Animation
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Dance action
"Dancers walk forward a small step and join right hands."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
What you do
- Stand facing another dancer, a normal step apart.
- Both step forward — one small step is enough.
- Join right hands with that dancer as you arrive.
You finish standing right-hand-to-right-hand, still facing each other across the joined hands. That is a Mini-Wave — and when four of them stand in a line, an Ocean Wave.
Timing
2 beats — one step forward, one to settle into the handhold. It is the shortest call in this family.
Styling
"Dancers should finish using Hands Up position with all adjacent dancers."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
"Hands Up" means the joined hands are held up at about chest or shoulder height, elbows relaxed and down, palms joined with light pressure — the same hold you use in every wave. Do not lock your elbow or lean back on the handhold.
Restrictions
The manual records two things here. The Ocean Wave Rule does not apply to Step to a Wave. And the Facing Couples Rule requires certain dancers to add Step to a Wave before some other calls — which is why you will often hear it inside a longer call rather than on its own.
Common faults
| What happens | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| You step forward and stop with hands at your sides | Forgetting the handhold | The handhold is the call — join right hands as your foot lands |
| Your left hand also comes up into a wave hold with nobody there | Reaching for the wave you expect to be in | Join the right hand only; there is nobody on your left yet |
| You stand too far apart, arms straight | Taking too short a step | Take one honest step forward, then bend your elbows |
| You turn to face your partner instead of holding the wave | Thinking it is a couple call | You stay facing; a Mini-Wave is two dancers facing each other |
Where you meet it
Step to a Wave is the standard way to turn a facing pair into a wave, and it is the last third of Pass the Ocean. See the course overview for where this unit sits.
Related calls
- Dosado to a Wave — the same finish after a Dosado. See M31d.
- Single Circle to a Wave — the same finish after a circle. See M31e.
- Pass the Ocean — a three-part call that ends here. See M35.
- Pass Thru / Step Thru — the same step forward with no handhold. See M07.
Also called / formerly
"Step to an Ocean Wave" and "Make a Wave" both mean Step to a Wave. When the caller wants the other hand, you will hear "Step to a Left-Hand Wave".
d. Dosado to a Wave
At a glance
| Starting formation | Facing Dancers |
| Ending formation | Right-Hand Mini-Wave |
| Timing | 6 beats |
| Unit | M31d of 50 |
Animation
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Dance action
"In one smooth motion, Dosado and Step to a Wave."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
What you do
- Start a Dosado exactly as usual: walk forward, pass right shoulders, step to the right past each other, and back up around into place.
- Do not stop when you get back to your spot. In the same movement, take one more small step forward.
- Join right hands with the dancer you just dosadoed.
Three moves — Dosado, step forward, right hand — but danced as one continuous journey. If you can do a smooth Dosado you can do this.
Timing
6 beats — 4 for the Dosado and 2 for the Step to a Wave, exactly as the two calls add up.
Styling
"Follow the styling for Dosado (page 29) and for Step to a Wave (item c. above)"
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
In plain terms: normal Dosado arm and body styling, finishing with the Hands Up wave position from Step to a Wave.
Restrictions
The manual records that the Ocean Wave Rule does apply to this call. That matters when you start from a Mini-Wave rather than a facing pair: the rule lets the call begin from that wave instead of insisting you first "un-wave" into facing dancers.
Common faults
| What happens | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| You finish the Dosado back on your spot and stand there | The old Dosado habit | Keep walking: the last step forward is part of the call |
| You stop with the handhold half made | Reaching too late | Start bringing the right hand up as you back out of the Dosado |
| The wave is too wide or too narrow | Backing up too far | Finish the Dosado close, then step in — the whole call is continuous |
| You dosado a different dancer than the one you take hands with | Losing orientation during the turn | Take the right hand of the dancer you started facing |
Where you meet it
Because it is a Dosado and a Step to a Wave in one, Dosado to a Wave appears wherever callers want to build a wave out of a facing pair without the extra command. It shows up in singing calls and in "Allemande Left in Alamo Style, Dosado to a Wave". See the course overview for where this unit sits.
Related calls
- Dosado — the first two thirds of it. See M02.
- Step to a Wave — the last third. See M31c.
- Swing Thru — a common call right after it. See M33.
Also called / formerly
"Dosado and make a Wave" is the other common wording. Both are the same call.
e. Single Circle to a Wave
At a glance
| Starting formation | Facing Dancers |
| Ending formation | Right-Hand Mini-Wave |
| Timing | 4 beats |
| Unit | M31e of 50 |
Animation
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Dance action
"Facing Dancers join both hands with each other and Circle Left halfway. Without stopping, they
drop hands with each other and individually Veer Left, blending into a Right-Hand Mini-Wave."
"If the caller directs 'Single Circle 3/4 to a Wave', facing dancers join both hands with each
other and Circle Left 3/4, then continue to execute the rest of the call as above."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
What you do
- Face another dancer and join both hands — your right in their left, your left in their right.
- Circle Left together, halfway around. You have each swapped places, still holding both hands.
- Without stopping, let go of both hands with each other.
- Veer Left — that is, step forward and to your left, each of you doing it individually — and blend into a right-hand hold as you arrive.
You finish in a Mini-Wave facing the dancer you started with, right hands joined. If the caller says "Single Circle 3/4 to a Wave", just circle three-quarters of the way around before letting go, then do the veer exactly the same way.
Timing
4 beats — two beats of circling, two beats of veer and handhold. The 3/4 version takes a little longer in practice, and callers allow for it.
Styling
"In circling, the two dancers are slightly offset to the left so that their dance partner in the
circle is more to their right than in front of them. Use smooth dance step, not buzz. When joining
hands for circle, gents turn palms up, ladies palms down. Arms are bent comfortably at the elbows.
Exert a small amount of pressure while circling. Blend into a Hands-up Ocean Wave position."
— CALLERLAB, Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026.
The offset is what makes the veer work. Stand a little to the left of your partner as you circle, so that when you let go your momentum already carries you left.
Common faults
| What happens | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| You circle a full turn | Halfway felt like too little | Halfway is exactly to the opposite spot; the veer finishes the job |
| You stop dead before veering | Treating it as two calls | "Without stopping" is in the definition — keep the feet moving |
| You veer right instead of left | Muscle memory from other calls | The veer is always left, whichever hand you finish holding |
| You end up facing out of the set | Veering too far past the wave | The veer is a small step forward and to the left, then stop |
Where you meet it
Single Circle to a Wave is a compact way to build a wave without a Dosado or a Pass the Ocean, and it appears mostly in singing calls. The 3/4 version is the more common of the two. See the course overview for where this unit sits.
Related calls
- Step to a Wave — the plain version of the same finish. See M31c.
- Veer Left / Veer Right — the second half of this call on its own. See M17.
- Circle Left/Right — the first half on its own. See M01.
- Swing Thru — a common call from the wave you finish in. See M33.
Also called / formerly
The call is normally given in full: "Single Circle to a Wave". The fraction, as in "Single Circle 3/4 to a Wave", is the only variation.
Manual source: Mainstream Dance Program Definitions, revised 29 March 2026, page 41. Reproduced under the permission in sources and attribution.