Good for newbies

user: Moose Flores

Table of Contents

  1. Blackberry Trace by Tom Anderson
  2. Like I've Known You Forever by Devin J. Pohly
  3. Lady Mondegreen by Moose Flores
  4. The Slinky Walk by Moose Flores, Chris Page
  5. Frederick Reel by Tom Hinds
  6. Salmonella Evening by Steve Zakon-Anderson
  7. Hey Maker Contra by Aden Water
  8. The Baby Rose by David Kaynor
  9. New Year, Same Old Charlie by Isaac Banner
  10. Simplicity Swing by Becky Hill
  11. Kinematic Vorticity by Carol Ormand
  12. Power Surge by Bob Isaacs and Beth Brill
  13. Qwill & Paper by Moose Flores
  14. Coconut Cream Pie by Lynn Ackerson
  15. Northalstead Jig (Riverside Jig variation) by Moose Flores
  16. Trip to Versailles by Moose Flores
  17. Yellow Cat's Jig (Maggie Jo's Version) by Jim Gregory

  18. EZ’s mixer by E. Zorn
  19. Catch Somebody (Cis Hinkle's version by Cis Hinkle
  20. Ice Cream in the Sink by Kathy Hirsh
  21. Washington Park Shuffle by Traditional

    Washington Park Shuffle (simple circle, then do a spiral)

  22. END OF EVENING: check for a finisher in Groovin’ Dances: https://contradb.com/programs/262


Database

Copy

Validation

toggle validations for common dance entry errors, e.g. typing 'gentlemen' when you're using 'leads'

Blackberry Trace

by: Tom Anderson

introduces moves: pass by, circle, do si do, swing, long lines, right left through, chain, star

formation: improper

A1 4
ladles pass by right shoulders
4
circle left 2 places
8
partners do si do once
A2 16
partners balance & swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
right left through
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places ⁋

Available at https://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/midwest_folklore/blackberry_trace.html.

Like I've Known You Forever

by: Devin J. Pohly

introduces moves: allemande, promenade, pass through

formation: improper

A1 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
partners swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
ladles chain
8
partners promenade
B2 8
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
6
neighbors do si do once

Written to fulfill some criteria I had for a teaching dance:

  • First swing is with partner. Pairing beginners intentionally with experienced dancers for teaching loses some utility if they end up spending the lengthily-practiced first swing with their inevitably inexperienced neighbor.
  • Chain and promenade, but no right and left through. Rehearse and reinforce courtesy turns before dancers are even given the option to mistakenly turn alone.
  • Clear progression. So we can talk about progression.

I picture the B1 promenade in courtesy turn position, as it was the local custom where I danced at the time, it allows transfer of knowledge from the ladles chain, and it makes for a lovely partner moment as you are reunited for a cozy, leisurely walk across the set. However, don't feel you have to make a special request if your community's customary promenade differs.

The original B2 of this dance was "circle left, balance the ring, pass through" to emphasize the progression and leave some recovery time. In practice, I found that the extra time wasn't needed even for new dancers, and that it consistently caused the ladles to hesitate before starting the A1. The new ending tightens the timing and gives the ladles a nice flow into their allemande. (New dancers running behind can just skip the do-si-do.)

The ladles' allemande was changed from left-hand to right-hand based on a comment made by Lisa Greenleaf. Both work equally well out of the do-si-do, but the ladles benefit from having a left hand free to start the partner swing.

Number: DJP-000
Composed: State College, PA, fall 2012.
Debuted: Harrisburg, PA, 2012-10-12.
Updated: Warrenville, IL, fall 2018; again in summer 2019.

Lady Mondegreen

by: Moose Flores

introduces moves: pull by dancers, petronella

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
gentlespoons balance & pull by left
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
long lines forward & back ⁋
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
partners do si do once
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Ask the band for a reel.

Simpler variation on Druzy Green
https://contradb.com/dances/2038

The Slinky Walk

by: Moose Flores, Chris Page

introduces moves: slide along set, custom

formation: Becket

  • Designate ones and twos, then have each set turn 1 quarter to the left for Becket. Then verify that all the ones are on the same side. Ones progress leftward & down the hall.
  • It may help to walk through a colonnade once without arches, to demonstrate the paths, then add the ones' arch (left to left!)
  • Give the twos a chance to practice arching the colonnade during the walkthrough.
A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
6
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places
B1 16
left colonnade - "ones arch, colonnade!" +
B2 16
partners balance & swing
  • Left Colonnade: ones join left hands to make an arch and hold that arch for the entire figure. Ladles trade positions by left-shoulder pass through with ladle two going under the arch (and the arch moves!). Gentlespoons trade by left shoulders with gentlespoon two going under the arch. Ladles trade back by left shoulders; gentlespoons trade back by left shoulders. Each trade has 4 beats of music, so there's no need to rush.

Frederick Reel

by: Tom Hinds

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
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 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing

Bradley Smith Notes: The first time through the dance, the ladles allemande Left in A1 is with the couple that you start the dance with. Every time after that, the ladles have to look to the right to find the next ladle to allemande. It's a very simple progression that just requires reminding the ladles to look for the next ladle in line after the forward and back

Salmonella Evening

by: Steve Zakon-Anderson

introduces moves: balance

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors allemande right 1¾
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
A2 16
partners balance & swing
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B2 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
2
pass through ⁋

Hey Maker Contra

by: Aden Water

introduces moves: hey

formation: Becket CW

A1 2
slide left along set to new neighbors ⁋
2
circle left 1 place
12
neighbors swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½ to partner
8
partners allemande right 1¼ so Ladles are facing in
B1 16
ladles start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
B2 4
partners balance (or right gyre )
12
partners swing

Written to be an undistracting first hey dance for newer dancers, it also is quite flowy.
Let your music's vibe dictate whether to balance and swing or right gyre

Video: https://youtu.be/H8Z3IdI2Wb8

The Baby Rose

by: David Kaynor

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners do si do once
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places to new neighbors ⁋

New Year, Same Old Charlie

by: Isaac Banner

introduces moves: balance the ring, California twirl

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing, end facing down the hall
A2 8
down the hall and turn alone
8
up the hall and ones cast down one couple to new rings ⁋
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
partners swing
B2 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋

A2 cast down is mirrored with the active couple turning over their outside shoulders to drop down into a new ring of foot while the inactive couples finish moving up the hall.

Simplicity Swing

by: Becky Hill

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain to neighbor
B2 8
star left 4 places ⁋
8
next neighbors do si do once

Kinematic Vorticity

by: Carol Ormand

introduces moves: gate

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
8
twos gate ones to face down the set
A2 8
down the hall and turn alone
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing

JoLaine Jones Pokorney notes that this is a good dance for enabling dancers of limited mobility to keep up. Here are some more: http://jolainejonespokorney.blogspot.com/2018/03/if-you-stumble-make-it-part-of-dance.html?m=1

Power Surge

by: Bob Isaacs and Beth Brill

introduces moves: slice

formation: Becket

A1 8
slice left and straight back ⁋
8
ladles chain
A2 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B1 16
neighbors balance & swing
B2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing

Qwill & Paper

by: Moose Flores

introduces moves: meltdown swing

formation: improper

Designate ones and twos.
The dance begins in lines of four, with the ones in the center.

A1 8
down the hall and turn as a couple
8
up the hall and turn alone facing the center
A2 16
twos start a full hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
B1 16
twos meltdown swing, end facing up, then separate to the sides
B2 16
ones meltdown swing, end facing down to pick up next neighbors ⁋

For Qwill, on their birthday.

Coconut Cream Pie

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
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.

Northalstead Jig (Riverside Jig variation)

by: Moose Flores

introduces moves: custom

formation: Becket

A1 16
partners balance & swing
A2 8
star right 4 places
8
star left 4 places
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
neighbors do si do once
B2 16
top 2 couples form line of 4 with arches, dance to the bottom, arching over everyone's heads. MEANWHILE everyone else step up the hall ⁋

A good friend asked for a version of Riverside Jig that had a swing. I didn't want to lose the rest of the dance, so I rearranged the pieces.

Riverside Jig: https://contradb.com/dances/1918

Trip to Versailles

by: Moose Flores

introduces moves: custom

formation: four face four

Inspired by a French court dance from Versailles.
In A1, try a shuffle step

A1 16
as couples, mad ladle clockwise (think: 8 count sliding door, twice)
A2 0
Center four dancers: star right, star left
16
meanwhile, at ends: neighbors allemande left once, allemande right once.
B1 6
partners do si do once
10
Grand right and left halfway around
B2 16
partners meltdown swing, end facing new neighbors ⁋

Inspired by La Tempete
https://youtu.be/vmiq0m7JTzM

Yellow Cat's Jig (Maggie Jo's Version)

by: Jim Gregory

introduces moves: custom

formation: Circle mixer

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
circle right 4 places - single file, ladles tap shoulder of new partner ⁋
A2 8
partners do si do once
8
partners swing
B1 8
partners promenade, then face the center
8
couples go forward & back
B2 8
ladles go forward & back
8
gentlespoons go forward & back

EZ’s mixer by E. Zorn

Catch Somebody (Cis Hinkle's version

by: Cis Hinkle

This dance is not published.

Ice Cream in the Sink

by: Kathy Hirsh

introduces moves: roll away, custom

formation: circle

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
long lines forward & back
A2 4
partners allemande right once
4
neighbors allemande left once (former partner)
8
partners do si do 1¼ - end as standard couple, facing right
B1 4
partners balance together & apart
4
gentlespoons roll away partners with a half sashay
4
partners balance together & apart
4
gentlespoons twirl ladle to gentlespoon behind ⁋
B2 16
partners balance & swing (new partner) - end facing center

Source: Zesty Contras by Larry Jennings

Washington Park Shuffle

by: Traditional

Washington Park Shuffle (simple circle, then do a spiral)

This dance is not published.

END OF EVENING: check for a finisher in Groovin’ Dances: https://contradb.com/programs/262