Tapestry 2026/04/11c [Gaye Fifer] [Evening]

user: Mattie Rynkiewicz

Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mud

by: Mike Boerschig

introduces moves: swing, allemande, custom, circle, balance the ring, California twirl

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing
A2 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners allemande right 1½
B1 8
The first gentlespoon and second ladle star left above, and the second gentlespoon and first ladle star left below
8
partners swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl ⁋

The Amazing Sarah Wilcox

by: Tom Hinds

introduces moves: long lines, pass by, balance, roll away

formation: progressed improper

from improper, trade places with neighbors and face back into the same group of 4

A1 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
3
partners pass by right shoulders
3
neighbors pass by left shoulders
2
partners pass by right shoulders, stay facing out
B2 4
neighbors balance
4
gentlespoons roll away neighbors with a half sashay ⁋
4
next neighbors balance
4
next neighbors California twirl

Loon on the Lake, Nathaniel Jack

Can of Worms (grid square), Bob Isaacs

Trip to Wilson

by: Will Mentor

introduces moves: star, custom, pass through

formation: improper

a demo of A2 (with star left intro) may prove useful

A1 8
star right 4 places
8
star left 4 places
A2 6
Ladles cast, loop to face across. Gentlespoons follow partner
2
ladles pass by right shoulders
8
neighbors swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 4
long lines forward
4
gentlespoons roll away partners with a half sashay
2
pass through and walk single file to new star

All pass through 1/4 R and walk single file along the line to a new neighbor.

For Dale Wilson, who has a knack for strategic figure redeployment into contra settings.

Original and video at: http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/502-trip-to-wilson-by-will-mentor-duple-improper

Possums in the House, Dean Snipes

A 60th Birthday Dance (for Chris Deephouse)

by: Donna Hunt

introduces moves: promenade, form an ocean wave, pull by dancers, down the hall, up the hall, petronella

formation: Becket

next neighbors are on the left diagonal

A1 8
partners promenade counterclockwise around set one place to meet new neighbors
4
form an ocean wave & balance - ladles by left hands and partners by right hands
4
balance
A2 4
partners allemande right ½
2
gentlespoons pull by right
10
neighbors swing, end facing down hall
B1 8
down the hall and thread the needle +
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
B2 8
balance & petronella
8
partners swing
  • thread the needle = all four hold hands, gentlespoons on end make arch with neighbor and ladle on the other end go under arch while gentlespoon on end walks around to invert the line (couples change sides of the set)---ladle in the middle twirl under her arm---and face up

Furthermore

by: Scott Higgs

introduces moves: Rory O'More, chain

formation: improper

Start in long waves, right hand to neighbor, gentlespoons facing out

A1 8
balance & Rory O'More right
8
balance & Rory O'More left
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 8
partners promenade
8
ladles chain ⁋

16 for Gregg

by: Luke Donforth

introduces moves: hey, meltdown swing, slide along set

formation: Becket

A1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
ladles chain
8
star left - hands across - 4 places
B1 16
gentlespoons start a full hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
B2 14
partners meltdown swing
2
slide left along set ⁋

Gaye's Groove

by: Rick Mohr

introduces moves: custom, revolving door

formation: improper

Join hands in a wave of four—neighbors right, ladles left. Spot neighbor #2, and, when available, spot neighbor #3

A1 4
form an ocean wave & balance - ladles by left hands and 1st neighbors by right hands
4
walk diagonally right to join neighbor #2 in new wave
4
form an ocean wave & balance - gentlespoons by right hands and 2nd neighbors by left hands
4
walk diagonally left to join neighbor #3 in new wave
A2 4
form an ocean wave & balance - ladles by left hands and 3rd neighbors by right hands
4
3rd neighbors allemande right ¾
8
2nd neighbors swing +
B1 8
revolving door - ladles take right hands and drop off 2nd neighbors on other side
8
partners swing
B2 2
pass through across the set
4
partners California twirl ⁋
8
circle left 3 places to form, with current 1st neighbors,

/+In "Revolving Door", couples start a "wrong side" half promenade where ladles pass right instead of gentlespoons passing left. As the ladles meet they catch right hands and allemande right once around. The gentlespoons drop out after crossing the set, and partners swing as the ladles come around. It flows easily and feels good. I often do a floor demo, both because it's unfamiliar and because it's pretty cool to watch. Since the promenade only lasts for a beat or two I think the easiest hold is for neighbors to join left hands, with the gentlespoon's right arm briefly behind the ladle's back.

Rick Mohr notes: This dance offers a single-progression version of the travelling wave sequence from Bill Olson's inspired dance Eleanor's Reel, along with Ron Buchanan's "Revolving Door" figure and some satisfying glue.

Some dancers like to spin while moving between the waves—big fun and highly optional.

For Gaye Fifer, heartful and fun-loving dancer, caller, and connector from Pittsburgh PA. When Gaye's around you're sure to have a good time.

Original at http://rickmohr.net/contra/dances.asp#GayesGroove

Scrubbies

by: David Smukler

introduces moves: box the gnat

formation: improper

A1 4
neighbors balance
4
petronella two-person
8
neighbors right hand balance & box the gnat
A2 8
neighbors start a half hey - rights on ends, lefts in center
8
neighbors swing
B1 6
circle left 3 places
10
partners swing ⁋
B2 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
4
partners California twirl

The two-person petronella on the side puts you in a line of 4 people across the set, facing your neighbor. Gentlespoons are back-to-back in the center.

This dance is #18934 on The Caller's Box.