[Callers] Floor Space Requirement

[Jonathan Sivier via Callers]

    I've used 25 sq ft per couple as a target number for contra dance 
floor space.  This is very similar to the 1.5 sq yard per person 
mentioned below (that would result in 27 sq ft per couple).  I usually 
plan on twice as much room for English dances.  Of course these are just 
Rules-of-Thumb and not immutable Laws of Nature.  ;-)

    Here are a few possible dances, including another by Orace Johnson.

Money in Both Pockets
Orace Johnson
duple proper or improper
Adapted from the chestnut contra

A1 - 1's do-si-do as a couple with 2nd Lady (1-4),
      Circle left 3 hands round (5-8) (1's and 2nd Lady)
A2 - 1's do the same with 2nd man (1-8)
B1 - Down the hall 4 in line, 1's in the center, turn alone (1-4),
      Return and bend the line to a circle (5-8)
B2 - Circle left (1-4),
      Star left (5-8)

Broken Sixpence
Don Armstrong
duple improper

1 - do-si-do your neighbor
2 - men do-si-do in the center
3 - women do-si-do in the center
4 - actives swing in the center
5 - down the hall 4 in line, actives in the middle,
     turn alone
6 - come back to place, bend the line to a circle
7 - circle left
8 - star left back

    The orginal message mentioned "Jefferson and Lincoln".  I'm not 
familiar with that one, but it may be a variation on the name for the 
dance I have down as "Jefferson's Reel".

Jefferson's Reel
Dudley Briggs; adapted from Jefferson and Liberty
duple proper or improper

1 - circle left
2 - circle right
3 - star right
4 - star left
5 - 1's down the outside
6 - return to place
7 - down the hall 4 in line, 1's in the center
8 - all back up, 1's arch joined hands,
     2's duck through the arch to meet new neighbors

    A similar dance which includes a swing is:

Saturday Night Stroll
Mavis McGaugh
duple improper

1 - Circle left
2 - Circle right
3 - Gents do-si-do
4 - Ladies do-si-do
5-6 1's balance and swing
7 - Down the hall 4 in line, 1's in the center
8 - All back up, 1's arch joined hands,
     2's duck through the arch to meet new neighbors

   You also might consider some easy circle mixers such as Circassian 
Circle and La Bastringue.

    Good luck.

Jonathan
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Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
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Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!

On 8/1/2016 9:51 AM, Linda Leslie via Callers wrote:
> Hi, Rich!
> A couple of thoughts that I have:
> I would make sure that I asked about the wedding couple’s definition of
> “modern contra”. Their actual definition might help make your
> programming easier; of course, the opposite is also true! Does this mean
> no squares, no circle mixers, no sicilian circles?
> I would also ask them about what their goals are for their dance. If it
> is mostly to please the contra dancers, that is important to know; but
> if it is to get the non-contra dancing families and friends dancing
> together, then you have a way in to get permission to do some
> programming with those desires in mind.
> Do they want gender role-free terminology used? Asking this may
> encourage them to think about their attendees.
>
> As for “modern contras” that are a bit easier, I do have a few listed on
> my webpage. Do Si Three is a great way to get non-dancers used to
> dancing, as well as progressing. And since it was written not so very
> long ago, I assume it is defined as a “modern contra”   ;-)
>
> After the concept of progressing, the most challenging part of doing
> “modern contras” is how to end a swing. So dances in which this is a bit
> easier to figure out might be helpful to you. An example is the dance
> below; however, you will need room up and down, since the P swing is
> across. This dance (like most contras), can be done as a sicilian
> circle; this formation is a great choice, as aefallon suggested in her
> note to you.  There are also a number of Becket dances that might be
> considered. I have included one below by Orace Johnson.
>
> As for floor space: I saved some advice from John Sweeney and Martha
> Wild, when this question came up a while back. Here is what they each said:
>   We usually plan 1.5 square yards / person.  35 feet x 16
> feet = 62 sq.yds. so 40 people will be able to dance comfortably.  60
> people is starting to get tight.
> John Sweeney
>
> And from Martha (this is a digest of what she shared):
> 20 feet across for two contra lines
> Length of the hall, divided by 4 determines the number of couples in the
> line.
>
> I hope you have a great experience! Do let us know how the event goes!
> Linda