Hi, Bill,
I'm pretty sure Cary Ravitz first developed the figure we call "gypsy
star." I know three of his dances which use the figure. "Woven Waves" and
"Gypsy Star" were both written in May 1999. "Gypsy Waves" was written in
2013.
I haven't seen it in many other dances. Ryan Smith and I helped Stacey
Lang write a dance with the figure called "The Fault in Our Stars." See
http://www.twirlyshirts.com/dances/by-ryan/the-fault-in-our-stars/
Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.comwww.DuganMurphy.comwww.PortlandIntownContraDance.comwww.NufSed.consulting
On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 4:29 PM, Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
> Dugan and all, I don't know if Cary Ravitz actually "invented" the Gypsy
> Star but he wrote a dance entitled that and a lot of others that include
> it. Dugan, you're sort of Cary's protégé, right?, so you must know the
> dance. This is the same figure, correct??
>
>
> bill
>
Hey y'all!
After a lovely weekend of both Contra and English at Youth Dance Weekend, I
had an itch for programming some English-inspired choreography at BIDA last
night. Since I didn't have a dance with the figures I wanted, I whipped one
together on the drive home, tested it in the driveway, and debuted it last
night. Success!
Now the question, of course, is whether or not someone already wrote it!
-===-
Amble On East
Becket CCW
A1: Long Lines Forward & Back
Ladies Chain Across (to Neighbor)
A2: Ladies Dosido 1x
Neighbor Swing
B1: Give & Take, Gents draw Partner into 1/2 Poussette CCW
With NEXT, Gypsy Star* 3/4 (Ladies backing up)
B2: Partner (Long) Swing
-===-
*Do we have a new name for this figure yet? I called it Gypsy Star in the
walkthrough once or twice before realizing I should maybe figure something
else out, and the phrase "Special Star" actually escaped my mouth, to the
absolute delight of some of the dancers. During the dance itself, I just
called "Star."
Hey folks,
Looking for a dance with multiple swings with the same N, and also
preferably a P b&s, for a workshop I'm running on in-dance communication.
Anyone have one to recommend?
On a similar note, this is the dance I tossed off to fill this need: does
it exist? If not, tentatively titling it "Good Fences".
Improper
A1: long lines forward and back
(new) N swing
A2: ladies chain to P
half hey (ladies pass R)
B1: P b&s
B2: gents alle. L 1 1/2
(same) N swing
Folks,
I found a square sequence I wrote a while ago?
Does it exist in trad-dance circles?
Heads R&L Thru (8), Hds Pass Thru, Sep @1 into middle and Bx Gnat. (12)
Same 4 RH Star (8) to corner Alle Left (6)
P DSD (6), Corner Swg (8)
Full Promenade (16)
Thanks,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford Springs, CT
Home of the Stafford Stomp!
Does anybody recognize these two choreographical sequences as dances that
have already been written by someone else? I came up with them yesterday,
but they look basic enough to be already-composed, so I want to give credit
where it is due if I'm not the first to land on these sequences.
"Hanging Out in Portland" by Dugan Murphy (improper, double progression)
A1 Neighbor right shoulder spiral/gypsy and swing (16)
A2 Gents Left Hand Allemand 1.5 (8) / Partner Pass Right to Start Half Hey
Across (8)
B1 Partner right shoulder spiral/gypsy and swing (16)
B2 Circle Left Three Places (7) - Partner Weave Left Past This Couple (3) -
Weave Right Past Second Couple (3) - Weave Left to Face 3rd Neighbor on the
Side (3)
"Get the Baby" by Dugan Murphy (improper, single progression)
A1 Neighbor Balance and swing (16)
A2 Gents Left Hand Allemand 1.5 (8) / Partner Pass Right to Start Half Hey
Across (8)
B1 Partner Balance and swing (16)
B2 Ladies Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Left Hand Star Once (8)
"Hanging Out in Portland" came about while looking at "Valerie's Trip to
Portland" by Erik Weberg and "Leave Them Hanging" by Luke Donforth at the
same time. "Get the Baby" is like a lot of basic star-progression dances,
but I guess I had "Get Me Going" by Lisa Greenleaf and "The Baby Rose" by
David Kaynor on my mind at the time when I was looking for a different
progression sequence to accompany the swing-allemand-hey-swing sequence.
Thanks, everybody
Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.comwww.DuganMurphy.comwww.PortlandIntownContraDance.comwww.NufSed.consulting
Hi all,
I'm preparing for a workshop at a dance weekend in November where the theme
will be contra dances that incorporate square dance moves.
I have a number dances with square thrus and swing thrus and box
circulates. However, these moves are fairly well known at this point. This
will be an advanced group of dancers so I'm looking for dances that
incorporate more unique and sophisicated moves.
I know Bob Isaacs has several that quality, with dances that use Spin the
Top and Spin Chain Exchange the Gears.
Looking forward to seeing what you may have.
--
*Mark Hillegonds*
Cell: 734-756-8441
Email: mark.hillegonds(a)gmail.com
Hi all,
Are the Sharedweight Archives working? I can't seem to get any searches to
return results.
I tried to search the archives for various square dance moves, but kept
getting 0 results. So I tried terms that really ought to return results and
still got nothing.
For example: when I search for the word "ladies", I get 0 (zero) results.
Same when I search for the word "chain". Just to see if it mattered, I
tried with and without quotes and both upper and lower cases...no dice!
The few options available for entering search criteria would seem to limit
the possibility to screw it up. So I"m scratching my head on this.
Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.
--
*Mark Hillegonds*
Cell: 734-756-8441
Email: mark.hillegonds(a)gmail.com
Hi All,
I have been calling for almost 37 years, but have mostly been on “emeritus” status since I moved to an island that has no regular dances. The last dance I called was on Cape Cod 18 months ago. That dance is the only one I can get to; not more than once or twice a year. Attending that dance requires a ferry ride and leaving at intermission to catch the last ferry home.
Anyway, I am going from no dances in 18 months to 3 in three weeks. Tonight’s dance will be mostly “rookies”, but I expect a handful of experienced dancers. The other two dances will full of new dancers. I have my usual ONS list of dances. I wonder if you might share a few newer dances that can easily be taught and danced by these folks. I will be working with a really great string band, so the music will be great for these dances.
Thanks in advance,
John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ
The biggest caution I'd say is that 2 Neighbor swing has a higher chance of
too-much-clockwise.
I saw four dances in these suggestions with 40 beats of clockwise rotation
for at least one of the roles, which is right around the threshold where
people are getting dizzy but not quite noticing it.
I've got some in my box at home - I'll try and dig some out and forward
them. I second "Cheat Lake Gypsies" - that ones in my box and a definite
good dance!
Ron Blechner
On Sep 20, 2017 1:11 PM, "Isaac Banner via Callers" <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Maia,
Here's one of my own -
*Grab Bag*
Contra/Dup Imp/Easy
A1
LLFB
(new) neighbor swing
A2
Ladies RS full hey
B1
Ladies pass right
Partner turn right shoulder, swing
B2
Circle left 3/4
(same) neighbor swing
Notes
I've found folks are also happy just skipping the right shoulder 'round /
gypsy in the B1 and going straight to the swing - either way works, your
mileage may vary.
On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 6:30 AM Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Howdy Maia!
>
> "Cheat Lake Gypsies" sprung to mind. I think I had it down as a Cary
> Ravitz dance, but on his website, it looks like it was done collaboratively
> by a group of folks at a dance weekend. Of course, the other annoying thing
> about this dance is that the title includes the G-word. I trust you'll
> handle that in some way that feels appropriate for you and your audience. :)
>
> Cheat Lake Gypsies
> Becket CCW
>
> A1 - Take hands in a ring and balance (4).
> - Ladies gypsy 1/2 (4).
> - Neighbors swing (8).
>
> A2 - Neighbors promenade around the full set (oval), counter-clockwise
> (6).
> - Ladies turn back to find a new neighbor (2).
> - (New) neighbors swing (8).
>
> B1 - Take hands with the full set and circle left (8).
> - Keep your neighbor and look for your partner to circle left 3/4 (8).
>
> B2 - Partners gypsy and swing (16).
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 8:07 AM, Linda Leslie via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Here are a few for you, Maia. Hope the workshop is a lot of fun!
>> Linda
>> ps: I have not seen your dance before…
>>
>> *Back from Vermont*
>> by David Zinkin
>> Contra/Improper/Int
>>
>> A1 -----------
>> Neighbor swing
>> Long lines forward and back
>> A2 -----------
>> Star right three-quarters to long waves (P right, gents out, ladies in)
>> Balance the long wave
>> Shadow allemande left once
>> B1 -----------
>> Partner Balance and Swing
>> B2 -----------
>> Circle left three-quarters
>> Swing same neighbor
>> At ends, don't cross! shadow!
>>
>> *Got Nice Neighbors*
>> by Billy Boyer
>> Contra/Becket-CW/Easy
>>
>> A1 -----------
>> Down the Hall four in line, turn as a couple, return
>> A2 -----------
>> Circle left 3/4
>> (8) Neighbor swing
>> B1 -----------
>> (8) Long lines, forward and back
>> (8) NEXT Neighbor swing*
>> B2 -----------
>> (8) Ladies allemande Right 1-1/2
>> (8) Partner swing
>>
>> *Naked in California*
>> by Nils Fredland
>> Contra/Improper/Int
>>
>> A1 -----------
>> Long lines forward and back
>> Neighbor swing
>> A2 -----------
>> Ladies allemande right One-Half
>> Partner allemande left three-quarters
>> Shadow allemande right once and a half (ladies out, gents face in)
>> B1 -----------
>> Long waves balance right, left, Slide right
>> Partner swing
>> B2 -----------
>> Circle left three-quarters
>> Same neighbor swing
>>
>> *Around the Sound*
>> by Cary Ravitz
>> Contra/Becket-CW/Adv
>>
>> A1 -----------
>> (var. on Give & Take): Long lines forward
>> Neighbor gypsy 1/2, gent back up with N to swing (ladies side)
>> A2 -----------
>> (8) 1/2 Hey, men passing left shoulders
>> Same Neighbor swing
>> B1 -----------
>> Long lines forward, P gypsy 1/2 (same effect as pass thru, TA)
>> (8) Star Right 3/4
>> NEW GENTS alle L once (ladies step L to meet P)
>>
>> B2 -----------
>> P B&S
>>
>> *CDS Reel*
>> by Ted Sannella
>> Contra/Improper/Easy
>>
>> A1 -----------
>> Neighbor swing
>> Long lines forward and back (end join in)
>> A2 -----------
>> Whole set circle left
>> Circle right
>> B1 -----------
>> Star left three-quarters
>> Gents turn back and swing partner
>> B2 -----------
>> Gents allemande left once and a half
>> Same neighbor Swing
>>
>>
>> On Sep 19, 2017, at 11:19 PM, Maia McCormick via Callers <
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hey folks,
>>
>> Looking for a dance with multiple swings with the same N, and also
>> preferably a P b&s, for a workshop I'm running on in-dance communication.
>> Anyone have one to recommend?
>>
>> On a similar note, this is the dance I tossed off to fill this need: does
>> it exist? If not, tentatively titling it "Good Fences".
>>
>> Improper
>> A1: long lines forward and back
>> (new) N swing
>> A2: ladies chain to P
>> half hey (ladies pass R)
>> B1: P b&s
>> B2: gents alle. L 1 1/2
>> (same) N swing
>> _______________________________________________
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>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
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Does anyone have an opinion about the use of the term “neighbor” and the term “opposite” in a Sicilian Circle?
“Neighbor” is more correct from a contra perspective, but “opposite" feels more correct to me from a square dance perspective.
thanks,
sue
Sue Hulsether
shulsether(a)mac.com
www.suehulsether.com
608-632-1267 Cell
608-629-6250 Home
P.O. Box 363
Viroqua, WI 54665
