user: Allison Jonjak
Seth Tepfer favorite 4x4 is my favorite 4-4; it features an unwind the stars figure. I'm sure YouTube has videos of it which will help more than any online text explanation.
stars, orbits, satisfying.
https://www.miscdances.ravitz.us/#wu simple figures, swing everybody and yet slightly more difficult than it appears on paper
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12114
https://www.jacquigrennan.com/dreams-of-mescolanzas
The Cross in the Wheel (by John Sweeney) Double Contra A1: All Four Ladies Chain Half Way – to your Diagonal Opposite Promenade to the Lady’s Home A2: The same – all Home B1: Promenade into the Middle & Back – falling back into a Circle Circle Left Half Way B2: Balance the Ring; Partner California Twirl Lines Go Forward & Back – towards your New Neighbours
Allison's Favorite (or if you don't like the title, Allison, I'm happy to change it). I suggest 32-bar jigs because of all that balancing. A1: Lines of four forward and back. Left-hand people (of each couple) make a left-hand star: balance in and out; star half-way. A2: Meet the one diagonally across from you, balance and swing - finish on the usual side, facing into the set. B1: Right-hand people make a right-hand star: balance in and out; star half-way. Swing partner and face into the set. B2: Join hands in a ring of 8: go in to the middle and back (with suitable noises). Balance the ring; California twirl partner to face a new line. As usually happens in a double contra, you stay with the other couple in your own line but alternate ends. For the partner swing, the left-hand people need to move forward and to the left as your partner approaches. When you're out at the ends you can do the figure as a two-couple set. Just make sure that the final California twirl leaves you facing the approaching line of four.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10672 features intersecting waves with rory o-more slides
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=2082 a 4-4 where you end up switching between your partner and trail buddy as you progress. 3 swings, and a big of Corey's Silver Jubilie in the middle.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10425
by: Lynn Ackerson
introduces moves: long lines, custom, allemande, swing, circle, 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.
by: Ron Benson
introduces moves: custom
formation: four face four
Requires 40 bar tune!
| A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back
|
| 8 | middle 4 dancers star right 1x
| |
| A2 | 8 | partners allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | NEW middle 4 dancers star right 1x
| |
| B1 | 16 | partners balance & swing
|
| B2 | 16 | circle left 8 places all 8 circle all the way around
|
| 16 | Left hand Gentlespoon of each line cast over left shoulder leading their line ⁋
|
40 bar tune
C1: Left hand gentlespoon/gent of each line cast over left shoulder, leading their line to the other side of the set and then up/down to face a new line of neighbors.
From Seth Tepfer who notes Someday I want to write a version of this where everyone gets a chance to lead the cast/lead the line, not just the gentlespoon/gents.
Seth Tepfer favorite 4x4 is my favorite 4-4; it features an unwind the stars figure. I'm sure YouTube has videos of it which will help more than any online text explanation.
introduces moves: chain, star, custom
formation: four face four
| A1 | 8 | long lines forward & back (lines of four)
|
| 8 | ladles chain with the couple you're facing
| |
| A2 | 8 | star left 4 places the same two couples
|
| 8 | ||
| B1 | 8 | circle left 4 places
|
| 8 | neighbors swing
| |
| B2 | 8 | gentlespoons allemande left 1½
|
| 8 | partners swing and face your direction of travel ⁋
|
by: Carol Ormand
stars, orbits, satisfying.
introduces moves: custom
formation: four face four
| A1 | 8 | lines of four forward & back
|
| 8 | star left 4 places (FOUR ladles) return to partner
| |
| A2 | 8 | partners allemande right 1½
|
| 0 | FOUR gentlespoons:
| |
| 0 | star left 4 places
| |
| 0 | WHILE ladles:
| |
| 8 | orbit clockwise ½ to opposite neighbor
| |
| B1 | 8 | neighbors allemande right 1½
|
| 0 | FOUR ladles:
| |
| 0 | star left 4 places
| |
| 0 | WHILE gentlespoons:
| |
| 8 | orbit clockwise ½ to partner
| |
| B2 | 16 | partners balance & swing end facing direction of progression ⁋
|
https://www.miscdances.ravitz.us/#wu simple figures, swing everybody and yet slightly more difficult than it appears on paper
The Cross in the Wheel (by John Sweeney) Double Contra A1: All Four Ladies Chain Half Way – to your Diagonal Opposite Promenade to the Lady’s Home A2: The same – all Home B1: Promenade into the Middle & Back – falling back into a Circle Circle Left Half Way B2: Balance the Ring; Partner California Twirl Lines Go Forward & Back – towards your New Neighbours
Allison's Favorite (or if you don't like the title, Allison, I'm happy to change it). I suggest 32-bar jigs because of all that balancing. A1: Lines of four forward and back. Left-hand people (of each couple) make a left-hand star: balance in and out; star half-way. A2: Meet the one diagonally across from you, balance and swing - finish on the usual side, facing into the set. B1: Right-hand people make a right-hand star: balance in and out; star half-way. Swing partner and face into the set. B2: Join hands in a ring of 8: go in to the middle and back (with suitable noises). Balance the ring; California twirl partner to face a new line. As usually happens in a double contra, you stay with the other couple in your own line but alternate ends. For the partner swing, the left-hand people need to move forward and to the left as your partner approaches. When you're out at the ends you can do the figure as a two-couple set. Just make sure that the final California twirl leaves you facing the approaching line of four.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10672 features intersecting waves with rory o-more slides
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=2082 a 4-4 where you end up switching between your partner and trail buddy as you progress. 3 swings, and a big of Corey's Silver Jubilie in the middle.