user: Allison Jonjak
snake dance
by: Bob Dalsemer
introduces moves: custom, circle, star, allemande, do si do, promenade
formation: square dance
A1 | 8 | forward and back head couples
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8 | circle left 4 places same four
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A2 | 8 | circle right 4 places same four
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8 | star right 4 places same four
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B1 | 8 | first corners allemande left once
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8 | grand right left
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B2 | 8 | partners do si do once
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8 | partners promenade along the set on the right home
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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.
by: Eric Conrad
introduces moves: up the hall, down the hall, slide along set, swing, custom, long lines
formation: proper mixer
all face up, inside hands joined
A1 | 4 | up the hall 4 steps forward
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4 | down the hall backward 4 steps back
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4 | up the hall 4 steps forward
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4 | down the hall backward 4 steps back
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A2 | 6 | partners do si do once
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2 | slide left along set ⁋
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8 | partners swing (new partner)
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B1 | 16 | "lonesome one, ride the ferry" ⁋
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B2 | 8 | long lines forward & back (adjust)
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8 | partners swing
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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.
by: Dugan Murphy
snake dance
introduces moves: petronella, balance the ring, pass through
formation: improper
A1 | 8 | balance & petronella
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8 | balance & petronella
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A2 | 16 | neighbors balance & swing
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B1 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
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8 | partners swing
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B2 | 8 | circle left 3 places
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4 | balance the ring
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4 | pass through ⁋
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by: Chestnut
introduces moves: turn alone, custom
formation: improper or proper
A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
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4 | pass through across the set
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4 | turn alone
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A2 | 8 | long lines forward & back
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4 | pass through across the set
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4 | turn alone
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B1 | 8 | partners do si do once
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8 | partners swing
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B2 | 16 | top couple sashay to bottom of set - others move up ⁋
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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: Katherine Kitching & Sherry Nevin
introduces moves: custom
formation: Scatter Mixer
Find a partner, now find a duple!
A1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
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8 | star left 4 places
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A2 | 8 | balance & petronella
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8 | balance & petronella (doesn't matter where it takes you)
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B1 | 8 | partners do si do once
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8 | neighbors do si do once
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B2 | 8 | ____ do si do once as couples
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8 | as couples, scatter to find new duples ⁋
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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.
introduces moves: custom
formation: Becket (no matter)
A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
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8 | long lines forward & back
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A2 | 8 | star right 4 places
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8 | star left 4 places
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B1 | 8 | neighbors do si do once
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8 | partners do si do once
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B2 | 16 | top 2 couples form line of 4, dance to the bottom over everyone's heads ⁋
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____0_________X___
^___0__^__^__X__^_
|___0___|___|__X__|_
0__ 0__X__0__X__X_
by: Traditional
introduces moves: custom, star promenade, butterfly whirl
formation: square dance
A1 | 8 | ladles to the center & back to the bar
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8 | gentlespoons to the center for a right hand star
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A2 | 8 | gentlespoons star LEFT pass your partner ⁋
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2 | pick up next ladle for a
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6 | star promenade left ½
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B1 | 8 | butterfly whirl to put ladles in center of a right hand star ("shoot the star")
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8 | ladles star promenade right ½
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B2 | 8 | butterfly whirl to put gentlespoons in the center ("shoot the star")
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8 | star left
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8 | partners swing "swing this ladle"
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8 | partners promenade home
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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
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
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4 | gentlespoons roll away ____ corner (left hand ladle to gentlespoon's right hand)
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4 | balance corners
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4 | gentlespoons roll away ____ corner
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A2 | 4 | balance corners
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4 | gentlespoons roll away ____ corner
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4 | balance corners
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4 | gentlespoons roll away partners
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B1 | 32 | waltz the set
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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.
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
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8 | pivot to walk backward (still counterclockwise)
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A2 | 8 | walk forward
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8 | pivot to walk backward (still clockwise)
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B1 | 8 | step together, step apart
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8 | pass ladle to the center
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B2 | 8 | step together, step apart
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8 | ladle turn back
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If not progressing, ladle twirl back to "outside".
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
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8 | circle right 6 places
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A2 | 8 | neighbors do si do once "ends do-si-do your opposite"
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8 | neighbors do si do once "middles do-si-do your opposite"
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B1 | 8 | neighbors swing "ends swing your opposite"
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8 | neighbors swing "middles swing your opposite"
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B2 | 8 | long lines forward & back
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8 | pass through to a new line of 3 ⁋
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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
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
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4 | advance & retire
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4 | divide couples, left couple 7s behind couple to right, rise& grind
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4 | divide couples, left couple 7s behind couple to right, rise & grind
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A2 | 4 | centers star right while sides allemande right
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4 | centers star left while sides allemande left
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4 | advance & retire
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0 | line facing the music raises their arms
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4 | pass through ⁋
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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.
by: Bob Green
introduces moves: gate
formation: improper
A1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
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8 | circle right 4 places
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A2 | 8 | star left - hands across - 4 places
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8 | star right - hands across - 4 places
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B1 | 4 | ones down the center and turn alone
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4 | ones up the center
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8 | twos gate ones to face into the set
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B2 | 16 | ones long swing in the middle, end facing down ⁋
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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
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
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8 | long lines forward & back
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A2 | 8 | partners allemande right once
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8 | partners allemande left once
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B1 | 8 | partners two hand turn
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8 | partners do si do once
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B2 | 8 | ones down the center sashay
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8 | ones up the center sashay
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8 | ones down the outsides, followed by twos threes fours,
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0 | ones form an arch
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8 | twos up the center under the arch, followed by threes fours ⁋
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"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
by: Julian Blechner
introduces moves: custom
formation: circle mixer
A1 | 8 | ladles to the center and back
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2 | gentlespoons to the center
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4 | gentlespoons turn alone
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2 | gentlespoons go back
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A2 | 8 | partners allemande left 1½ (gentlespoons progress CCW, ladles progress CW) ⁋
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8 | next neighbors do si do once (now your partner)
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B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing
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B2 | 16 | partners promenade along the set on the right
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by: Moose Flores
introduces moves: California twirl
formation: improper
A1 | 8 | neighbors do si do once as couples
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8 | neighbors do si do once
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A2 | 16 | neighbors balance & swing
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B1 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
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8 | partners swing
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B2 | 8 | balance & petronella
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4 | balance the ring
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4 | partners California twirl ⁋
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Optional: last time
B1) Long lines forward & back, Gentlespoons allemande left 1 1/2
B2) Partners balance & swing
Variation on Cherokee Shuffle
https://contradb.com/dances/509
by: Linda Leslie
introduces moves: custom
formation: proper
tell the band timing's not essential
A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
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8 | long lines forward & back
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A2 | 16 | top couple sashay down and back
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B1 | 16 | top couple Dip and Dive down ⁋
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B2 | 16 | partners balance & swing
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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.
by: Lynn Ackerson
introduces moves: custom
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
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8 | middle 4 star right 4 places
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A2 | 8 | partners allemande left 1½
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8 | other 4 star right 4 places
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B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing
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B2 | 8 | circle left 4 places
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4 | balance the ring
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4 | partners California twirl ⁋
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In this case there are 8 places in the circle, so going 4 places is equivalent to half way.
by: Ceilidh
introduces moves: custom
formation: circle mixer
32 bar reel
single circle facing in, ladles to right of partner
A1 | 4 | advance & retire
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4 | advance & retire
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4 | ladles advance & retire
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2 | gentlespoons advance
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2 | gentlespoons turn & walk out to next ladle ⁋
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A2 | 8 | partners swing, cross-handed
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8 | partners promenade line of direction
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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
by: Chestnut
introduces moves: custom
formation: Longways Sets, 4-6 Couples
A1 | 16 | top ladle
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A2 | 16 | top gentlespoon
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B1 | 8 | top couple sashay down the middle & back
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8 | top couple separate, cast, walk down to the bottom ⁋
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B2 | 8 | partners do si do once
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8 | partners swing
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alternate B2 is sashay down & back as long lines holding hands (requires more space)
by: Bob Dalsemer
introduces moves: custom, contra corners
formation: triplet
All three couples proper
A1 | 4 | ones sashay down
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4 | ones balance towards and away from the top
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4 | ones sashay up
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4 | ones separate and go down the outside into the twos' place, twos move up
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A2 | 16 | ones contra corners
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B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing, all end facing up
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B2 | 4 | partners sashay to trade places (ladles in front, gentlespoons behind)
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4 | long lines forward
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8 | circle left 3 places (halfway) ⁋
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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)