Louisville, KY 2025-11-24

user: Nicholas Rockstroh

Get Me Going

by: Lisa Greenleaf

introduces moves: swing, long lines, do si do, chain, star

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles do si do 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places and on to the next ⁋

Shadrack Unchained variation

by: Nicholas Rockstroh (Heiner Fischle)

introduces moves: form an ocean wave, allemande, down the hall, up the hall, circle, balance the ring, California twirl

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors do si do 1¼
4
form an ocean wave & balance - ladles by left hands and neighbors by right hands
4
neighbors allemande right ½
A2 4
form an ocean wave & balance - gentlespoons by left hands and neighbors by right hands
4
gentlespoons allemande left ½
8
partners swing, face down the hall
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
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl to face next neighbors

La Green Bean

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

introduces moves: custom, turn alone, form long waves, balance, promenade

formation: circle mixer

A1 8
ladles to the center and back
2
gentlespoons to the center
4
gentlespoons turn alone
2
gentlespoons go back
A2 0
form long waves - ladles face in, gentlespoons face out
4
balance
4
neighbors allemande right once
4
balance
4
partners allemande left once
B1 16
neighbors balance & swing (this neighbor is your new partner)
B2 16
partners promenade along the set on the right

Riffing on La String Bean by Julian Blechner. Changes the direction of progression around the ring and gives an easier target for the transition to a new partner (since it's the person with whom you did an allemande right). See also La Southern Green Bean for a version with Rory O'More slides.

Wings are for Theft

by: Jeremy Steinberg

introduces moves: slide along set, custom, meltdown swing, right left through

formation: Becket

A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
6
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places
A2 2
ladles turn back over right shoulders
14
neighbors meltdown swing
B1 8
right left through
8
star left 3 places
B2 2
gentlespoons turn back over right shoulders
14
partners meltdown swing

Hey in the Barn

by: Chart Guthrie

introduces moves: hey

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
ladles chain
8
ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
ladles start a half hey - ____ in center, ____ on ends ⁋

Star's End

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: mad robin

formation: Becket

A1 8
right left through
8
star left - hands across - 3 places and a bit more until gentlespoons are aligned in the center
A2 4
gentlespoons allemande left ½
12
neighbors swing
B1 8
mad robin, gentlespoons in front
8
star right 3 places and a bit more so new ladles can take left hands ⁋
B2 4
ladles allemande left ½ while gentlespoons walk forward to meet partners
12
partners swing

Make sure to remind the dancers, particularly the ladles, to keep their eyes looking up for the next people rather than looking down at their feet.

In practice, both stars function as full stars, but noting the different alignment helps to keep the set oriented, especially on the star right before the progression

waltz

Ribbons for Shoe Laces

by: Dugan Murphy

introduces moves: give & take

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
ladles give & take partners
8
partners swing
B2 8
partners promenade, shifting right along the side to face new neighbors
8
circle right 3 places

Chinese New Year

by: Chris Page

introduces moves: box circulate, square through

formation: improper

begin in long waves---right hand to neighbor, gentlespoons face out, ladles face in.

A1 8
balance & box circulate - ladles cross while gentlespoons loop right
8
balance & box circulate - gentlespoons cross while ladles loop right
A2 8
balance & box circulate - ladles cross while gentlespoons loop right
8
partners swing
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
square through two - partners balance & pull by right, then neighbors pull by left to ⁋
0
form long waves - ladles face in, gentlespoons face out

In the pull-by left, keep left hands and take right hands with a new neighbor to reform long waves.
For better entry, consider an allemande left 1/2 rather than a pull-by left, so that all hands are at the correct height for long waves.

Written for Joyce Fortune of the Bay Area, won at the auction of the 2010 Spring Fever dance camp at Monte Toyon, CA. She requested a dance with long lines, some balances, and a swing/circle/swing transition. (A surprisingly tough set of requirements to fulfill.) This sequence was the option she liked best.

Adam's Trip to the Corner

by: Adam Carlson

introduces moves: custom, contra corners

formation: triplet

triplet with couples proper

A1 8
ones and twos circle left
8
ones down the center at the bottom, ones cast around the threes and the twos move up so the ones end up between the twos and threes
A2 16
ones contra corners
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ones up the center cast round the outside and down to the bottom, threes move up
8
long lines forward & back

In the first half of B2, the twos and threes can adjust to be proper if they ended the swing on the wrong side.

Traditionally only the ones would balance and swing in B1, but it's more fun if everyone gets a chance.

Based on Ted's Triplet #7, but easier for beginners.
Written pretty much on the fly at a Port Orchard, WA dance when only 3 couples remained at the end of the evening.

Don't Look Back

by: Kenny Greer

introduces moves: petronella, pass by

formation: Becket

A1 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋
A2 8
balance & petronella (New Ring)
8
partners allemande left 1½
B1 2
gentlespoons pass by right shoulders
14
neighbors swing
B2 8
ladles give & take partners
8
partners swing

The first of three dances that I wrote on August 6, 2025 at Holiday World. I was planning to marathon The Voyage for the day, and I ended up taking a couple of hours just to get to three rides (ended the day with 25). The name of this dance comes from the last three words of the poem that you hear as you wait for The Legend.

"Scream your head off, but don't ask why, or the headless horseman might pass you by. And as you race around the twisted track, whatever you do, don't look back!"

The Dance Gypsy

by: Gene Hubert

formation: Becket

start the walkthrough with partners swing, and then form a line of four facing down

A1 8
down the hall and turn as a couple
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
right diagonal ladles chain
8
star left 4 places ⁋
B2 16
partners balance & swing

One of my favorite dances from Gene. A rare example of a Becket dance with lines of four down and up the hall, and a clever little progression via the right diagonal chain. It's a fantastic dance to inject variety into an event with a mixed crowd, since there's enough unexpected to scintillate experienced folks without overwhelming beginners.