Elisabeth Monica Olympia 2025.06.28

user: Elisabeth Monica

Heartbeat Contra

by: Don Flaherty

introduces moves: petronella, balance the ring, swing, gyre, circle, balance, California twirl

formation: improper

A1 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
A2 4
balance the ring
12
neighbors swing
B1 8
ladles gyre 1½
8
partners swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
4
partners balance
4
partners California twirl ⁋

A-1 Reel

by: Chris Weiler

introduces moves: right left through, allemande

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
right left through
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B2 16
partners balance & swing

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."

Barack Me, Obamadeus

by: Maia McCormick

introduces moves: meltdown swing, hey, promenade, pass through

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors meltdown swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners start a half hey - rights on ends, lefts in center
B1 16
partners meltdown swing
B2 8
partners promenade
6
circle right 3 places
2
pass through by the left ⁋

Written for Brooklyn Contra on 8/4/17, which is Obama's birthday, hence the title. Smooth dance with a hey-like figure up/down the set and a satisfying promenade > circle right transition.

Charismatic Megafauna

by: Linda Leslie

introduces moves: give & take, chain, slide along set

formation: Becket

Identify next neighbors on left diagonal.

A1 4
gentlespoons give & take neighbors
12
neighbors swing
A2 8
ladles chain
6
partners promenade
2
slide right along set (j-hook) ⁋
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Linda's notes:

"Written for our friends Lucia Watson and Jeff Weiler so they could twirl like crazy in the chain. In 2017, I actually switched the sequences: the dance used to start at the B1. I like this much better!"

Little Green Heron

by: Joseph Pimentel

introduces moves: star, zig zag

formation: Sicilian Circle

A1 8
star left 4 places to prev neighbors
8
star right 4 places with prev neighbors back to original neighbors
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 10
circle left 5 places
6
zig left zag right to next neighbors

Apples and Caramel

by: Seth Tepfer

introduces moves: Rory O'More, do si do

formation: improper

Starts in short waves, right hand to neighbors

A1 8
balance & Rory O'More right
8
balance & Rory O'More left
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
partners swing
B2 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
8
next neighbors do si do 1¼ to short waves

Based on Apples and Chocolate by Sue Rosen

Waltz

Break

Birthday

by: Robin Banerji

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
right left through
8
circle left 3 places
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋

After the Solstice

by: Lisa Greenleaf

introduces moves: long lines

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
right left through
6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋

Waltz