Teacup Like a Daisy Chain

Pictures and words cannot do justice to this call. It is like a Teacup Chain, except that the girls (belles, actually) go forward 2, back 1, forward 2, back 1, and forward 2 to their partner. When going forward, the usual rules apply — into the center for an appropriate Arm Turn whenever they are at the heads position (assuming it was Head Ladies Center for a Teacup Like a Daisy Chain), and directly to the next boy if at the sides position. When going backward, they do whichever they did (Arm Turn in the center or direct) on the forward motion that got them there.

When reversing direction (either forward to backward or backward to forward) on a direct motion, turn an extra full turn with that boy, to make the timing more uniform relative to the other girls who have to go into the center.

The girls strictly alternate hands at all times. If done correctly, it should end with the left hand free for a Courtesy Turn with original partner.

As usual, the boys make hands available as required, and otherwise try not to be actively helpful.

There is a trick that some people find helpful to keep track of the forward and backward motion, particularly those that like baseball analogies. Imagine that you have hit a home run, and have to go around the baseball diamond, touching each base. You must traverse the base line between 1st base and 2nd base three times: forward to second, back to first, and forward to second again. Similarly, you must traverse the base line between 2nd base and 3rd base three times. The motion from home plate to first base, and from third base back to home is normal. Remembering where you are on the baseball diamond may make it easier to keep track of the extra motion.

So, for example, the head girls go in to the center with a right hand and then to their corner with a left hand, go directly to their opposite boy with a right hand, turning once and a half with him, back to original corner with a left hand, turning once and a half with him, forward to opposite with a right hand, in to the center with a left hand and then to their left-hand gentleman with a right hand, back in to the center with a left hand and then to their opposite boy with a right hand, in to the center with a left hand and then to their left-hand gentleman with a right hand, and directly home for a Courtesy Turn.