2025-11-08 Valpo

user: Moose Flores

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!
Anyone can dance either role, or both. Anyone can ask anyone to dance. You can always say “no thank you” for any or no reason.

Northalstead Jig (var. on Riverside Jig)

by: Moose Flores

introduces moves: custom

formation: Becket

A1 16
partners balance & swing
A2 8
star right 4 places
8
star left 4 places
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
neighbors do si do once
B2 16
top 2 couples form line of 4 with arches, dance to the bottom, arching over everyone's heads. MEANWHILE everyone else step up the hall

A good friend asked for a version of Riverside Jig that had a swing. I didn't want to lose the rest of the dance, so I rearranged the pieces.

Riverside Jig: https://contradb.com/dances/1918

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.

Lucky Seven

by: [unknown]

introduces moves: custom, pull by dancers, promenade

formation: circle mixer

All couples in a big circle facing the center. Roles/sides don't particularly matter, but go ahead and put gentlespoons on the left and ladles on the right if you care.

A1 8
everyone into the middle and back
8
into the middle and back
A2 3
partners pull by right - that's number 1
2
next neighbors pull by left - 2
3
next neighbors pull by right -3
2
next neighbors pull by left -4
3
next neighbors pull by right -5
3
next neighbors pull by left -6
B1 16
next neighbors long swing - number 7! that's your new partner ⁋
B2 16
partners promenade around the ring

announcements

November Night

by: Jim Hemphill

formation: improper

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

Bradley Smith Notes:
The first time through the dance, the gentlespoons do-si-do in A1 is with the couple that you start the dance with. Every time after that, the gentlespoons have to look to the left to find the next gentlespoon to do-si-do. It's a very simple progression that just requires reminding gentlepoons that they must look to the left every time through the dance after the first to find the next gentlespoon to Do-si-do.

The Baby Rose

by: David Kaynor

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners do si do once
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places to new neighbors

Break & waltz

Square Affair

by: Becky Hill

COUPLE OUT IN B = 5/3/1 MORE TIME

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

The Slinky Walk variation

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
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
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.

Variation by Seth Tepfer

First of November

by: Isaac Banner

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners do si do 1¼
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain to neighbors
8
right left through ⁋

Dosido as much as you want, until it’s time to balance - it’s a free country.

Zag it Back

by: Jacqui Grennan

introduces moves: slice, zig zag

formation: Becket

A1 8
slice left and straight back ⁋
8
ladles allemande left 1½
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 6
circle left 3 places
6
neighbors zig left zag right
4
shadows allemande left once
B2 16
partners balance & swing

The timing is fuzzy in the B1 but it does all fit.

waltz & goodnight