Louisville, KY 2026-05-25

user: Nicholas Rockstroh

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

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.

Autumn Air

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: hey, pass through

formation: Becket

A1 8
ladles chain
8
ladles start a half hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
A2 16
neighbors balance & swing
B1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
partners swing
B2 7
circle left 3 places
2
pass through ⁋
7
circle right 3 places

Richfield Stomp

by: Becky Hill

introduces moves: custom, roll away, square through, box the gnat

formation: four face four

A1 4
lines of four forward
4
gentlespoons roll away partners with a half sashay (roll right to left) on the way back
8
neighbors do si do once (facing neighbor)
A2 0
INSIDE FOURSOME:
0
square through four - neighbors balance & pull by right, then shadows pull by left, then repeat to face partner
0
WHILE OUTSIDE TWOSOMES:
16
neighbors balance & swing end facing partner
B1 8
partners right hand balance & box the gnat
8
grand right and left 1/2 to meet partner on opposite side
B2 16
partners balance & swing ⁋

The Nice Combination

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: down the hall, up the hall

formation: improper

A1 16
neighbors balance & swing end facing down the hall
A2 8
down the hall and turn as a couple
8
up the hall and bend into a ring
B1 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
star left 4 places ⁋

waltz

I Did It Wrong!! variation 2 (Rockstroh)

by: Callie Allison, Chet Gray, Nedra McNeil, Bob Crawford, Elisabeth Monica, Susan Pope, John Baker

introduces moves: petronella, custom, turn alone

formation: improper

A1 4
circle left 2 places
12
neighbors swing
A2 8
balance & petronella
8
balance & petronella 2 places (petronella-nella)
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
circle right 4 places
0
turn alone to face next neighbors

The progression happens between B1 and B2. This dance was created at the Louisville Caller's meeting on 3-1-2020. We played around with different starting points. Beginning the dance with the circle left also feels really nice.

Sarah's Journey

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: pull by dancers

formation: improper

A1 4
neighbors box the gnat
4
gentlespoons pull by left
8
partners swing
A2 8
circle left 4 places
8
partners do si do once
B1 4
partners box the gnat
4
ladles pull by left
8
neighbors swing
B2 8
right left through
8
star left 4 places ⁋

Alternating Corners

by: Jim Kitch

neighbors balance and swing at start

introduces moves: figure 8, contra corners

formation: improper

A1 8
circle left 4 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ones half figure 8 above
B1 16
ones contra corners
B2 16
ones balance & swing ⁋
8
circle left 4 places
8
neighbors swing
8
long lines forward & back
8
twos half figure 8 below
16
twos contra corners
16
twos balance & swing ⁋

Bob Isaacs notes: one of the seminal modern contras in the way it alternates the actives so everyone can be equally active in today’s long contra lines.

Across the Ohio

by: Cary Ravitz

introduces moves: slice, form an ocean wave, balance, pass by

formation: Becket

Note ones and twos before turning from improper to Becket formation.

A1 8
slice left and straight back ⁋
8
ladles chain and first corners trade places, first gentlespoon behind second ladle+
A2 8
pass through to an ocean wave & balance - ones by left in the center, neighbors by right on the sides - gentlespoons face down
4
neighbors allemande right ½
4
balance the wave, left then right
B1 6
twos allemande left once
10
neighbors swing
B2 2
gentlespoons pass by left shoulders
14
partners swing

/+ first corners here means dancers on the left line relative to the caller - trade places, first gentlespoon behind, second ladle in front, kinda like one side of a mad robin.

http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#ao