2025-03-08 Vaplaraiso

user: Moose Flores

Table of Contents

  1. Intro Lesson NOT A DANCE by unknown
  2. Harmony Supper Line by Jim Saxe
  3. Ice Cream in the Sink by Kathy Hirsh
  4. Poetry in Motion by Lisa Greenleaf
  5. The Slinky Walk by Moose Flores, Chris Page

  6. Boston Baked Beans #3 http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=2874

  8. Rattlesnake Trio by Heiner Fischle https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=6575

  11. WALTZ AND BREAK
  12. 3, 33-33 by Steve Zakon-Anderson
  13. Coconut Cream Pie by Lynn Ackerson
  14. Trip to Versailles by Moose Flores
  15. Moose Tracks by Elizabeth Bloom Albert
  16. Salmonella Evening by Steve Zakon-Anderson

  17. WALTZ AND GOODNIGHT
  18. Sharon of the Green by Jane Ewing
  19. Hey Maker Contra by Aden Water
  20. Melted Butter (W.M.) by Will Mentor
  21. Autumn Ripple by Moose Flores
  22. Mama Loo's Reel by Gene Hubert


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Intro Lesson NOT A DANCE

by: unknown

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

formation: circle

Lesson: Circle, give weight, stay connected, AR, AL, DSD, Swing, courtesy turn & chain, better never than late.

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
neighbors allemande left once
A2 8
neighbors do si do once
8
partners swing
B1 8
right left through
8
ladles chain
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
star left 4 places

Lesson: Circle L/R, F&B, give weight, stay connected, DSD, AL, AR, Swing, courtesy turn & chain, star. Better never than late, keep moving, "Keep smiling and all is forgiven", Everyone makes mistakes!

Harmony Supper Line

by: Jim Saxe

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors allemande left 1½
8
ladles chain
A2 6
ladles allemande right once
10
partners swing
B1 6
circle left 3 places
10
neighbors swing
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
star right 4 places ⁋

Ice Cream in the Sink

by: Kathy Hirsh

introduces moves: balance, 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

Poetry in Motion

by: Lisa Greenleaf

introduces moves: gyre, give & take

formation: improper

A1 8
star right 4 places
8
neighbors allemande right 1¼
A2 8
next neighbors gyre left shoulders once
8
neighbors swing original neighbor
B1 8
gentlespoons give & take partners
8
partners swing
B2 8
ladles chain to neighbor
8
star left 4 places ⁋

Bob Isaacs notes: The give and take figure originated from Larry Jennings, the great caller and writer from Boston. End the neighbor swing in shoulder/waist position, take two steps forward, and the gentlespoons take their partner’s hand and lead her to his side for a swing. Some “hard-to-get” playfulness usually goes along with this. In this dance the figure is a good alternative to circle L ¾, and in other dances can go to either side of the set.

This smooth-flowing dance was written by one top caller for the marriage of two other outstanding callers, Linda Leslie and Bob Golder, all of whom are from eastern Massachusetts.

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.

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

WALTZ AND BREAK

3, 33-33

by: Steve Zakon-Anderson

introduces moves: pull by dancers, box the gnat

formation: improper

A1 4
1st neighbors balance & pull by right
4
2nd neighbors pull by left
8
3rd neighbors right hand balance & box the gnat
A2 4
3rd neighbors pull by right
4
2nd neighbors pull by left
8
1st neighbors swing
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles do si do 1½ ⁋

Original at https://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/steve_zakon/three_33_33.html

Coconut Cream Pie

by: Lynn Ackerson

introduces moves: custom, 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.

Trip to Versailles

by: Moose Flores

introduces moves: custom, meltdown swing

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

Moose Tracks

by: Elizabeth Bloom Albert

introduces moves: promenade

formation: Becket

A2) Promenade goes around the oval, turn as a couple. Then promenade to return to where you started, but do not turn.

A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
6
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing, end facing CCW (gentlespoon's left shoulder toward the center)
A2 8
neighbors promenade along the set on the right, turn as a couple
8
neighbors promenade along the set on the left, returning to your partner, do not turn
B1 8
partners do si do ¾, as couples
8
partners do si do once
B2 16
partners balance & swing

A2) while promenading, hand holds are not so important.

B1) The "as couples 3/4 do si do" begins by sliding back to back with the other couple, and ends face to face with your partner.

Salmonella Evening

by: Steve Zakon-Anderson

introduces moves: petronella, pass through

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 ⁋

WALTZ AND GOODNIGHT

Sharon of the Green

by: Jane Ewing

introduces moves: mad robin

formation: improper

A1 8
mad robin, ladles in front
8
circle left 4 places
A2 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
partners swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B2 8
star left 4 places
8
mad robin, ladles in front ⁋

Note that the mad robin in B2 is with old neighbors, then the next mad robin in A1 is with new neighbors. Over the two mad robins, everyone's individual footpaths will describe a figure 8.
Found elsewhere:
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/486-sharon-of-the-green-contra
(different B1) http://squash.1gainesville.com/contradance.dances-composers.html#n

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

Melted Butter (W.M.)

by: Will Mentor

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing (face new neighbors)
A2 16
gentlespoons start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends - ladles ricochet second time
B1 16
partners meltdown swing
B2 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
8
neighbors do si do once

From Will: “’Butter’ by Gene Hubert has been called thousands of times by many callers to introduce a full hey. I was hashing a dance one night and made up this dance on the fly to compliment ‘Butter.’ Afterward I named it ‘Melted Butter.’”

Autumn Ripple

by: Moose Flores

formation: Becket

A1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
right diagonal gentlespoons chain to shadow
B1 8
star right - hands across - 3 places, gentlespoons drop out
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B2 16
partners balance & swing ⁋

At ends: wait on the side for the diagonal chain, and courtesy turn. (you may also star right 3/4 with two "phantom" dancers) then wait out half-sashayed.

Named after my grandmother's afghan.

Mama Loo's Reel

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: stand still

formation: improper

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
6
circle right 4 places
2
stand still let go hands and turn ⁋