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Table of Contents

    • cross contra
  2. Across Nottingham A by Cary Ravitz
  3. Across Nottingham B by Cary Ravitz
  4. Across the Ohio by Cary Ravitz
  5. Cross Hey by Cary Ravitz
  6. Cross Hey (variation) by Cary Ravitz
  7. The Diagonal Dilemma by Gene Hubert
  8. Equal Opportunity by Jeffrey Spero
  9. Life Crossings by Nicholas Rockstroh
  10. Maple & Cedar Swing by Bob Green
  11. String of Swings by Rick Mohr and Bob Isaacs
    • swap and star
  14. Binary Stars by Isaac Banner
  15. Catch a Falling Star by Melanie Axel-Lute
  16. Fun Dance for Marjorie by Bob Golder
  17. Luna in the Library var. by Julian Blechner
  18. Our House by Dean Snipes
  19. Sounds Like a Match by Lynn Ackerson
  20. You're My Bing by Adam Carlson
    • Sicilian circles that aren't just contras
  23. Jennifer's Whirlpool by Gwyn Williams
  24. Brown Bag Reel by Donna Calhoun


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  • cross contra

Across Nottingham A

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: hey, custom, circle, swing

formation: cross contra - improper then ladle one and gentlespoon two trade places

A1 16
twos start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
A2 3
neighbors trade places, ones behind twos
10
circle left 4 places - no hands, eyes on partner
3
ladles trade places across, ladle one behind ladle two
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places pass through to new (first corners now on caller's left) ⁋
8
first corners (gentlespoon one, ladle two) do si do, while second corners allemande right 1½

Source: http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#an

A less dizzy start of B2 - gentlespoons start a hands across star left and ladles fall in behind your partner, from initial positions, turn the star 1 for gentlespoons and 1/2 for ladles.

Across Nottingham B

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: custom

formation: cross contra - improper then ladle one and ladle two trade places

A1 8
twos start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends - ones ricochet
8
twos start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends - twos ricochet
A2 3
neighbors trade places, ones behind twos
10
circle left 4 places - no hands, eyes on partner
3
gentlespoons trade places across, gentlespoon one behind gentlespoon two
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places pass through to new (first corners now on caller's left) ⁋
8
first corners (gentlespoon one, ladle two) do si do, while second corners allemande right 1½

Source: http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#anb

A less dizzy start of B2 - gentlespoons start a hands across star left and ladles fall in behind your partner, from initial positions, turn the star 1 for gentlespoons and 1/2 for ladles.

Across the Ohio

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: slice, chain, form an ocean wave, allemande, balance, pass by

formation: Becket

Note ones and twos before turning from improper to Becket formation.

A1 8
slice left and straight back ⁋
8
ladles chain and first corners trade places, first gentlespoon behind second ladle+
A2 8
pass through to an ocean wave & balance - ones by left in the center, neighbors by right on the sides - gentlespoons face down
4
neighbors allemande right ½
4
balance the wave, left then right
B1 6
twos allemande left once
10
neighbors swing
B2 2
gentlespoons pass by left shoulders
14
partners swing

/+ first corners here means dancers on the left line relative to the caller - trade places, first gentlespoon behind, second ladle in front, kinda like one side of a mad robin.

http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#ao

Cross Hey

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: pass through, custom

formation: cross contra

from improper, first ladle and second gentlespoon trade places

A1 16
twos start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends - ones ricochet first time, twos ricochet second time, ones finish an ordinary hey
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through to next neighbors ⁋
0
SIMULTANEOUS:
0
first gentlespoon and second ladle do si do once
0
WHILE:
8
first ladle and second gentlespoon allemande right 1½

https://www.dance.ravitz.us/#cc6:

After the circle and pass through, first gentlespoon and second ladle are in the line to the caller's left.

In typical push offs, you push off with same roles neighbors. Here you push off with your partners, so it may be useful to give this tip - facing across, you start on the left, go into the middle, push off, and back up to the right.

See Proper and Cross Contra Formations and Chris Page's contrachoreography for information on cross contra formation (referred to as diagonal formation).

MRD

Cross Hey (variation)

by: Cary Ravitz

This dance is not published.

The Diagonal Dilemma

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall, long lines, gyre

formation: proper

Form a line of four facing down with ones in the center (second ladle - first ladle - first gentlespoon - second gentlespoon)

A1 8
down the hall and ladles turn as a couple WHILE gentlespoons turn alone (ending first ladle - second ladle - first gentlespoon - second gentlespoon from the caller's perspective)
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
A2 8
circle left 3 places and a little more to a diamond with first gentlespoon facing up, first ladle facing down, twos on opposide sides
8
ones swing - end "facing" down
B1 16
neighbors balance & swing
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ones gyre 1½ - end facing down with the first ladle on the LEFT ⁋

https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10383
http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_43.html

Equal Opportunity

by: Jeffrey Spero

introduces moves: figure 8, custom, meltdown swing

formation: improper

Form a line of four facing down with ones in the center (second ladle - first gentlespoon - first ladle - second gentlespoon)

A1 8
down the hall and centers (ones) turn as a couple WHILE ends (twos) turn alone (ending second ladle - first ladle - first gentlespoon - second gentlespoon from the caller's perspective)
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
gentlespoons half figure 8 above, first gentlespoon leading
B1 8
ones right-hand chain to same-role neighbors
8
ones start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends - until ones meet the second time
B2 16
ones meltdown swing WHILE twos move up the outsides slowly to progress ⁋

https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10412
http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_49.html

Composed May 25, 1992; last revised March, 1993

Author's Notes:

This dance was written following a wonderful experience at the 1992 Santa Barbara Sprung Floor Weekend. I was dancing down the hall with a good friend from Berkeley, and when we turned around to dance back up the hall (NOT crossed over, naturally!), I experienced the joy of chaining into a hey from the ladies perspective. It's a beautiful thing, a joy that gents rarely get a chance to appreciate. This dance was written to allow gents to experience that pleasure.
Although this appears to be a difficult dance, I have found that it works well with a beginner to intermediate crowd, while pleasing the experienced dancers with its quirkiness.
The March, 1993 revision was by James Hutson

Life Crossings

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

introduces moves: slide along set, do si do, balance the ring, roll away

formation: Becket

A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
8
ladles chain
6
ladles do si do once, end in a line of four with the ladles in the middle
A2 8
down the hall and slide doors
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
B1 4
balance the ring
4
gentlespoons roll away neighbors with a half sashay
8
gentlespoons half figure 8 above, first gentlespoon leading
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Based on my other dance Crossroads Contra. That dance had a lot of action for the ladles and almost none for the gentlespoons, so I decided to fix that. Now with a new title.

Maple & Cedar Swing

by: Bob Green

introduces moves: poussette, mad robin, star

formation: proper, ladles traded

This is a proper dance with your partner on the diagonal position when you start.

A1 8
half poussette - ladles pull neighbors back then left
8
twos swing
A2 8
circle left 4 places
8
mad robin, twos in front
B1 8
half poussette - ladles pull neighbors back then left
8
ones swing
B2 8
star right - hands across - 4 places
8
neighbors do si do once gentlespoons same neighbor, ladles new neighbor ⁋

Bob Green, champion of Childgrove, wrote this dance to honor the intersection at which you'll find the Monday Club, our dance hall.

see video at http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/529-maple-cedar-swing

String of Swings

by: Rick Mohr and Bob Isaacs

formation: improper

Ones step between twos to form short lines facing down

A1 8
down the hall and turn alone
8
up the hall, ones back to back in the center, face neighbors
A2 16
neighbors start a full hey - lefts on ends, rights in center
B1 8
neighbors allemande left 1½
8
twos swing
B2 8
neighbors swing
8
ones swing ⁋

Rick Mohr notes: the sequence of swings can be a thrill, especially if dancers end each of them with their back to the person they're going to swing next and then continue momentum to whirl 180° to the right and immediately into the next swing. (The gentlespoon in particular need extra encouragement to turn right out of each swing.)

Here's how I do that part of the walk-through: 2's—finish your swing facing each other in the center, with your back to your neighbor. 1's be ready to catch them! 2's whirl right, right into a swing with your neighbor. End that swing facing your neighbor, with the 1's back-to-back in the center. 1's—whirl right, right into a swing with your partner.

The neighbor swing in B2 ends in the middle of the phrase, something I usually avoid because dancers are so used to swinging until the end of the phrase. But this dance has always worked well, maybe because the series of short swings is a clear focus.

Thanks to co-author Bob Isaacs for greatly improving the sequence of surrounding figures for the string of swings.

Original at http://rickmohr.net/Contra/DancesBest.asp#StringOfSwings

  • swap and star

Binary Stars

by: Isaac Banner

introduces moves: Rory O'More

formation: improper

Starts in short waves, right hands to neighbors

A1 8
balance & Rory O'More right, gentlespoons keep sliding past each other to catch left hands
8
star left - hands across - 4 places, ladles falling in behind partners
A2 4
balance the star
4
ladles Rory O'More left, gentlespoons turn over right shoulders
8
star right - hands across - 4 places ⁋
B1 6
gentlespoons allemande left ¾ with next gentlespoon
10
partners swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors do si do 1¼ to short waves

Inspired by Catch a Falling Star, by Melanie Axel-Lute

Catch a Falling Star

by: Melanie Axel-Lute

introduces moves: pull by dancers, turn alone

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
star right - hands across - 4 places
B2 4
balance the star
4
ladles pull by right "rolling face-to-face like a half gyre"
0
gentlespoons turn alone over their left shoulder
8
star left - hands across - 4 places ⁋

While the ladles swap in the star can be either in the style of a Rory slide (as in "Our House" by Dean Snipes) or the pull by above, Melanie asserts that the pull by was her original intention.

Fun Dance for Marjorie

by: Bob Golder

formation: Becket

A1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 4
gentlespoons pass by left shoulders
4
ladles pass by right shoulders and take RH as they pass
8
star right - hands across - 4 places and walk along the set to find the next couple (ladles behind partner) ⁋

Written by Bob Golder for a friend with some mobility issues, and so contains only moves that she could do comfortably.

Luna in the Library var.

by: Julian Blechner

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors meltdown swing
A2 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through
8
shadows do si do once
B1 4
balance the ring with partner
4
gentlespoons roll away neighbors with a half sashay
8
partners swing
B2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
star left - hands across - 4 places with ladles stepping in behind their partner ⁋

Our House

by: Dean Snipes

introduces moves: form a long wave

formation: Becket

A1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
ladles chain
8
star left - hands across - 4 places and a little bit more
B1 0
ladles form a long wave in the center
8
balance & ladles Rory O'More right while gentlespoons Rory across
8
star right - hands across - 4 places and a little bit more
B2 16
partners balance & swing ⁋

Sounds Like a Match

by: Lynn Ackerson

introduces moves: star promenade, butterfly whirl

formation: Becket

A1 4
balance the ring
4
ladles pass by left shoulders
8
star left 4 places to next neighbors ⁋
A2 16
next neighbors meltdown swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½, scoop up partners
4
star promenade left ½
4
butterfly whirl
B2 4
ladles allemande right once
12
partners swing

You're My Bing

by: Adam Carlson

formation: improper

A1 8
star left - hands across - 4 places ladles drop out at the end, and wait briefly for partner
4
star promenade left ½ pick up partner by the waist
4
butterfly whirl
A2 8
ladles allemande right 1½ pick up neighbor by the waist
4
ladles star promenade right ½
4
butterfly whirl
B1 2
gentlespoons pass by right shoulders
14
partners swing ⁋
B2 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
star right - hands across - 4 places

  • Sicilian circles that aren't just contras

Jennifer's Whirlpool

by: Gwyn Williams

formation: Sicilian Circle

Line up improper for a Sicilian circle, then turn to face partners making 2 large circles for A1.

A1 8
circle left 6 places (2 large counter-rotating circles)
8
circle right 6 places (2 large counter-rotating circles)
A2 8
ladles allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors do si do once ⁋
B2 16
neighbors balance & swing

A1 is large counter-rotating circles, ending up facing partner. B1 is hands-4 circle.

Brown Bag Reel

by: Donna Calhoun

introduces moves: promenade

formation: Becket

A1 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
8
neighbors do si do 1¼ Ladles are standing left shoulder to left shoulder in center
A2 6
partners promenade along the set on the right Single file
2
turn alone
8
partners promenade on the left Back to the Neighbor you Do-si-Doed
B1 8
neighbors allemande left once or twice
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B2 16
partners balance & swing

For Halloween I call this dance the Zombie walk and have the dancers imitate Zombies during the single file promenade