20230708 Stone Lake Annie Oakleys

user: Allison Jonjak

First Night Quadrille

by: Bob Dalsemer

introduces moves: custom, circle, star, allemande, do si do, promenade

formation: square dance

A1 8
forward and back head couples
8
circle left 4 places same four
A2 8
circle right 4 places same four
8
star right 4 places same four
B1 8
first corners allemande left once
8
grand right left
B2 8
partners do si do once
8
partners promenade along the set on the right home

Repeat for side couples, then all four ladles and all four gentlespoons. The transition from star to grand right and left is a challenge for beginning square dancers and provides an opportunity for the "team" to be successful. Introduction and ending are caller's choice.

Bob Dalsemer Triplet #1 extra detail

by: Bob Dalsemer

introduces moves: custom, contra corners, swing, long lines

formation: triplet

All three couples proper

A1 4
ones sashay down
4
ones balance towards and away from the top
4
ones sashay up
4
ones separate and go down the outside into the twos' place, twos move up
A2 16
ones contra corners
B1 16
partners balance & swing, all end facing up
B2 4
partners sashay to trade places (ladles in front, gentlespoons behind)
4
long lines forward
8
circle left 3 places (halfway) ⁋

ones allemande right your partner
ones allemande left your corner (same role as you)
ones allemande right your partner
ones allemande left your other corner (same role as you)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xafVpzENDuQ

snake dance

Galopede

by: Chestnut

introduces moves: pass through, turn alone, 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.

Kat in Halifax's Second Scatter Dance

by: Katherine Kitching & Sherry Nevin

introduces moves: petronella, custom

formation: Scatter Mixer

Find a partner, now find a duple!

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
star left 4 places
A2 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella (doesn't matter where it takes you)
B1 8
partners do si do once
8
neighbors do si do once
B2 8
____ do si do once as couples
8
as couples, scatter to find new duples ⁋

note in this scatter orientation it doesn't matter where the petro takes you.

Shared in July 2023 in a thread on calling for weddings.

Riverside Jig

by: Linlithgow Ceilidh

introduces moves: custom

formation: Becket (no matter)

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
long lines forward & back
A2 8
star right 4 places
8
star left 4 places
B1 8
neighbors do si do once
8
partners do si do once
B2 16
top 2 couples form line of 4, dance to the bottom over everyone's heads ⁋


____0_________X___
^___0__^__^__X__^_
|___0___|___|__X__|_
0__ 0__X__0__X__X_

Texas Star

by: Traditional

introduces moves: custom, star promenade, butterfly whirl

formation: square dance

A1 8
ladles to the center & back to the bar
8
gentlespoons to the center for a right hand star
A2 8
gentlespoons star LEFT pass your partner ⁋
2
pick up next ladle for a
6
star promenade left ½
B1 8
butterfly whirl to put ladles in center of a right hand star ("shoot the star")
8
ladles star promenade right ½
B2 8
butterfly whirl to put gentlespoons in the center ("shoot the star")
8
star left
8
partners swing "swing this ladle"
8
partners promenade home

Barn dance dancers have not been quick enough to star right then left, so we've just gone "one direction." See Barn Dance Variation for simpler version.

Patter:
(1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8)
ladles to the center and back to the bar, gentlespoons to the center for a right hand star
(1 2 3 4) back by the left don't go too far
(1 2) pass your partner pick up the next for a star promenade
(1 2 3 4) now gentlespoons back out & ladles go in
once and a half &you're gone again (5 6 7 8)
(1 2 3 4) now ladles back out, ladles go in
turn & a half & you're gone again (5 6 7 8)
(1 2 3 4) now break that star, everyone swing
(1 2 3 4) promenade til you get back home

from Wade Pearson, who notes "when you have dancers who are sharp, you can call this 1ce with gentlespoons as the first star, then a 2nd time with ladles as the first star for the opposite star promenade

La Guaracha aka Spanish Waltz

by: Companion to the Ballroom

introduces moves: balance, roll away, custom

formation: four couple square

any 32-bar waltz, esp. "My Lodging is on the Cold
Ground

A1 4
____ balance corners
4
gentlespoons roll away ____ corner (left hand ladle to gentlespoon's right hand)
4
balance corners
4
gentlespoons roll away ____ corner
A2 4
balance corners
4
gentlespoons roll away ____ corner
4
balance corners
4
gentlespoons roll away partners
B1 32
waltz the set

Via Alan Winston, as I wanted a dance featuring rollaways, but without choreography inaccessible to a room full of first-time dancers.

Alan notes: you might get to your goal with this dance which barely has choreography (La Guaracha, from "Companion to the Ballroom" 1827, here from the Community Dances Manuals):

That A1 is balance and roll away (with gentlespoon not half-sashaying); four times gets everybody home.

For a barn dance where you can't rely on everybody being able to do a traveling waltz, you can easily adapt this in multiple ways;

first off, sub a promenade for the waltz, or sub a circle left and promenade home.

second, you can just make it duple meter if you prefer, and then make it balance and swing and promenade.

Third, you can change it to be roll away with a half sashay, and it's more important to reach your partner than to get home on the rollaways; the promenade takes care of that.

Fourth, change the figure to
1st time: all balance, ladles roll left to right in front of gentlespoons (start crossing neighbor) 4x
2nd time: all balance, gentlespoons roll left to right in front of ladles
(start partner)
(For ONS you might be fine just repeating those two times, but if you're a little ambitious ... 3rd time: all balance, roll left to right 2x, / all balance, gentlespoons roll left to right 2x, meet partner on other side ...

Anyway, it's barely choreography but it gives you roll away practice in square formation without having to do heads or sides.

The Gay Gordons (step together/step apart version)

by: Chestnut

introduces moves: custom

formation: circle mixer

Couples in a circle around the room facing anti-clockwise, ladles on the right.

Hold: Right hands joined over ladle's shoulder (gentlespoon's arm behind ladle's back), and left hands joined in front.

A1 8
walk forward
8
pivot to walk backward (still counterclockwise)
A2 8
walk forward
8
pivot to walk backward (still clockwise)
B1 8
step together, step apart
8
pass ladle to the center
B2 8
step together, step apart
8
ladle turn back

If not progressing, ladle twirl back to "outside".

Do-Si-Three

by: Linda Leslie

formation: three-face-three

Three face three in lines facing up/down the hall. Teach "home position".

A1 8
circle left 6 places
8
circle right 6 places
A2 8
neighbors do si do once "ends do-si-do your opposite"
8
neighbors do si do once "middles do-si-do your opposite"
B1 8
neighbors swing "ends swing your opposite"
8
neighbors swing "middles swing your opposite"
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
pass through to a new line of 3 ⁋

Linda Leslie notes: Although I don't have the exact time that I wrote this dance, it must predate the first date I called it: 10/22/93 for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Joy Street, Boston. Especially useful for one night stands! Any combination of three. All dancers CAN do this dance, and it really mixes up the dancers. Great for weddings, etc. For these type evenings, I don't talk about #1 or #2 lines of three, or progression: rather I describe "home position". Once we have walked through the dance once, I then point out the couples who have come out at the top and/or bottom, asking them to wait out one time through the dance, turn around, and that this is when "home" changes. Works like a charm.....and the dancers are very happy finding new opposites for each cycle.

Original at http://www.lindalesliecaller.website/very-easy-dances.html

Seige of Ennis

by: Ceilidh

introduces moves: custom

formation: four face four

Dancers line up in lines of four people or two couples, facing another line of four.
OXOX
XOXO
(X=Gentlespoon)

Tagged: Ar Rince Foirne

A1 4
advance & retire
4
advance & retire
4
divide couples, left couple 7s behind couple to right, rise& grind
4
divide couples, left couple 7s behind couple to right, rise & grind
A2 4
centers star right while sides allemande right
4
centers star left while sides allemande left
4
advance & retire
0
line facing the music raises their arms
4
pass through ⁋

1 Advance & Retire
2 Sides
3 Hands Across--centers star right then left. Outsides star right then left
4 Advance, Retire, & pass through

Sides: The ladle and gentlespoon in the middle of each line drop hands and the couples now sidestep as a pair with the other couple in their line. The couple to the left sevens behind the couple to the right and ends with a rise and grind. The couples sidestep again (couples going right go behind) and rise and grind again.

from https://danceminder.com/dance/show/siegen

Jefferson's Remorse

by: Bob Green

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall, gate

formation: improper

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
circle right 4 places
A2 8
star left - hands across - 4 places
8
star right - hands across - 4 places
B1 4
ones down the center and turn alone
4
ones up the center
8
twos gate ones to face into the set
B2 16
ones long swing in the middle, end facing down ⁋

A variation on the traditional Jefferson And Liberty. Coreographer's notes here: http://www.childgrove.org/index.php/about-dances/dance-writers/bob-green-dances

Virginia Reel

by: Chestnut

introduces moves: custom

formation: four couple longways set

Reel 4 x 40 bars. Four-couple set so sashays aren't numbingly long.

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
long lines forward & back
A2 8
partners allemande right once
8
partners allemande left once
B1 8
partners two hand turn
8
partners do si do once
B2 8
ones down the center sashay
8
ones up the center sashay
8
ones down the outsides, followed by twos threes fours,
0
ones form an arch
8
twos up the center under the arch, followed by threes fours ⁋

"peel the banana" could be helpful language

Sashay til you're out of music

Original at MAXICRIB, Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle: https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/virginia-reel.html

La String Bean

by: Julian Blechner

introduces moves: custom

formation: circle mixer

A1 8
ladles to the center and back
2
gentlespoons to the center
4
gentlespoons turn alone
2
gentlespoons go back
A2 8
partners allemande left 1½ (gentlespoons progress CCW, ladles progress CW) ⁋
8
next neighbors do si do once (now your partner)
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 16
partners promenade along the set on the right

Peak Bagger

by: Linda Leslie

introduces moves: custom

formation: three face three

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
circle right 4 places
A2 8
centers on the right, right elbow turn (right hand partner)
8
centers on the left, left elbow turn (left hand partner)
B1 16
same roles long swing (your opposite)
B2 8
long lines forward & back
2
pass through ⁋

Dipping and Diving

by: Linda Leslie

introduces moves: custom

formation: proper

tell the band timing's not essential

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
long lines forward & back
A2 16
top couple sashay down and back
B1 16
top couple Dip and Dive down ⁋
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Linda Leslie notes: timing here is not essential!
2022 03 27 called "Dip" as "under the arch" and "Dive" as "around the outsides so the 1s split and ring the 2s. Twos are alternately arches and posts.

Anderson Ferry Reel

by: Eric Conrad

introduces moves: slide along set, custom

formation: proper mixer

all face up, inside hands joined

A1 4
up the hall 4 steps forward
4
down the hall backward 4 steps back
4
up the hall 4 steps forward
4
down the hall backward 4 steps back
A2 6
partners do si do once
2
slide left along set ⁋
8
partners swing (new partner)
B1 16
"lonesome one, ride the ferry" ⁋
B2 8
long lines forward & back (adjust)
8
partners swing

Start teaching dance at the "slide left along the set". Most of you are facing a new partner, but at the top and the bottom are 'lonesome ones'. Lonesome ones will 'ride the ferry (weave your own line to the top or bottom)

notice which side you're on.

5-7 couples, 6 ideal
learned from Lynn at Breaking Up Thanksgiving 2022, an ideal dance for letting barn dancers practice swings ending on correct side, because there is lots of practice but no harm if it goes wrong.

Haymaker's Jig

by: Ceilidh

This dance is not published.

Coconut Cream Pie

by: Lynn Ackerson

introduces moves: custom, balance the ring, California twirl

formation: four face four

Have dancers note their "trail buddies" and who their corners are. The two dancers in the middle of the line of 4 are corners and the dancers at the ends have their corners in front of them.

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
middle 4 star right 4 places
A2 8
partners allemande left 1½
8
other 4 star right 4 places
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 4 places
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋

In this case there are 8 places in the circle, so going 4 places is equivalent to half way.

Circassian Circle

by: Ceilidh

introduces moves: custom

formation: circle mixer

32 bar reel
single circle facing in, ladles to right of partner

A1 4
advance & retire
4
advance & retire
4
ladles advance & retire
2
gentlespoons advance
2
gentlespoons turn & walk out to next ladle
A2 8
partners swing, cross-handed
8
partners promenade line of direction

The Circassian Circle
Formation: Large circle round the room, ladles on the right of their partner.

Music: 32 bar Reels.

Bars: Description
1-4: Hands joined in a circle, all advance for four steps, retire for four steps.
5-8: Repeat.
9-12: Drop hands, ladles advance and retire.
13-16: Gentlespoons advance, turn round and walk out to the next ladle CW (the one who was on their left; the one who is now to the right of their partner as they view).
17-24: All spin with new partners
25-32: Hands crossed in front (right to right and left to left), ladles on the outside, promenade ACW around the room.

from: http://www.scottishdance.net/ceilidh/dances.html#CircassianCircle

Scottish Reel

by: Chestnut

introduces moves: custom

formation: Longways Sets, 4-6 Couples

A1 16
top ladle leads ladles line through gentlespoons line in a slalom (while ladles hold hands)
A2 16
top gentlespoon leads gentlespoons line through ladles line in a slalom (while gentlespoons hold hands)
B1 8
top couple sashay down the middle & back
8
top couple separate, cast, walk down to the bottom ⁋
B2 8
partners do si do once
8
partners swing

alternate B2 is sashay down & back as long lines holding hands (requires more space)

Red River Valley

by: 8 Yards of Calico

This dance is not published.