Indianapolis, IN 2023-03-07

user: Nicholas Rockstroh

Tuesday Night Special

by: Larry Jennings

introduces moves: swing, circle, promenade, chain, star

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 6
circle left 3 places
10
partners swing
B1 8
partners promenade
8
ladles chain
B2 8
neighbors promenade
8
star left 4 places to next neighbors

One of the great glossary dances. Simple figures and gentle timing, but not so comprehensive that it leaves you with no options to make the second dance feel distinctive. Definitely a favorite of mine.

Contra Essentialism

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

introduces moves: long lines, right left through, allemande

formation: improper

Note the hand in which the next neighbor's hand will be held in the long lines

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
right left through
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing and take hands with next neighbors in long lines

I was taking a course on gender and sexuality at the time I wrote this. The title is a double pun; "Contra is essential" is one meaning, "against cultural/biological essentialism" is another.

A Cure for the Claps

by: Bob Isaacs

This dance is not published.

Last Hey

by: Isaac Banner

introduces moves: balance the ring, pass through, balance, hey

formation: Becket

A1 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
pass through ⁋
A2 8
ladles allemande left 1½ (new ladles)
4
balance short waves
4
partners allemande right ¾
B1 16
ladles start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Based on Paul Balliet's First Hey, shifted and with one phrase changed. Offers an opening that works much better with a barn-burner of a tune, with a runaway B section. Manages the energy throughout the sequence better than Paul's original dance, in my opinion. At the very least it offers a distinctly more driving and chunky feel compared to the original.

waltz

Trip up the Stairs

by: Dugan Murphy

introduces moves: form a long wave

formation: improper

A1 8
ladles dance in to a long wave in the center - balance the wave
8
ladles dance out while gentlespoons dance in to a long wave in the center - balance the wave
A2 6
gentlespoons allemande left once
10
partners swing
B1 8
right left through
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B2 16
partners balance & swing ⁋

The Balter Dance

by: Michael Fuerst

introduces moves: roll away, custom

formation: Becket CW

A1 8
ladles chain
8
star left - hands across - 4 places
A2 8
gentlespoons chain
8
star right - hands across - 4 places
B1 8
neighbors balance across and pull by across using right hands
8
partners swing end facing neighbors across
B2 4
long lines forward
4
gentlespoons roll away partners with a half sashay -- gentlespoons finishing on partner's right, gentlespoons' left and ladles' right hands joined
4
partners balance towards each other and away
4
ladles hold their place while gentlespoons roll from right side to left side of partner, to finish facing next neighbors

Balter - to dance artlessly, without particular grace or skill, but usually with enjoyment.

Although neither expected nor intended, this dance is suitable for a crowd with a high proportion of beginners, as one caller reported to me: "I called a couple of your dances tonight. There were totally brand new dancers in the mix--folks with not even other dance experience--so even basic stuff required like 3 walk-thrus. We did Dave Found The Missing Coffee Cup, and Balter Dance. Balter Dance was particularly well received for its chains for both ladles and gentlespoons, which is rare, and works beautifully with the alternating stars. One person commented that it was great for helping new dancers, since you're in physical contact with either a partner or neighbor almost all the time, so you don't get lost or wander in the wrong direction."
So by accident, this dance was aptly named.

Wildflowers A

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: star promenade, butterfly whirl

formation: Becket

A1 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
8
next neighbors swing
A2 6
gentlespoons allemande left once, scoop up neighbors
5
star promenade left ½
5
butterfly whirl
B1 8
ladles chain
8
ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Cary's notes:

"This is similar to Heart of Glass but modifies the entry to the star promenade to relax the timing.

Wildflowers B [https://contradb.com/dances/1960] - inverted version, can be medleyed."