2026-04-24 Emerald City Contra (1st Half)

user: Marshall Gould

Table of Contents

  1. The Baby Rose by David Kaynor
  2. Tica Tica Timing by Dean Snipes
  3. The Carousel by Tom Hinds
  4. Apples and Caramel by Seth Tepfer
  5. Steel Anniversary Reel by Rick Mohr
  6. Chickens in the New Mown Hey by Tommy Linden


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The Baby Rose

by: David Kaynor

introduces moves: swing, circle, do si do, chain, star

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 ⁋

Tica Tica Timing

by: Dean Snipes

introduces moves: promenade, petronella, slide along set

formation: Becket

A1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
neighbors promenade
8
ladles chain
B1 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella
B2 14
partners balance & swing
2
slide left along set ⁋

Julian Bee notes that swapping the promenade for a R+L Thru is Linda Leslie's "Old Time Elixir #2", written in 1998. It's unclear when Dean wrote TTT, so both deserve a cross-reference. https://contradb.com/dances/474

The Carousel

by: Tom Hinds

introduces moves: long lines, allemande, hey

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back ⁋
8
ladles allemande left 1½
A2 16
partners start a full hey - rights on ends, lefts in center
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing

Apples and Caramel

by: Seth Tepfer

introduces moves: Rory O'More, pass through

formation: improper

Starts in short waves, right hand to neighbors

A1 8
balance & Rory O'More right
8
balance & Rory O'More left
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
partners swing
B2 6
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
8
next neighbors do si do 1¼ to short waves

Based on Apples and Chocolate by Sue Rosen

Steel Anniversary Reel

by: Rick Mohr

introduces moves: roll away, mad robin, pass by, meltdown swing

formation: improper

A1 4
long lines forward
4
gentlespoons roll away neighbors with a half sashay on the way back
8
mad robin, gentlespoons in front
A2 2
gentlespoons pass by left shoulders
14
partners meltdown swing
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors allemande right 1½
B2 8
gentlespoons start a half hey - lefts in center, rights on ends
8
neighbors swing ⁋

Source with videos: https://rickmohr.net/Contra/Dances/SteelAnniversaryReel

Rick's Notes:

"The "Mad Ladle" figure, borrowed from the English country dance of the same name, has shown up in a number of contra dances; I think it fits particularly nicely in this sequence. Dancers walk the path of a neighbor dosido but face their partner across the set throughout, keeping eye contact. Since the figure is unfamiliar to many dancers it can help to first walk a neighbor dosido and then repeat the same track keeping partner eye contact.

While backing up in long lines in A1, gentlespoons roll their new neighbor from left to right. Then neighbors pull sideways into the Mad Ladle, with gentlespoons passing in front of their neighbor but keeping eye contact with their partner across the set. After one revolution, gentlespoons cross the set passing left shoulders to gypsy and swing partner.

For David and Cynthia Simonoff on their 11th anniversary, commissioned by our mutual friend Karen Geer in a Pinewoods auction."

Chickens in the New Mown Hey

by: Tommy Linden

introduces moves: balance the ring

formation: Becket

Let dancers know before 2nd ring balance not to make assumptions.

A1 8
balance & petronella
4
balance the ring
4
pass through ⁋
A2 16
next neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
12
partners start a hey - rights on ends, lefts in center - until ladles meet the second time - ladles ricochet second time
12
partners swing

Linden's website

May have to call the pass through longer than other parts of the dance.