Elisabeth Monica Olympia 2024.02.24

user: Elisabeth Monica

Easy Peasy

by: Diane Silver

introduces moves: swing, long lines, allemande, circle, balance the ring, California twirl

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋

A-1 Reel

by: Chris Weiler

introduces moves: right left through

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
right left through
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Chris's notes:

"Written at the A-1 Diner in Gardiner, ME October 24th, 2008. Called for the first time that same evening at the North Whitefield contra dance. I was looking for a good dance to go either before the break or at the end of the evening. The dance is simple enough for the dancers and lets the band rock with an energetic tune set. Plus it ends with a partner swing without any changes from the caller. Call it in duple improper formation starting with the A2 for a more standard experience."

Box the Cat

by: Lisa Greenleaf

introduces moves: box the gnat, pull by dancers, custom, chain, star

formation: improper

Have dancers introduce themselves to their previous neighbor during walkthrough.

A1 8
neighbors right hand balance & box the gnat
2
neighbors pull by right
6
previous neighbors allemande left once
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 6
circle left 3 places
10
partners swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places ⁋

Frederick Contra

by: Tom Hinds

introduces moves: do si do, down the hall, up the hall

formation: improper

Common variation is for long lines forward and back instead of do si do. That version can be found here.

A1 8
gentlespoons do si do once
8
ladles allemande left 1½
A2 16
partners balance & swing
B1 8
down the hall and turn as a couple
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
B2 6
circle left 3 places
10
neighbors swing ⁋

Catch a Falling Star

by: Melanie Axel-Lute

introduces moves: balance, turn alone

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
star right - hands across - 4 places
B2 4
balance the star
4
ladles pull by right "rolling face-to-face like a half gyre"
0
gentlespoons turn alone over their left shoulder
8
star left - hands across - 4 places ⁋

While the ladles swap in the star can be either in the style of a Rory slide (as in "Our House" by Dean Snipes) or the pull by above, Melanie asserts that the pull by was her original intention.

Waltz

Break

Birthday

by: Robin Banerji

introduces moves: petronella

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
right left through
8
circle left 3 places
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋

Cows are Watching (Variation)

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: hey, zig zag

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
gentlespoons start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
circle left 4 places
8
zig left zag right, new ladles catch left hands ⁋
B2 6
ladles allemande left once
10
partners swing

A variation of the dance by Bill Pope and Judy Goldsmith.

Waltz

Butter

by: Gene Hubert

(Alternate Dance)

introduces moves: slide along set

formation: Becket

A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
6
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B1 16
ladles start a full hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
B2 16
partners balance & swing