2nd try

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 On top of all this, there's an old, hitherto unpublished dance of mine called "Fire Flower," which also contains a California twirl and reach back to a cloverleaf.

Those who don't like a long 16-count swing may gyre twice.

End effects: while waiting out, when a diagonal chain comes to you, do so.
You will spend part of your time waiting out with your shadow and some with your partner. You will still do every partner swing.

Written for Andrea Craft from Chicago when they needed a straightforward dance with box circulates in it. Very similar to “Minimum Fuss, Maximum Fun” by Dean Snipes, which differs slightly in the A1 and A2.

Double progression
At top/bottom) dancers will stand out with their Shadow. Trade places then wait for your partner; do not participate in the box circulates.

A2) while promenading, hand holds are not so important.

B1) The "as couples 3/4 do si do" begins by sliding back to back with the other couple, and ends face to face with your partner.

The original A1 was long lines, 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, look for a new neighbor. I have also used long lines, roll away with a half sashay, circle right 3/4, turn alone and look a new neighbor. (For now) I have settled on the A1 noted in the dance because of its simplicity.

Will Mentor suggests that a mad robin and full poussette fit nicely in 16 counts. This can be used in place of the B1 here, with the facing star becoming gentlespoons take right hands, ladles take left hands, gentlespoons go forward, ladles go backward.

For Pam and Fred

• thread the needle = all four hold hands, gentlespoons on end make arch with neighbor and ladle on the other end go under arch while gentlespoon on end walks around to invert the line (couples change sides of the set)---ladle in the middle twirl under her arm---and face up

This dance is really much simpler than it first appears. Dale calls this combination of heys a "zigzag hey". Dale teaches the heys by having the dancers identify the people they will trade places with, first on the diagonal then across the hall. Most dancers catch on pretty quickly that the two heys should be blended into one. (In other words, the ladle never stops between the two 1/2 heys.)

As in all double progression dances an odd number of couples is preferred. The odd couple stands in the gentlespoons' line

AB and CD are the same, except for which role dancer starts the chains & heys.

Could be done as just AB or just CD.

The word catenary is from the Latin for chain.

Written & named for the winning bidder at the 2023 Dance, Music, & Spice Camp Live Auction.
Flowy A, marchy B, a place for optional arching flourish.

The title is a lyric from a song by Heidi Wilson.

++ Shutter Balance (like the shutter of a camera): join hands in a ring, and simultaneously circle left 1 place WHILE balancing the ring. (4) It may have the feel of a ricochet in a hey (in at one angle, change momentum, back out at a different angle).
Taken from a move in ECD, the name of which is unknown.

• Dolphin gyre: gentlespoons lead and ladles follow, walking the pattern of a gyre with the neighbor gentlespoon leading and neighbor gentlespoon following.

This is a four-person gyre, executed along the left diagonal with your new neighbor.

Video available: http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/534-dolphiniums-dasies-by-bob-green-improper

when out with partner, cross over and get in with Balance & Box the Gnat
(if you miss that, you'll still be in position to courtesy turn new neighbor)

(composed November-December 1991)
I re-entered the dance to use existing calls instead of everything being custom.
Original: http://contradb.com/dances/1204

Author's Notes:
The transition from left hand star to allemande left is especially nice if a New England style (hand on wrist) star is used. This is the only dance I can think of for which I specifically request that type of star in those parts of the country where the default is hands-across.
Unfortunately, the origin of the name is lost in the mists of time. All I can say is that "Al" is not Al Olson, although had I known who he is when I wrote this, it might have been. Composed sometime around 1989.

This dance is from William Watson's mirror of American Country Dances On Line
All rights reserved by the author; used by permission.
Added to database 9/14/1997; last revised 3/5/1999; edited by Russell Owen

1. gentlespoon one facing down, ladle one facing up

AB and CD are the same, except for which role dancer starts the chains & heys.

Could be done as just AB or just CD.

The word catenary is from the Latin for chain.