user: Moose Flores
Wonky Petronellas
Weave the Line
Diagonal Hey, Larks chain
double Mad Robin!
Proper, but not important. No swing
4F4, Hey for 8
4F4 "exchange the gears"
Scatter Mixer
"F4F" Tempus formation
proper, 4-person by the eyes
like Virginia reel
swap A) and B) & call it a becket?
Nott. A with some ricochets
Revolving door to orbit
Larks chain (as Ravens)
Hey to center wave
Random progression
Good for Lesson & First dance
Two CA & cloverleaf
by: Cary Ravitz
Wonky Petronellas
introduces moves: allemande, swing, right left through, chain, petronella, turn alone
formation: Becket ccw
Double progression.
In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the other hand.
| A1 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| A2 | 8 | right left through
|
| 8 | left diagonal ladles chain to shadow (only if there is someone there) ⁋
| |
| B1 | 8 | balance & petronella
|
| 0 | turn alone to face a new neighbor ⁋
| |
| 8 | balance & petronella
| |
| B2 | 0 | turn alone to face your partner
|
| 16 | partners balance & swing
|
http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#pp3
Note the similarity to Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion. The chain is to the diagonal left here, so at the end of B1 you must face a new set of four to find your partner.
by: Rick Mohr
Weave the Line
introduces moves: balance the ring, circle, custom, promenade
formation: improper, reverse progression
| A1 | 4 | balance the ring
|
| 12 | neighbors swing
| |
| A2 | 8 | left diagonal right left through
|
| 8 | circle left 3 places
| |
| B1 | 8 | with original neighbor, weave the line -zig left past current couple, zag right past next couple, zig left to partner
|
| 8 | partners swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | partners promenade - wide loop to face new neighbors ⁋
|
| 4 | balance the ring
| |
| 8 | petronella
|
Rick Mohr notes: A fresh all-moving dance offering a weaving reunion with partner and a nice reverse progression.
The figures are straightforward. The end effects are numerous, but intuitive when dancers orient themselves to prepare for the next figure. If out after the A2 right and left through, stand across from partner to prepare for the zig-zag. If out during the B1 zig-zag, California Twirl to face the set. If out during the B2 half promenade, cross the set to prepare for the right and left through. No problem!
Firefly pedicabs brought fanciful pedal-powered magic to Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Parkway at twilight. Somehow this dance reminds me of that merry experience.
by: Ryan Carollo
Diagonal Hey, Larks chain
introduces moves: hey, long lines
formation: Becket
| A1 | 8 | right left through
|
| 8 | ladles start a right diagonal half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends ⁋
| |
| A2 | 16 | partners balance & swing
|
| B1 | 8 | gentlespoons start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends - ladles ricochet
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 8 | gentlespoons chain
|
by: Jane Ewing
double Mad Robin!
introduces moves: mad robin, star
formation: improper
| A1 | 8 | mad robin, ladles in front
|
| 8 | circle left 4 places
| |
| A2 | 8 | ladles allemande right 1½
|
| 8 | partners swing
| |
| B1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 8 | ladles chain
| |
| B2 | 8 | star left 4 places
|
| 8 | mad robin, ladles in front ⁋
|
Note that the mad robin in B2 is with old neighbors, then the next mad robin in A1 is with new neighbors. Over the two mad robins, everyone's individual footpaths will describe a figure 8.
Found elsewhere:
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/486-sharon-of-the-green-contra
(different B1) http://squash.1gainesville.com/contradance.dances-composers.html#n
by: Chestnut
Proper, but not important. No swing
introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall, arch & dive
formation: proper
| A1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
|
| 8 | circle right 4 places
| |
| A2 | 8 | star right 4 places
|
| 8 | star left 4 places
| |
| B1 | 8 | ones down the outsides and turn alone
|
| 8 | ones up the outsides and end in long lines, ones in the center, facing down the hall
| |
| B2 | 4 | down the hall
|
| 4 | ones arch twos dive ⁋
| |
| 8 | up the hall 2x2 with the twos leading, then ones turn around to face the next
|
G Campbell Kaynor notes: For a simple proper dance I do one called Jefferson and Liberty to the tune of the same name (Thos Jefferson's campaign song, a.k.a the Gobby O, an American Irish Jig)
It doesn't matter if people get on the wrong side of the set so I often start the night with this if there are lots of newcomers
by: Tom Calwell
4F4, Hey for 8
introduces moves: balance, custom, roll away, pass through, form an ocean wave
formation: four face four
From improper four-face-four, step forward & left and form an ocean wave of 8 across (left with same-role neighbor, right with opposite-role neighbor)
| A1 | 4 | balance - forward/left & back/right
|
| 2 | ladles allemande left ½ - face your partner
| |
| 16 | partners start a hey for eight - first pass by right, 7 passes - until partners meet
| |
| 10 | partners swing - end with center couples facing sides and outside couples facing center, join hands four in two rings
| |
| B1 | 6 | circle left 3 places
|
| 10 | neighbors swing - join hands four with same neighbors
| |
| B2 | 4 | balance - the ring
|
| 4 | gentlespoons roll away partners with a half sashay - join hands four with same neighbors
| |
| 4 | balance
| |
| 2 | pass through ⁋
| |
| 2 | form an ocean wave - ladles by left hands and neighbors by right hands - (left with same-role neighbor and right with opposite-role neighbor)
|
4F4 "exchange the gears"
introduces moves: custom
formation: four face four
| A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back (lines of four)
|
| 8 | ladles chain with the couple you're facing
| |
| A2 | 8 | star left 4 places the same two couples
|
| 8 | ||
| B1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | partners swing and face your direction of travel ⁋
|
by: Rick Mohr
Scatter Mixer
introduces moves: do si do, allemande orbit
formation: scatter mixer
Scattered circles of two or more couples
| A1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
|
| 8 | neighbors do si do once
| |
| A2 | 8 | partners allemande right 1½
|
| 8 | ladles allemande left 1½ around while the gentlespoons orbit clockwise ½ around. Ladles star if more than two.
| |
| B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing New partner
|
| B2 | 16 | partners promenade to find new group to circle with ⁋
|
In this mixer dancers form scattered groups with any number of couples. That makes for fun chaos, less transition panic (compared with 2-couple scatter mixers), and more flavors to enjoy as circle sizes vary.
The A2 allemande ends with ladles in the center facing counterclockwise and gentlespoons on the outside facing clockwise. If there are two ladles they allemande left for 8 beats; if there are more than two they star left for 8 beats. Either way, the gentlespoons orbit clockwise around the ladles. Then all balance and swing a new partner and promenade to a new group.
I tell the dancers it's a zero-stress dance. "If a couple wants to join your circle, let them in!" And no problem if you happen to keep the same partner now and then.
by: David Smukler
"F4F" Tempus formation
formation: Tempest
Two #1 cpls facing down - Two #2 cpls spit and facing in
| A1 | 8 | down the hall and turn as a couple (two #1 cpls in line of four)
|
| 8 | up the hall and turn as a couple (#1s turn to face nearest #2s)
| |
| A2 | 4 | circle left 2 places (two circles either side of set) +
|
| 2 | twos arch ones dive ⁋
| |
| 2 | pass through across the set (two #1 couples in center of set)
| |
| 8 | neighbors do si do once (the #2 couple across the set)
| |
| B1 | 16 | neighbors balance & swing
|
| B2 | 4 | circle left 2 places (two circles)
|
| 12 | partners swing (#1s end facing down; #2s face in)
|
David notes: At the top of A2, the circle on the caller’s left should circle left halfway, but the other one can circle right halfway (ccw). It creates an eddying effect, and the flow is slightly improved for that active couple. This small change was suggested by Nils Fredland, and I like it a lot. Since the circles go halfway around, the dance will work either way.
#2s must slide up while #1s go down the hall
#2s when out at the top must slide together and become new #1s facing down; #1s when out at bottom must separate and face in along
side
Making sure the #1s circle with the correct #2s can sometimes be problematic
http://davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org
by: Martha Wild
proper, 4-person by the eyes
introduces moves: gyre, meltdown swing, California twirl, figure 8
formation: proper
| A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 8 | ____ gyre 1¼ for all four +
| |
| A2 | 16 | partners meltdown swing
|
| B1 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B2 | 2 | pass through across the set
|
| 4 | partners California twirl
| |
| 10 | ones half figure 8 above ⁋
|
Martha Wild notes: I was concerned that it would seem like too much clockwise motion, but people did not find that an issue, perhaps because the second half has little.
by: Chestnut
like Virginia reel
introduces moves: custom
formation: improper or proper
| A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 4 | pass through across the set
| |
| 4 | turn alone
| |
| A2 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 4 | pass through across the set
| |
| 4 | turn alone
| |
| B1 | 8 | partners do si do once
|
| 8 | partners swing
| |
| B2 | 16 | top couple sashay to bottom of set - others move up ⁋
|
If you finish dancing before the music is done, let each couple in turn just sashay down until the music is ready to end.
by: Cary Ravitz
swap A) and B) & call it a becket?
introduces moves: custom
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.
by: Cary Ravitz
Nott. A with some ricochets
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.
by: Andy Shore
Revolving door to orbit
introduces moves: revolving door
formation: improper
Demo the A1/A2 part! (see Notes below)
| A1 | 16 | neighbors balance & swing (end cozy)
|
| A2 | 8 | revolving door - ladles take right hands and drop off neighbors on other side... as ladles return - slide past Partner "nose to nose"
|
| 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½ around while the ladles orbit clockwise ½ around
| |
| B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing (on gentlespoon's original side)
|
| B2 | 8 | ladles chain
|
| 8 | star left - wrist grip - 4 places to next neighbor ⁋
|
the revolving door into the allemande/orbit is (as far as I know) a new creation and requires a demo. Ladles drop N off across the set and keep going 1/2... as this happen Gentlespoons keep turning - all slide nose to nose past partner so Gentlespoons can put Left hands into center for the Allemande and Ladles slide out to continue the clockwise orbit another 1/2
by: Ben Werner
formation: improper
| A1 | 8 | balance the ring then Rip and Snort (1s Arch, 2s Dive Through, 2s drop hands with partner, go around 1s, 1s turn under joined hands and end in short lines facing down the hall)
|
| 8 | down the hall and turn as a couple
| |
| A2 | 8 | up the hall
|
| 8 | gentlespoons allemande right 1½
| |
| B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing
|
| B2 | 8 | balance & petronella
|
| 4 | balance the ring
| |
| 4 | partners California twirl ⁋
|
Demo the Rip and Snort. 1's need to mind their shoulders when they turn under their joined hand.
by: Ron T. Blechner
Larks chain (as Ravens)
introduces moves: custom
formation: Becket ccw
| A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 4 | pass through across the set and turn right 90 degrees
| |
| 4 | single file promenade to next neighbors (ladles leading partner) ⁋
| |
| A2 | 8 | star right - hands across - 4 places
|
| 8 | gentlespoons right-hand chain to neighbor
| |
| B1 | 8 | gentlespoons gyre once
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B2 | 6 | circle left 3 places
|
| 10 | partners swing
|
by: Yoyo Zhou
Hey to center wave
introduces moves: form a long wave, give & take
formation: improper
Starts with gentlespoons in a long wave down the center
| A1 | 4 | gentlespoons form a long wave in the center - balance the wave
|
| 8 | gentlespoons dance out while ladles dance in to a long wave in the center - balance the wave
| |
| 4 | ladles allemande right ¾
| |
| A2 | 16 | neighbors balance & swing
|
| B1 | 8 | gentlespoons give & take partners
|
| 8 | partners swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | ladles chain
|
| 8 | ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends, gentlespoons catch right and allemande 3/4 to a long wave ⁋
|
To start the walkthru, have gents walk forward into a long wave.
by: Rick Mohr
Random progression
formation: scatter mixer
Scattered circles of two or more couples
| A1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
|
| 8 | neighbors do si do once
| |
| A2 | 8 | partners allemande right 1½
|
| 8 | ladles allemande left 1½ around while the gentlespoons orbit clockwise ½ around. Ladles star if more than two.
| |
| B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing New partner
|
| B2 | 16 | partners promenade to find new group to circle with ⁋
|
In this mixer dancers form scattered groups with any number of couples. That makes for fun chaos, less transition panic (compared with 2-couple scatter mixers), and more flavors to enjoy as circle sizes vary.
The A2 allemande ends with ladles in the center facing counterclockwise and gentlespoons on the outside facing clockwise. If there are two ladles they allemande left for 8 beats; if there are more than two they star left for 8 beats. Either way, the gentlespoons orbit clockwise around the ladles. Then all balance and swing a new partner and promenade to a new group.
I tell the dancers it's a zero-stress dance. "If a couple wants to join your circle, let them in!" And no problem if you happen to keep the same partner now and then.
by: Don Armstrong
Good for Lesson & First dance
formation: improper
| A1 | 8 | neighbors do si do once
|
| 8 | gentlespoons do si do once
| |
| A2 | 8 | ladles do si do once
|
| 8 | ones swing and end facing down
| |
| B1 | 8 | down the hall and turn alone
|
| 8 | up the hall and bend into a ring
| |
| B2 | 8 | circle left 4 places
|
| 8 | star left 4 places ⁋
|
This chain-free version from Rebecca Lay. Rebecca notes Note from Rebecca: If I'm asked to teach a pre-dance "Beginners Workshop" at a contra dance, I often teach participants Broken Sixpence at the end of the workshop, and then do it as the first dance of the evening.
https://www.cdss.org/resources/how-to/contra-dance-resources#callers
A version with chains in the B2 is https://contradb.com/dances/358/
Two CA & cloverleaf
introduces moves: custom
formation: Becket ccw
| A1 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| A2 | 4 | balance the ring
|
| 4 | partners California twirl, take hands with next neighbors ⁋
| |
| 8 | balance & petronella
| |
| B1 | 8 | balance & petronella
|
| 4 | balance the ring
| |
| 4 | neighbors California twirl, keep hands and reach back to partners to form a cloverleaf
| |
| B2 | 6 | cloverleaf left 3 places
|
| 10 | partners swing
|
Notice that the two twirls to swap are done with different hands. This is intentional. The California twirl and reach back to a cloverleaf is inspired, primarily, by several Rick Mohr dances which do the same thing.
The name is a result of a remarkable confluence of events. A friend of mine from Wisconsin, Ceara Herndon, was visiting her sister in Vermont. She sent me a picture of a firepit captioned with the title, which seemed like a good name for a dance. As it turns out, the state flower of Vermont is the Red Clover, which I only learned AFTER writing the dance. On top of all this, there's an old, hitherto unpublished dance of mine called "Fire Flower," which also contains a California twirl and reach back to a cloverleaf.
by: Bradley Smith
formation: Becket ccw
| A1 | 16 | gentlespoons start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends - ladles ricochet second time to neighbors
|
| A2 | 16 | neighbors meltdown swing and swing
|
| B1 | 4 | long lines forward
|
| 4 | gentlespoons roll away neighbors with a half sashay on the way back (roll right to left)
| |
| 8 | mad robin, gentlespoons in front (CCW around current neighbor, facing partner) ⁋
| |
| B2 | 6 | circle left 3 places
|
| 10 | partners swing
|
Written for the Wise family.
by: Erik Weberg
introduces moves: poussette, pass by
formation: improper
| A1 | 8 | neighbors gyre once
|
| 8 | mad robin, ladles in front
| |
| A2 | 8 | half poussette - gentlespoons pull partners back then left
|
| 8 | gentlespoons start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
| |
| B1 | 2 | gentlespoons pass by left shoulders
|
| 14 | partners swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | ladles chain
|
| 8 | star left 4 places to next neighbor ⁋
|
This is one of the most flowing dances I’ve written (2007…?) and dancers have expressed appreciation for the connectedness and satisfying feel. After the half pousette with partner, the ladles should let go and take a step back and to the left in order to leave room in the middle for the gentlespoons to begin the hey. The timing of this dance has been described as “squishy”, which is ok. Encourage dancers to stretch out the Mad Robin, the Pousette and the Hey and use all the music provided.
*I’ve recently been teaching this dance the way I initially intended it; with the fifth change of the hey and then the swing in the B1 part of the dance. I’ve found that as I get better at teaching it, it has become easier to convince dancers to suspend their hurry in getting to the next figure during the A parts. As dancers relax into the flow they seem to enjoy it more, and saving that last crossing by the gentlespoons until the B1 seems to enhance the joy.
Ryan Smith notes in a facebook thread: One of my favorite dances of all time is Joyride. It starts with a face-to-face, transitions into a mad robin, then to a half pousette, then to a hey (or at least 7/8ths of one) and then into a swing. Then the ladles chain across and you star to the next neighbor. With the right hall and the right partner, you can lock eyes halfway through A1 and not look away until the end of B1. Because the vast majority of the moves are not moves where you are connected to the other dancers physically, it requires extra effort for the caller. Because the first move needs to take up 8 counts of music, but that most dancers will try to do it in 6 means that there's some more extra work for the caller.
Original at http://www.erikweberg.com/joyride/
by: Chris Page
introduces moves: custom
formation: improper
the 'single file promenade clockwise' can be drawing your neighbor/partner across the set with eye contact gravity
| A1 | 4 | neighbors gyre ½
|
| 4 | single file promenade clockwise 1/2 (facing neighbor) [1]
| |
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| A2 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 8 | ladles allemande right 1½ [2]
| |
| B1 | 4 | partners gyre ½
|
| 4 | single file promenade clockwise 1/2 (facing partner) [3]
| |
| 8 | partners swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | ladles chain
|
| 8 | star left 4 places ⁋
|
Chris Page notes:
[1] While looking at your neighbor. Gentlespoons backing up across the set (carefully), ladles follow them to the other side.
[2] A little different from the normal ladle's allemande, as here dancers don't adjust. Gentlespoons should stay put, and stay on the slight diagonal, rather than adjusting to be across from each other. Ladles allemande right 1 & 1/2, then ease out to the sidelines, having traded places, and now facing their partner on the side of the set.
[3] While looking at your partner. Ladles backing up across the set (carefully), gentlespoons follow them to the other side.
An auction dance written for Heather Visscher. She really liked the A2 move from "A Rare Bird" by Bob Isaacs.
Original at http://chrispagecontra.awardspace.us/dances/#heart-of-joy
Called by Andy Shore on tour with Polaris in 2018.
by: Tanya Rotenberg
formation: improper
| A1 | 8 | neighbors allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | ladles chain
| |
| A2 | 16 | ladles start a full hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
|
| B1 | 16 | partners long swing
|
| B2 | 8 | circle left 3 places
|
| 8 | neighbors allemande right 1½ ⁋
|
Written in 1985 for the 20th anniversary of her parents' wedding, these being their wedding flowers.
by: Janet Levatin
formation: improper
| A1 | 4 | balance the ring
|
| 4 | partners California twirl and face back into the original ring
| |
| 4 | balance the ring
| |
| 4 | neighbors California twirl and face back into the original ring
| |
| A2 | 4 | balance the ring
|
| 4 | partners California twirl to face next neighbors ⁋
| |
| 8 | next neighbors swing
| |
| B1 | 8 | circle left 3 places
|
| 8 | partners swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | ladles chain
|
| 4 | long lines forward
| |
| 4 | gentlespoons roll away neighbors with a half sashay
|
The California twirls can be facilitated by the gentlespoons taking the ladle's other hand at the end of the twirl to face back in, inside hands joined
by: Don Flaherty
formation: improper
| A1 | 12 | star right 5 places to shadow
|
| 4 | shadows allemande left once back to partner
| |
| A2 | 16 | partners meltdown swing
|
| B1 | 8 | circle left 3 places
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | right left through
|
| 8 | ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends to new neighbors ⁋
|
Please walk this dance thru before taking to the dance floor, any feed back would be appreciate you can E-mail do14flah@aol.com
thanks Don Flaherty
by: Michael Fuerst
introduces moves: custom
formation: Becket ccw
| A1 | 8 | partners promenade on the left
|
| 8 | star left - hands across - 4 places
| |
| A2 | 8 | Gentlespoons see-saw, while ladles turn back over right shoulder and orbit clockwise half way around gentlespoons
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B1 | 8 | forward and the way back roll away, and finish reaching across to join right hand's with partner across set
|
| 8 | right and left through with NEW neighbors (while holding partner's hand, gentlespoons note ladle to right, ladles note gentlespoon to lefr, pull by parnenter and courtesy turn wih noted person, finishing facing partner across.)
| |
| B2 | 16 | circle left 3 places, partners swing
|
First called at the barn (outside of Urbana, IL) of Kathy and Tom Anderson--during one of their occasionally hosted Sunday potlucks and dances
Susan Burt, who declared the dance quite "neat," asked me its name.
Not having named it yet, I invited her to suggest one, and without hesitation she replied "George?"
(Composed August 1999)