Elisabeth Monica Emerald City 2026.08.28

user: Elisabeth Monica

Al's Safeway Produce

by: Robert Cromartie

introduces moves: star, allemande, swing, circle, long lines

formation: improper

A1 8
star left - wrist grip - 4 places
8
neighbors allemande left 1½
A2 8
ladles allemande right 1½
8
partners swing
B1 6
circle left 3 places
10
neighbors swing
B2 8
long lines forward & back
8
star right - wrist grip - 4 places ⁋

Author's Notes:
The transition from left hand star to allemande left is especially nice if a New England style (hand on wrist) star is used. This is the only dance I can think of for which I specifically request that type of star in those parts of the country where the default is hands-across.
Unfortunately, the origin of the name is lost in the mists of time. All I can say is that "Al" is not Al Olson, although had I known who he is when I wrote this, it might have been. Composed sometime around 1989.

This dance is from William Watson's mirror of American Country Dances On Line
All rights reserved by the author; used by permission.
Added to database 9/14/1997; last revised 3/5/1999; edited by Russell Owen

The Baby Rose

by: David Kaynor

introduces moves: do si do, chain

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

Butter

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: slide along set, hey

formation: Becket

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
ladles start a full hey - rights in center, lefts on ends
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Straighten Up and Slide Right

by: Lindsey Dono

introduces moves: mad robin

formation: Becket ccw

A1 8
circle left 3 places
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles chain
B1 6
mad robin, ladles in front (ccw)
8
circle right 4 places
2
slide right along set ⁋
B2 6
gentlespoons allemande left once
10
partners swing

Inspired by a Facebook discussion of the question: “can dancers intuitively slide to the right along the set?” Called at several house parties and Faultline Frolic.

Chuck the Budgie

by: Rick Mohr

introduces moves: form an ocean wave, form long waves, balance

formation: improper

A1 6
gentlespoons allemande left once
10
neighbors swing
A2 8
circle left 3 places
8
partners swing
B1 8
long lines forward & back
8
ladles allemande right 1½ - don't let go
B2 4
form an ocean wave & balance - ladles by right hands and neighbors by left hands
4
neighbors allemande left ¾ to long wavy lines
0
form long waves - ladles face in, gentlespoons face out ⁋
4
balance
4
next neighbors allemande right ¾

Waltz

Break

Swing States by Elizabeth Bloom Alberthttps://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14013

Double Mud Pig 🐽

by: Rick Mohr

formation: Becket

A1 6
circle left 3 places
10
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
right diagonal ladles chain to shadow #1
B1 8
star left 4 places with shadow #1
8
partners allemande right 1½
B2 8
star left 4 places with shadow #2
8
partners swing

Rick Mohr notes: While enjoying Mike Boerschig's Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mud I wondered, could you enjoy flying stars with both shadows instead of just one?

This dance is the result. It's more accessible than you might expect for a dance where you leave the minor set twice, because finding your partner rights the set in both B1 and B2. In B1, watch for your partner in the other star and meet with an allemande; in B2, watch for your partner in the other star and meet with a swing.

I'm not usually a fan of "shadow / partner / other shadow / partner" sequences because you keep repeating the same longish sequence with the same people, and so don't mix enough. But because the stars in this dance involve a changing cast of neighbors, you get the thrill of flying to your partner twice without the tarnish of identical setups

Winter in Summerland

by: Jeff Spero & James Hutson

introduces moves: custom, gyre

formation: Becket

A1 8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
pass through to an ocean wave & balance - ladles by left in the center, neighbors by right on the sides
B1 4
dance forward to next neighbor ⁋
4
neighbors gyre ½
8
three-quarters hey (gentlespoons by left in the center)
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Waltz

Other Selections

I've Got Your Shadow Cornered

by: Jim Hemphill

introduces moves: slice, give & take

formation: Becket

Identify 1st shadows standing next to you and 2nd shadows standing past your partners.

A1 4
slice left ⁋
4
ladles take neighbors
8
neighbors swing
A2 8
long lines forward & back
8
gentlespoons allemande left 1½
B1 2
partners allemande right ½
6
1st shadows allemande left once
2
partners allemande right ½
6
2nd shadows allemande left once
B2 16
partners balance & swing

Summer of '84

by: Gene Hubert

introduces moves: pull by dancers, custom, right left through

formation: improper

A1 8
long lines forward & back
2
gentlespoons pull by right - next gentlespoon is on left diagonal
6
partners allemande left once
A2 4
form an ocean wave & balance - gentlespoons by right hands and partners by left hands
4
walk forward to ⁋
4
form an ocean wave & balance - gentlespoons by right hands and shadows by left hands
4
shadows allemande left ¾
B1 16
partners balance & swing
B2 8
ladles chain
8
right left through

co written by Steve Schnur