Louisville, KY 2026-02-16

user: Nicholas Rockstroh

Tuesday Night Special

by: Larry Jennings

introduces moves: swing, circle, promenade, chain, star

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 6
circle left 3 places
10
partners swing
B1 8
partners promenade
8
ladles chain
B2 8
neighbors promenade
8
star left 4 places to next neighbors

One of the great glossary dances. Simple figures and gentle timing, but not so comprehensive that it leaves you with no options to make the second dance feel distinctive. Definitely a favorite of mine.

Contra Essentialism

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

introduces moves: long lines, right left through, allemande

formation: improper

Note the hand in which the next neighbor's hand will be held in the long lines

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
right left through
8
ladles allemande right 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing and take hands with next neighbors in long lines

I was taking a course on gender and sexuality at the time I wrote this. The title is a double pun; "Contra is essential" is one meaning, "against cultural/biological essentialism" is another.

A Cure for the Claps

by: Bob Isaacs

This dance is not published.

Right and Left Triplet

by: Chris Page

bad choice for first half; too many beginners and need to teach better

introduces moves: custom

formation: triplet

ones improper, two and threes proper

A1 8
ones and twos right left through, ones power turn in the middle to face threes
8
ones and threes right left through, threes power turn in the middle to face twos
A2 16
twos and threes with neighbors balance & swing, ones with partners balance & swing - end facing into the set in a ring of six, gentlespoons on the left and ladles on the right
B1 8
along the set right left through for six (see notes)
8
along the set right left through for six
B2 8
circle left 3 places until across from partners
8
partners swing

A "power turn" is a courtesy turn once around instead of halfway, so you end up facing away from the one you pulled by rather than facing them.

The right left through for six is done by pulling by right with your current corner (the ladle to the gentlespoon's left/gentlespoon to the ladle's right after the swing) and courtesy turning the next.

In the context of a triplet, a circle left 3 places is a circle left 1/2, but don't worry too much about the exact distance since positions can get muddy during the right left through. The important thing is that dancers end up across from their partners in 3-1-2 order.

Chris notes: "Inspired by Colin Hume's discussion on hexagonal squares. I got rid of the three side couples and wrote a triplet."

Midwest Folklore

by: Orace Johnson

introduces moves: slide along set, do si do

formation: Becket

A1 2
slide left along set ⁋
8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors do si do once
16
neighbors balance & swing
8
circle left 3 places
8
partners do si do once
16
partners balance & swing

waltz

Treasure of Sierra Madre

by: James Hutson

variation with pullbys instead of half hey

introduces moves: box the gnat, hey

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors right hand balance & box the gnat
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
A2 8
partners right hand balance & box the gnat
8
partners start a half hey - rights on ends, lefts in center
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places ⁋

Dance All Night

by: Rich Mohr

introduces moves: custom

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
corners swing
A2 8
ladles star right once
8
corners allemande left 1.25
B1 10
partners pull by right for grand right and left until they meet their partner
6
partners do si do once
B2 16
partners balance & swing and end facing new lines of 4 ⁋

In the grand right and left dancers end up traveling half way around the circle.

Amiss

by: Cary Ravitz

used left shoulder round instead of right shoulder round

introduces moves: gyre, custom, zig zag, mad robin

formation: Becket

A1 2
long lines forward
4
neighbors gyre ½
2
long lines back
8
circle right 3 places
A2 6
zig right zag left past neighbors
10
next neighbors swing
B1 8
mad robin, gentlespoons in front
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Wait out with ladles on the left and gentlespoons on the right.

Nicholas's variation: left gyre instead of right gyre.

Giant Robot Dance

by: Linda Leslie

introduces moves: pass through, give & take

formation: Becket

double progression

A1 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
8
neighbors do si do once
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
next neighbors swing ⁋
B2 4
gentlespoons give & take partners
12
partners swing

"Written for Dance Flurry, 2009 and the Band!" - Linda