I'm posting a new dance of mine - the hook is a half hey into a long wavy line of gents in the center. Haven't seen it before, and I'm wondering if anyone knows of other dances with this figure. Also, I looked for other dances called the Portland Reel and couldn't find any, but if that name has been used let me know.
Other feedback welcome:
Dugan’s Duck Dynasty (Becket) Chuck Abell 7/18
(aka The Portland Reel)
A1 Half hey, gents pass left to start (8)
Same gents take left hands in center to make long wavy line of gents (4)*
Gents bal left/right (4)
A2 Gents alle left 1 1/4x (4)
N swing (12)
B1 On right diagonal ladies chain to shadow (if someone is there) (8)
(w/ current N) LHS 1x (8)
B2 P dosido and swing (16)
w/ these N…
*Gents be sure to take four full steps/beats to get into the middle
*Hi Everyone,I'm writing to share a contra dance I've written. We've tried
it out twice, once at the Camp Sturtevant weekend and once at our 5th
Saturday advanced dance. The interesting part is the progression, from a
hey into a circle with new neighbors.Switching the 2nd half of A1 to Raven
instead of Lark also works, it just flips the direction the dance
progresses. I ended up choosing Larks because of the Raven alamande at the
end.Any feedback or thoughts are welcome!Emma AzelbornLos AngelesHey
DreamingContra Dance by Emma AzelbornBeckett, progresses to the leftWorks
best with ample floor space for the orbitTeaching notes: - It helps to
identify future neighbors before starting, so dancers know who to be
looking for in the progression out of the hey (they're on the left
diagonal)- Ravens turn over their left shoulder to progress & circle
instead of looping right at the end of the hey- Larks keep going the same
direction of travel into the orbitA18Long lines fwd & back8Larks right
shoulder round 1½A216Neighbor balance and swingB18Larks in for half a left
shoulder hey8Circle right 3 places with new neighbors (this is the
progression)Larks assist Ravens to centerB28Ravens alamande right 1½ while
Larks orbit halfway counterclockwise8Partner swing*
I call in primarily a traditional dance community but am investigating
starting to call using larks and ravens. I am curious about what words you
use and how you teach larks and ravens positioning. Thanks.
Hello all,
I've been thinking about half figure eights, and variations on them. Is
anyone familiar (in ECD, contra, or other traditions), where instead of the
1s or 2s half figure eight, having the gents or ladies do the move from
improper formation?
As soon as you have something like the ladies do a half figure eight from
duple improper; they're either going to have to shift where they land, or
the gents are going to have to get out of the way. It seems to me (during
my insomnia, not with actual dancers in a house party) that you could have
the gents cast off and over to a ladies place. i.e.:
*Ladies half figure eight, passing left shoulder in the middle to take
neighbor gents' place*
*Meanwhile, gents cast over left shoulder to take partner's place*
Which takes
(head of hall)
W1 M1
m2 w2
to
(head of hall)
M1 W1
w2 m2
Which ends in the same place as everybody doing a half figure eight, but
without 4 people trying to go through the middle at the same time. I think
it can still happen in 8 beats of music, with nobody standing around.
Is that a sequence people have danced or used?
Here's a wrapping to put the whole thing in context.
Calliope's Cross
Improper contra by Luke Donforth
A1
Long lines forward and back
Ladies half figure eight, passing left shoulder in the middle to take
neighbor gents' place
Meanwhile, gents cast over left shoulder to take partner's place
A2
Neighbor Right Shoulder Gyre and Swing
B1
Circle Left 3/4
Partner Swing
B2
Promenade across set with partner, courtesy turn
Ladies chain to neighbor
The name, and idea, comes from my older daughter (4), who wanted a
"Calliope's Cross" dance for herself after hearing about "Tamlin's Cross"
for her sister. Calliope like riding figure 8s on her bicycle.
I've deliberately kept this simple, instead of trying to get a gents figure
8 while ladies cast in for symmetry. I'm not sure how I'd teach that from
the stage; and think I'd have to use a demo.
I look forward to hearing the experience of the group!
Thanks
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
