Any hints for quick and efficient ways to include the new dancers who join at the bottom of sets at festivals? If they have a good experience they are future regular dancers.
Hi everyone. I’m enjoying all the great information that is shared on this list. Thank you!
I’m wondering if you have a favorite Triplet that would work for a very small but experienced contra dance with just 6 dancers left after the break? Ideally more dancing together and less casting down/back, etc….
I’ve done Ted’s Triplet #5, and they loved the hey for 6. I will call Labor of Love by Kathy Anderson (contra corners) next time.
I have the book of Zesty Contras & Give and Take, but not sure how all of the 33 Triplets work or if they are really fun…..
Grateful for your help!
Claire Takemori (Bay Area, CA)
For a while I've wanted a dance with:
- easy difficulty
- 2 swings
- a courtesy turn (promenade or chain)
- everyone allemandes
- a star
- Ideally ladies doing one move together and gents doing one move together.
- timing that isn't tight (Dayton 1.5 by Perry Shafran came very close, and
I use that, but doesn't leave quite enough wiggle room for too many new
dancers.)
Basically, A Nice Combination / Simplicity Swing / The Baby Rose but with
an everyone-allemandes.
I was stumped. If you have a suggestion, I'm ears!
This is what I've worked together. I called it last Friday at Greenfield,
MA, with maybe 15% new dancers, and it worked well.
Mistakes Happen, Have Fun
Ron T Blechner
Start: Duple Imp.
Difficulty: Easy
A1. Gents DSD 1x (6)
NS (10)
A2. Circle L 3/4 (6)
PS (10)
B1. LLFB (8)
Ladies Chain (8) (to N)
B2. Star L 1x (8) (to Next N)
(Next) N Alle R 1.5x (8) (until gents face in)*
* Technically, this dance is a reverse progression indecent dance. But
don't tell the dancers this. It can be lined up improper and taught
normally.
Thanks,
Ron
Thanks to Donna for noticing my deliberate mistake! I thought I had fixed
the direction of the Lasso... I have reworded A1, hopefully to avoid
confusion!
The Alabama Rang Tang and the Mountain Dosido were both originally known in
their communities as just "Dosido" (spelt anyway you like, but sounding the
same, apart from vagaries of accent). The names, and the Do Paso, were
changed to avoid confusion as mass communication brought dance communities
together. So this dance is basically a series of Dosidos!
Alabama Rang Tang: Partner Allemande Left, men cross the set, passing back
to back, reaching out with their other hand to the other lady, Neighbour
Allemande Right, men cross the set, passing back to back reaching, out with
their other hand to their Partner. Usually repeated twice then turning into
a Promenade. The lady's job is to stay on the spot, allemanding whichever
man comes towards her and sending him back.
Mountain Dosido: The man raises his right hand (holding the lady's left
hand) and the lady walks forwards around him (CCW) while he stands
still; the lady finishes where she started. The call is now often "DoSi the
Lady" to differentiate, and is normally followed by You Swing Mine and I'll
Swing Yours" as in this dance. "DoSi" is pronounced doe-sigh. I usually say
"Lasso the Lady" though, to avoid confusion and to help to remind them of
what the move is.
DosiWhat? (by John Sweeney)
Contra; Becket (CW)
A1: Men Dosido; Ladies Dosido 1 & 1/2 - all face New Neighbours up and down
the hall: as the ladies pass by the right shoulder for the second time they
take their partner's right hand in their left hand, so that the man turns
1/4 to his left, and she puts her back to her Old Neighbour
You have progressed. The lady keeps walking forwards into the next move...
A2: Men Lasso your Partner CCW around yourself and along to the other Man;
Neighbour Swing
B1: Open Ladies' Chain: Ladies Pull by Right; Partner Allemande Left 1 & 1/4
- continue into an Alabama Rang Tang: Men pass B-to-B; Neighbour Allemande
Right; Men pass B-to-B, weave into a
B2: Partner Gypsy Meltdown
Notes: Teach the Ladies' Dosido as "Dosido and Pass Thru", otherwise they
may spin and face where they think they are going.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Here's a few with a difference;
Cumberland Contra is here:
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/CumberlandContra.html
The Slithy Dance is at:
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/SlithyDance.html
Note: You can change the Two Hand Turn in B1 into a Swing; you can teach B2
as a Whole Set Petronella
Still working on this one:
DosiWhat? (by John Sweeney)
Contra; Becket (CW)
A1: Men Dosido; Ladies Dosido 1 & 1/2 - Men turn to the Left and take
Man's' Right Hand to Partner's Left Hand to face a New Couple
A2: Mountain Dosido ("DoSi the Ladies"): Lasso Partner CW around self
and along to the other Man; Neighbour Swing
B1: Open Ladies' Chain: Ladies Pull by Right; Partner Allemande Left 1
& 1/4 - continue into an Alabama Rang Tang: Men pass B-to-B; Neighbour
Allemande Right; Men pass B-to-B, weave into a
B2: Partner Gypsy Meltdown
Notes: Teach the Ladies' Dosido as "Dosido and Pass Thru", otherwise they
will spin and face where they think they are going.
The Alabama Rang Tang and the Mountain Dosido were both
originally known in their communities as just "Dosido". The names were
changed to avoid confusion as mass communication brought dance communities
together. So the dance is basically a series of Dosidos!
"DoSi" is pronounced dose-eye. I usually say "Lasso the Lady"
though, to avoid confusion and remind them of what the move is. The man
raises his right hand and the lady walks forwards around him while he stands
still. Then "You Swing Mine and I'll Swing Yours".
Please let me know if you try it.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Here I am with another question. I learn so much from these threads.
What are some easy, but good, novelty, or gimmick contras. To elaborate, I
mean contras that have unusual moves, or contras that use basic moves in
unusual ways.
Maybe Ovals, Wholeset Promenades, Old-Timey square dance moves?
Two of my favorites are "Hot Buttered Rolls" and "Roll Over Johannes"
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
I take issue with the term "gimmick." Using familiar moves in new ways is
IMO called "good choreography." If one defines using existing moves in
novel ways as "gimmick," basically every use of petronella turns and waves
after "Petronella" and "Rory O'Moore" is a gimmick.
Originally had a long list of dances, but then i saw "easy" in Rich's
original ask, so pared down:
"Anthem to a Pet Ferret" by Sargon de Jesus may be of interest
"A Sure Thing" by Chris Page is challenging to teach but not actually
challenging to dance
also do si do and swing the one behind offers a simple but fun twist. U can
find it in Tom Hinds' "Python Reel" and Rick Mohr's "Leave the Wine"
Didn't see these mentioned yet (pardon if i missed them)
Ted and Lynn - Rick Mohr
Naked in California - Nils Fredland
Belgian Chocolate - Sargon de Jesus
All Swings Considered - Tom Hinds
