DRAFT Wilmington, NC-- 4/19/25

Family Contra var.

This dance is not published.

Reel Easy

introduces moves: do si do, swing, long lines, allemande, circle, pull by dancers

formation: improper

A1	8	neighbors do si do once
	8	neighbors swing
A2	8	long lines forward & back
	8	ladles allemande right 1½
B1	16	partners balance & swing
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	6	neighbors allemande right once
	2	neighbors pull by right to next neighbors ⁋

https://www.dance.ravitz.us/#re :

To change from a Becket dance to Reel Easy in a medley, change Reel Easy's first figure to circle left 3/4. From a counter-clockwise Becket dance, change it to ~~men~~ allemande left 1+1/2.

The second half of B2 can be danced as neighbors allemande right 1+1/4, walk straight forward to (A1) do-si-do the next. But I think it is more fun to allemande right 1, lean back a bit, and pull by.

YouTube, 2, MRD

Jennifer's Whirlpool

by: Gwyn Williams

circle mixer

formation: Sicilian Circle

Line up improper for a Sicilian circle, then turn to face partners making 2 large circles for A1.

A1	8	circle left 6 places (2 large counter-rotating circles)
	8	circle right 6 places (2 large counter-rotating circles)
A2	8	ladles allemande left 1½
	8	partners swing
B1	8	circle left 3 places
	8	neighbors do si do once ⁋
B2	16	neighbors balance & swing

A1 is large counter-rotating circles, ending up facing partner. B1 is hands-4 circle.

Broken Sixpence v. with Chains

by: Don Armstrong

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall, chain

formation: improper

A1	8	neighbors do si do once
	8	ladles do si do once
A2	8	gentlespoons do si do once
	8	ones swing and face down
B1	8	down the hall and turn alone
	8	up the hall and bend into a ring
B2	8	ladles chain to partner
	8	ladles chain to neighbor ⁋

Bob Isaacs notes: A very forgiving dance, this has long been a common first contra of the evening for many callers.

This version found in Bob Isaacs' "50 Easy Dances" document: https://www.jefftk.com/files/contra_dances_cdny.doc

Another version replaces chains with circle/star: https://contradb.com/dances/883

Howl at the Moon

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

introduces moves: promenade, gyre

formation: improper

A1	8	long lines forward & back ⁋
	8	gentlespoons do si do 1½
A2	16	partners balance & swing
B1	8	partners promenade
	8	ladles gyre 1½
B2	16	neighbors balance & swing

Ham Wiggle Makes Me Giggle

by: Isaac Banner

introduces moves: right left through, hey, pass through

formation: improper

A1	16	neighbors balance & swing
A2	8	right left through
	8	circle left 3 places
B1	8	ladles start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
	8	partners swing
B2	6	circle left 3 places
	2	pass through
	8	next neighbors do si do once ⁋

Waltz

Maximum Fun, Minimum Variation

by: Dean Snipes, Isaac Banner

introduces moves: box the gnat, box circulate

formation: improper

A1	8	neighbors right hand balance & box the gnat
	8	balance & box circulate - gentlespoons cross while ladles loop right
A2	8	balance & box circulate - ladles cross while gentlespoons loop right
	8	neighbors swing
B1	8	gentlespoons allemande left 1½
	8	partners swing
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	2	pass through to next neighbors ⁋
	6	next neighbors do si do once

Var on Minimum Fuss, Maximum Fun by Dean Snipes for when your program has too many chain-to-star progressions and you can't stop panicking.

Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mud

by: Mike Boerschig

introduces moves: custom, balance the ring, California twirl

formation: improper

A1	16	neighbors balance & swing
A2	8	gentlespoons allemande left 1½
	8	partners allemande right 1½
B1	8	The first gentlespoon and second ladle star left above, and the second gentlespoon and first ladle star left below
	8	partners swing
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	4	balance the ring
	4	partners California twirl ⁋

Kitchen Stomp

by: Becky Hill

introduces moves: petronella, star

formation: improper

A1	16	neighbors balance & swing
A2	8	gentlespoons allemande left 1½
	8	partners swing
B1	8	ladles chain
	8	balance & petronella
B2	8	balance & petronella
	8	star left 4 places ⁋

Freylekhs

by: Isaac Banner

formation: improper

A1	8	ladles allemande right 1½
	8	partners swing
A2	8	circle left 3 places
	8	neighbors swing, end facing down the hall
B1	8	down the hall and turn as a couple
	8	up the hall and bend into a ring
B2	16	ladles start a full hey - rights in center, lefts on ends ⁋

Ladles coming out of the hey look to the right of their partner for new ladles.

Old Time Elixir #2

by: Linda Leslie

no walkthrough?

introduces moves: slide along set

formation: Becket

A1	0	slide left along set ⁋
	8	circle left 3 places
	8	neighbors swing
A2	8	right left through (or promenade)
	8	ladles chain to partner
B1	8	balance & petronella
	8	balance & petronella
B2	16	partners balance & swing

A variation of the dance Old Time Elixir by Mike Boerschig. The same dance was also written by Dean Snipes, and is called "Tica Tica Timing".

Valerie's Trip to Portland

by: Erik Weberg

introduces moves: meltdown swing, zig zag

formation: improper

double progression

A1	16	neighbors meltdown swing
A2	8	long lines forward & back
	3	pass through across the set
	3	neighbors allemande right ¾
	2	gentlespoons allemande left ½
B1	16	partners balance & swing
B2	6	circle left 3 places
	5	zig left zag right ⁋
	5	zig right zag left ⁋

zig zag x2 is a weave the line -- zig left, zag all the way right to the other side of the set past N2, zig left to N3

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