09.27.2025 Contrabridge - Cambridge, UK

user: Sarah Trop

Table of Contents

  1. Pizza Shop by Yoyo Zhou
  2. Still More O'Moore by Jim Kitch
  3. The Eyes Have It by Becky Hill
  4. Splitting Hairs by Chris Page
  5. Triassic Poetry by Lindsey Dono
  6. I'll Hold You In My Arms by Maia McCormick

  7. BREAK
  8. Al's Safeway Produce by Robert Cromartie
  9. Frannie's Frolic by Will Mentor
  10. Potpurri by Bob Isaacs
  11. Becketize the Baby by John Coffman
  12. Star of the County Alameda by Yoyo Zhou
  13. Square Affair by Becky Hill


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Pizza Shop

by: Yoyo Zhou

introduces moves: slice, chain, allemande, swing, down the hall, up the hall, circle

formation: Becket

A1 8
slice left and straight back ⁋
8
ladles chain
A2 8
ladles allemande right once
8
neighbors 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
partners swing

Still More O'Moore

by: Jim Kitch

introduces moves: pass through, Rory O'More

formation: Becket

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

The Eyes Have It

by: Becky Hill

introduces moves: slide along set, mad robin, hey

formation: Becket

A1 6
circle left 4 places
2
slide left along set
8
ladles chain
A2 8
mad robin, ladles in front
8
ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing

Splitting Hairs

by: Chris Page

introduces moves: do si do, star, gyre, promenade

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors do si do once
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places
B1 8
partners gyre once (Ladles turn over right shoulder)
8
partners swing
B2 8
partners promenade ¾ to next
8
neighbors do si do once as a couple ⁋

On the promenade, curve slightly to face the next

Triassic Poetry

by: Lindsey Dono

introduces moves: pass by, long lines

formation: improper

A1 2
neighbors pass by right shoulders
6
next neighbors gyre left shoulders once
8
neighbors swing original neighbor
A2 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
8
gentlespoons allemande left ½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends

video available: http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/496-triassic-poetry-by-lindsey-dono-duple-improper

I'll Hold You In My Arms

by: Maia McCormick

introduces moves: petronella

formation: improper

A1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B2 16
neighbors balance & swing ⁋

BREAK

Al's Safeway Produce

by: Robert Cromartie

formation: improper

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

Author's Notes:
The transition from left hand star to allemande left is especially nice if a New England style (hand on wrist) star is used. This is the only dance I can think of for which I specifically request that type of star in those parts of the country where the default is hands-across.
Unfortunately, the origin of the name is lost in the mists of time. All I can say is that "Al" is not Al Olson, although had I known who he is when I wrote this, it might have been. Composed sometime around 1989.

This dance is from William Watson's mirror of American Country Dances On Line
All rights reserved by the author; used by permission.
Added to database 9/14/1997; last revised 3/5/1999; edited by Russell Owen

Frannie's Frolic

by: Will Mentor

introduces moves: pull by dancers

formation: Becket

A1 6
circle left 3 places
10
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
right diagonal ladles chain to 1st shadows [^1]
B1 8
star left 4 places (with Future Neighbor & Shadow)
2
partners pull by right
6
2nd shadows allemande left once
B2 16
partners balance & swing ⁋

https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=17932

[^1]: after the courtesy turn with shadows, partners are next to each other, but in different hands four

Potpurri

by: Bob Isaacs

introduces moves: balance, roll away

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors balance and star through (inside hand)
8
ladles chain
A2 4
balance the ring
4
gentlespoons roll away neighbors across the set
8
partners swing
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
B2 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
8
ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends to new neighbors

Becketize the Baby

by: John Coffman

formation: Becket

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

Connected and flowing

Star of the County Alameda

by: Yoyo Zhou

introduces moves: box the gnat, pull by direction

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors right hand balance & box the gnat
8
star right 4 places
A2 4
pull by right across the set w/partner
12
neighbors swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 8
partners promenade
6
star left 3 places
2
pull by left w/neighbor ⁋

Composed September 11, 2012

Choreographer's notes:

Often, when we pull across by the right hand, if we hold on too long, it leads to ladles turning over their right shoulder, which is bad for e.g. a right and left thru. But in this dance, it's good flow for the ladles to keep turning right into the neighbor swing.
Teaching notes:
* B2 needs to be zippy. After the star 3 places, we've come to original place.

Square Affair

by: Becky Hill

introduces moves: square through

formation: Becket

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
A2 16
square through four - partners balance & pull by right, then neighbors pull by left, then repeat ⁋
B1 16
next neighbors balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing on original side

Original published in RosenHill Collection 2005. Available at https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=2ahUKEwjh-ZCcz6reAhUKXa0KHb-qA_sQFjACegQICBAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Faptsg.org%2FDance%2Feasy_dances.rtf&usg=AOvVaw1iKx8xkRMJlMTgwuoBnYep