Louisville, KY 2024-12-23

Original by Martha Wild: https://contradb.com/dances/2542

Original by Isaac Banner.

After the ladles chain, note next neighbors on the left diagonal before prompting the promenade with current neighbors.

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."

Chris's notes:

"[1] Here's what happens for the walkthrough. Lady one steps into the middle of the set, and shifts down until directly between the twos, facing down. Gent one stands directly behind her. They stick out their left hand, and star left with lady two, returning to the center. They then stick out their right hand, and star right with gent two, almost finishing the star. Once gent one's facing across, gent one ejects from the star and returns to his original side of the set.
It's a little fuzzier when smoothed out for the actual dance. Lady one can start a shoulder-round/allemande left 1/4 with lady two, and gent one gets directly behind his partner to make it a star.
This is an unequal dance, so twos that later become ones may get confused.
[2] Update: It actually doesn't matter who enters the star first. If ladies enter it first, then the second star just goes around a bit more. Gent one still crosses the set out of the second star, as soon as they're facing across. The A2 shoulder-round keeps the timing a bit flexible.
Second update: I've tested this, and it works better if lady one is in the lead, and gent one follows his partner in both stars.

Written for a stars program, where I realized I didn't have stars of three. I took the vague idea of circles of three from "Christmas Hornpipe" (a.k.a. "Vinton's Hornpipe"), and tweaked from there. (See the book "Swing the Next" by Ted Sannella for detailed instructions on those.)"