2026-03-21 QCC (actual)

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.

Frederick Reel

by: Tom Hinds

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
8
ladles allemande left 1½
A2 16
partners balance & swing
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
8
neighbors swing

Bradley Smith Notes: The first time through the dance, the ladles allemande Left in A1 is with the couple that you start the dance with. Every time after that, the ladles have to look to the right to find the next ladle to allemande. It's a very simple progression that just requires reminding the ladles to look for the next ladle in line after the forward and back

Like I've Known You Forever

by: Devin J. Pohly

introduces moves: promenade, pass through

formation: improper

A1 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
partners swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
ladles chain
8
partners promenade
B2 8
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
6
neighbors do si do once

Written to fulfill some criteria I had for a teaching dance:

  • First swing is with partner. Pairing beginners intentionally with experienced dancers for teaching loses some utility if they end up spending the lengthily-practiced first swing with their inevitably inexperienced neighbor.
  • Chain and promenade, but no right and left through. Rehearse and reinforce courtesy turns before dancers are even given the option to mistakenly turn alone.
  • Clear progression. So we can talk about progression.

I picture the B1 promenade in courtesy turn position, as it was the local custom where I danced at the time, it allows transfer of knowledge from the ladles chain, and it makes for a lovely partner moment as you are reunited for a cozy, leisurely walk across the set. However, don't feel you have to make a special request if your community's customary promenade differs.

The original B2 of this dance was "circle left, balance the ring, pass through" to emphasize the progression and leave some recovery time. In practice, I found that the extra time wasn't needed even for new dancers, and that it consistently caused the ladles to hesitate before starting the A1. The new ending tightens the timing and gives the ladles a nice flow into their allemande. (New dancers running behind can just skip the do-si-do.)

The ladles' allemande was changed from left-hand to right-hand based on a comment made by Lisa Greenleaf. Both work equally well out of the do-si-do, but the ladles benefit from having a left hand free to start the partner swing.

Number: DJP-000
Composed: State College, PA, fall 2012.
Debuted: Harrisburg, PA, 2012-10-12.
Updated: Warrenville, IL, fall 2018; again in summer 2019.

Announcements

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

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

Power Surge

by: Bob Isaacs and Beth Brill

introduces moves: slice, petronella

formation: Becket

A1 8
slice left and straight back ⁋
8
ladles chain
A2 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B1 16
neighbors balance & swing
B2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing

Waltz & Break

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.

Stars of Alberta

by: Carol Ormand

introduces moves: hey

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors allemande right 1½
8
star left 4 places with next neighbors
A2 8
star right 3 places with original neighbors
8
partners swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B2 16
ladles start a full hey - rights in center, lefts on ends

Salmonella Evening

by: Steve Zakon-Anderson

introduces moves: balance

formation: improper

A1 8
neighbors allemande right 1¾
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
A2 16
partners balance & swing
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B2 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
2
pass through ⁋

Waltz & Goodnight