DRAFT: JCCFS, NC-- 3/25/25

Family Contra var.

Lesson

This dance is not published.

Push the Button

introduces moves: swing, long lines, chain, do si do, circle, balance the ring, pass through

formation: improper

A1	16	neighbors balance & swing
A2	8	long lines forward & back
	8	ladles chain
B1	8	ladles do si do once
	8	partners swing
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	4	balance the ring
	4	pass through ⁋

Jennifer's Whirlpool

by: Gwyn Williams

Circle Mixer; alt. Black Cat Mixer

introduces moves: allemande

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.

Spring Fever

by: Tony Parkes

introduces moves: star, promenade

formation: improper

A1	8	long lines forward & back ⁋
	8	neighbors swing
A2	8	gentlespoons allemande left 1½
	8	partners swing
B1	8	circle left 4 places
	8	star left 4 places
B2	8	partners promenade
	8	ladles chain to neighbor

Bob Isaacs notes: Tony Parkes of Massachusetts has long been one of America’s best callers of contras and squares, and this glossary dance is a fine way to start an evening.

Kitchen Stomp

by: Becky Hill

introduces moves: petronella

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 ⁋

The Salty Swirl

by: Robert Cromartie

Alt. Coconut Cream Pie

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall, balance, California twirl

formation: improper

A1	8	neighbors do si do once
	8	neighbors swing
A2	8	ladles chain to partner
	8	ladles chain to neighbor
B1	8	long lines forward & back
	8	partners swing in the middle; end facing down two by two
B2	4	down the hall and turn as a couple
	4	up the hall
	4	partners balance (1s only)
	4	partners California twirl (1s only) ⁋

Waltz

Midwest Folklore

by: Orace Johnson

introduces moves: slide along set

formation: Becket

A1	2	slide left along set ⁋
	8	circle left 3 places
	8	neighbors do si do once
	16	neighbors balance & swing
	8	circle left 3 places
	8	partners do si do once
	16	partners balance & swing

Wilcox Reel

by: Will Mentor

introduces moves: square through

formation: Becket

A1	8	ladles chain
	8	star left 4 places ⁋
A2	16	next neighbors balance & swing
B1	8	square through three - partners pull by right, then neighbors pull by left, then partners pull by right, stay facing out in lines
	4	long lines forward
	4	neighbors California twirl, moving towards your partners
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	8	partners swing

Kaylee guest spot!

Texas Star

by: Traditional

Square

introduces moves: custom, star promenade, butterfly whirl

formation: square dance

A1	8	ladles to the center & back to the bar
	8	gentlespoons to the center for a right hand star
A2	8	gentlespoons star LEFT pass your partner ⁋
	2	pick up next ladle for a
	6	star promenade left ½
B1	8	butterfly whirl to put ladles in center of a right hand star ("shoot the star")
	8	ladles star promenade right ½
B2	8	butterfly whirl to put gentlespoons in the center ("shoot the star")
	8	star left
	8	partners swing "swing this ladle"
	8	partners promenade home

Barn dance dancers have not been quick enough to star right then left, so we've just gone "one direction." See Barn Dance Variation for simpler version.

Patter:
(1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8)
ladles to the center and back to the bar, gentlespoons to the center for a right hand star
(1 2 3 4) back by the left don't go too far
(1 2) pass your partner pick up the next for a star promenade
(1 2 3 4) now gentlespoons back out & ladles go in
once and a half &you're gone again (5 6 7 8)
(1 2 3 4) now ladles back out, ladles go in
turn & a half & you're gone again (5 6 7 8)
(1 2 3 4) now break that star, everyone swing
(1 2 3 4) promenade til you get back home

from Wade Pearson, who notes "when you have dancers who are sharp, you can call this 1ce with gentlespoons as the first star, then a 2nd time with ladles as the first star for the opposite star promenade

Streetsboro Daisies

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: hey

formation: improper

A1	8	neighbors allemande left 1½
	8	ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
A2	16	neighbors balance & swing
B1	8	gentlespoons allemande left 1½
	8	partners swing
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	8	neighbors allemande right 1½ ⁋

Mad Robin in Love

by: Greg Frock

? Alt. Another Smooth Bluesy Dance

introduces moves: mad robin, pass by

formation: improper

A1	8	neighbors do si do once
	8	neighbors swing
A2	8	long lines forward & back
	8	mad robin, gentlespoons in front
B1	4	gentlespoons pass by left shoulders
	12	partners swing
B2	8	circle left 3 places
	4	balance the ring
	4	partners California twirl ⁋

Dancers will try to rush the mad robin to include the gentlespoons cross in A2. Remind them there is plenty of time to complete the figure. Written for Robin Wilson in 2011

Valerie's Trip to Portland

by: Erik Weberg

? Alt. ADPD

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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