Richmond 3/15/26

user: Thomas Begley

Howl at the Moon

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

introduces moves: long lines, do si do, swing, promenade, gyre

formation: improper

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

Spring Fever

by: Tony Parkes

Rescue

introduces moves: allemande, circle, star, chain

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B1 8
circle left 4 places
8
star left 4 places
B2 8
partners promenade
8
ladles chain to neighbor

Bob Isaacs notes: Tony Parkes of Massachusetts has long been one of America’s best callers of contras and squares, and this glossary dance is a fine way to start an evening.

Snake Oil Reel

by: Roger Diggle

Short waves

introduces moves: form a long wave, form an ocean wave, pull by dancers

formation: improper

A1 8
ladles dance in to a long wave in the center - balance the wave
8
ladles dance out while gentlespoons dance in to a long wave in the center - balance the wave
A2 4
gentlespoons allemande left ¾
4
form an ocean wave & balance - gentlespoons by left hands and neighbors by right hands
4
neighbors allemande right ½
4
form an ocean wave & balance - ladles by left hands and neighbors by right hands
B1 2
ladles pull by left
14
partners swing
B2 8
circle left 4 places
8
ladles chain ⁋

Bob Fab notes: While it does not have waves at the sides, it has them in the middle so you can use it when the hall is too short for everyone to be in the same waves.

It is an excellent dance for incorporating a large group of beginners, because you hardly ever are without someone in your hand, and the storyline is nice.

Flip Flop

by: Mattie Rynkiewicz

introduces moves: balance the ring, California twirl

formation: improper

A1 4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
star right 4 places
8
star left 4 places
B2 16
ones balance & swing ⁋

Hypnosis

by: Melanie Axel-Lute

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall, arch & dive

formation: improper

Line of four going down the hall has ones in the middle: W2-M1-W1-M2.

A1 8
down the hall and turn alone
8
up the hall; end facing neighbor
A2 8
neighbors do si do once
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 12
circle left 5 places
4
twos arch ones dive ⁋

Kitchen Stomp

by: Becky Hill

introduces moves: petronella

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B1 8
ladles chain
8
balance & petronella
B2 8
balance & petronella
8
star left 4 places ⁋

Waltz

A Dance for Dan

by: Bill Olson

Half Hey— less chal.

introduces moves: box the gnat, hey

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles 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
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing ⁋

Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion v.

by: Cary Ravitz

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B1 8
balance & petronella and turn to face the next ⁋
8
balance & petronella
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Apogee

by: Chris Page

Alt above if you prefer all. Orbit to hey

introduces moves: allemande orbit, meltdown swing

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

Saturday Night Fever

by: Erik Hoffman

Could drop

introduces moves: right left through, square through

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B1 8
right left through
8
ladles chain
B2 8
square through two - partners balance & pull by right, then neighbors pull by left
8
square through two - partners balance & pull by right, then neighbors pull by left ⁋

Contra Essentialism

by: Nicholas Rockstroh

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.

The Big Easy

by: Becky Hill

No walkthru

introduces moves: pass through

formation: improper

A1 4
balance the ring
12
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles allemande left 1½
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
pass through

Push the Button

by: unknown

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B1 8
ladles do si do once
8
partners swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
pass through ⁋