Baltimore Wednesday 2026-02-11

user: Luke Schoppert

The Nice Combination

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: swing, down the hall, up the hall, circle, chain, star

formation: improper

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

Heartbeat Contra

by: Don Flaherty

introduces moves: petronella, balance the ring, gyre, 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 ⁋

Barack Me, Obamadeus

by: Maia McCormick

introduces moves: meltdown swing, allemande, 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.

United We Dance

by: Bob Isaacs

introduces moves: Rory O'More

formation: long waves, larks facing out

A1 8
balance & Rory O'More right (in long waves)
8
balance & Rory O'More left (in long waves)
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 6
circle left 3 places
10
partners swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places, to long waves

A Thing of Trust

by: Chris Page

introduces moves: poussette, long lines

formation: improper

A1 6
half poussette - gentlespoons pull partners back then left clockwise ⁋
10
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
circle left 3 places
B1 6
half poussette - gentlespoons pull neighbors back then left clockwise
10
partners swing
B2 8
ladles chain to neighbor
8
circle right 4 places

Notes from Bob Isaacs: Written on August 7, 2012 as a smushing together of the B2/A1 of "A Sure Thing" and A2/B1 of "Trust," to put both transitions in the same dance. Chris learned to dance and call at Glenside before moving to San Diego a decade ago. This dance has it all; a new transition, good flow into both swings, and the beautiful/circle R/pousette progression.

Chinese New Year

by: Chris Page

introduces moves: box circulate, square through, form long waves

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.

break

A Method for My Madness

by: Declan Bigger

Declan

introduces moves: do si do

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left twice rapid
8
neighbors start a half hey - rights on ends, lefts in center - gentlespoons ricochet
B1 16
partners long swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors do si do 1½

Apogee

by: Chris Page

introduces moves: allemande orbit

formation: Becket

A1 8
partners promenade ⁋
8
ladles chain to next neighbor
A2 8
ladles allemande right 1½ around while the gentlespoons orbit counter clockwise ½ around
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
gentlespoons chain
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½ around while the ladles orbit clockwise ½ around
B2 16
partners meltdown swing

Chris Page notes:
[2] To flow into the orbit figure, consider an open ladles chain, where ladles pull by right, and then neighbor N2 allemande left 1. The transition also works well with a twirl substituted for the courtesy turn.
[3] In tight quarters, it helps if gentlespoons from other sets intersect by passing each other by left shoulders.
[4] I strongly recommend an open gentlespoons chain, where gentlespoons pull by left, and then partner allemande right 1. Not only will this be less confusing than a regular gentlespoon's chain, but the ladles will have proper momentum into the orbit.

available http://chrispagecontra.awardspace.us/dances/index.htm#apogee

Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion

by: Cary Ravitz

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
neighbors promenade
8
ladles chain
B1 8
balance & petronella and turn to face the next ⁋
8
balance & petronella
B2 16
partners balance & swing

"The motion in B1 does seem magical – while the ladles Petronella over and back across the set, the gentlespoons do consecutive Petronellas along the side, in effect progressing behind his partner’s back."
- Rich Goss

Frocks Rockin' Frolic

by: Will Mentor

introduces moves: see saw, give & take, zig zag

formation: improper

A1 8
circle right 4 places
8
neighbors see saw once
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
ladles give & take partners
8
partners swing
B2 10
circle left 5 places zoomily
6
zig left zag right ⁋

Transcribed from memory, please test before calling for dancers.

Vallimont's Silver Hammer

by: Luke Donforth

introduces moves: slide along set

formation: Becket

A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
6
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
neighbors promenade
8
ladles chain to partner
B1 8
square through two - neighbors balance & pull by right, then partners pull by left along
8
shadows do si do once
B2 16
partners balance & swing