Martha Wild wrote:
> I like the visiting square Birdie in the Cage... Crows are fun because people can make cawing noises...
Some years ago I was hired to call a one-nighter at the Manomet Bird Observatory (www.manomet.org). I was walking the group through Bird in the Cage; when I got to the namesake part of the figure, I said, as I usually do, "Some people like to make bird noises." I was rewarded with lifelike calls of a dozen different species.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
I like the visiting square Birdie in the Cage. It’s also the sort of forgiving dance where if there’s a five couple set you just do it a fifth time to let the last couple have fun and other sets can keep going. Teens can get into showing off in the center with whatever moves they like. I usually don’t call “ladies” or “gents” - I tell people to decide which person in the couple is the bird, and which is the crow, and then I call it for birdies and crows. That’s great when people aren’t in classic pairings. Crows are fun because people can make cawing noises. And generally the break figure is birdies or crows star right and left, do-si-do partner, swing, promenade.
Texas Star is fun and really relatively easy to teach and call. Think you can find that online.
Ninepin Quadrille, which has galloping (sashaying) past the central ninepin figure, is a good one for teens (Colonials Quadrille is also good for that reason, galloping).
Grapevine Twist is also one that I’ve called a lot at Family Dances - it’s another visiting square (or pentagon if you have to!) I think you can find version online.
There’s a Dip and Dive “square” for five couples that I like, too. I’m not sure of it’s origins or real title but it goes like this:
Number the couples one-five in the circle. Number one couple then goes in the center and the others make a square around them.
Honor etc. All couples swing. Number 1 couple ends swing facing another couple. Along that line of three couples, dip and dive all the way over and back - middles always dip, ends always arch, so when they turn around, they make an arch…(or middles always arch - choose one)
Number one gets back and faces 90 degrees to a couple they haven’t dipped with yet. That line of three couples dip and dive.
1s swing in middle while the others form a circle and go forward and back towards them, then “into the middle and make them stop” - basically they go forward to the center until the others have to stop swinging (sort of mush into them)
Couple one joins the circle (order doesn’t matter, people just remember their original numbers), all circle left, swing partner, #2 couple move into the center, form a square around and it starts again. You can of course vary this however you like.
When I was at Farm & Wilderness in the 1960s, we had several favorite squares - though we typically didn't work up to them until mid-summer, and I wouldn't use most of them at a one-nighter: (singing) Alabama Jubilee, Just Because, My Little Girl, (patter) Swing Like Thunder aka The Basket, Texas Star, Grapevine Twist.
One F&W favorite that I do use at one-nighters is the full version of Duck for the Oyster. It takes a bit of teaching, so I use it in the middle of the evening, after I've gained the group's confidence. Unlike many squares, it's totally gender-free. Active couple lead right and circle four halfway around, then "Duck for the oyster": Active couple ducks under, then changes their mind. "Dig for the clam": Hosting couple does the same. "Duck through the hole in the old tin can": Active couple ducks under, rolls back to back, raises their joined hands, pulls the hosting couple under, then the hosting couple unwinds. Hosting couple should keep their joined hands in front of their faces while being pulled through, rather than unwinding too soon. Simpler version (if lots of kids, therefore big height differences): Active couple ducks under, drops partner's hand while keeping neighbor's hand, goes around the outside, forcing hosting couple to turn under own arms, and re-forms the circle. In either version, end with active couple ducking through and going to next couple.
My all-time favorite ONS square, good for almost any group, is Kitchen Lancers (a rough-and-ready version of the fifth figure of the Lancers Quadrille):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC1zlybRZzs
The main figure begins at 0:35. Note that the figure begins with the active couple promenading, so avoid ending any breaks with a promenade.
The dance is gender-free except for the single file bit, where I often call "Right hand people go round," then "Left hand people go."
At 1:08, with most ONS groups, instead of "Active couple through the middle, others follow, separate to lines, forward & back, swing partner to place," I usually call "Face your partner, back away, forward again and swing partner to place - all forward & back twice." The video is from Dare To Be Square 2011, where all the dancers were experienced, so I called a version closer to the original ballroom Lancers.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
From: Charles Abell via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2020 9:12 AM
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: square dances for teens
Hey all, What are your favorite square dances for older teenagers in a one-night-stand setting? These could be Southern, New England, or other. Looking for a few new options...
Less interested in non-squares (circles, mixers, etc.), but if you have something you really like in one of those categories, feel free to share it.
Thanks!
I often use Shehans reel when I have a different number of couples. If I
have ten, two five couple sets, if only six, one six couple set. It is a
great flexible dance. It fits well into just about any 32 bar singing
square as well. It has become a go-to dance for me.
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
On Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 11:06 AM barrie bullimore via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Shehan's Reel is a great dance for any age group. You need know nothing
> about heads and sides nor corners
>
> A1 Women to centre (curtsey?) and back; men ditto (bow)
> A2 Women star Right; women star Left
> B1 Women pass current partner to, do si do and swing next man
> B2 Promenade with this person and face in to start again
>
> I usually put it with a break of " Circle eight left and right; All to the
> centre and back, do that again; dosido and swing current partner and
> promenade"
>
> With the right group, the last 8 bars of the figure can be "promenade to
> another square!" and then start again with the break. It doesn''t matter
> if there's more or less couples in the new "Square"
>
> It's a very forgiving dance!
> Have fun
>
> On Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 2:12 PM Charles Abell via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hey all, What are your favorite square dances for older teenagers in a
>> one-night-stand setting? These could be Southern, New England, or other.
>> Looking for a few new options...
>>
>> Less interested in non-squares (circles, mixers, etc.), but if you have
>> something you really like in one of those categories, feel free to share it.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Shehan's Reel is a great dance for any age group. You need know nothing
about heads and sides nor corners
A1 Women to centre (curtsey?) and back; men ditto (bow)
A2 Women star Right; women star Left
B1 Women pass current partner to, do si do and swing next man
B2 Promenade with this person and face in to start again
I usually put it with a break of " Circle eight left and right; All to the
centre and back, do that again; dosido and swing current partner and
promenade"
With the right group, the last 8 bars of the figure can be "promenade to
another square!" and then start again with the break. It doesn''t matter
if there's more or less couples in the new "Square"
It's a very forgiving dance!
Have fun
On Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 2:12 PM Charles Abell via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Hey all, What are your favorite square dances for older teenagers in a
> one-night-stand setting? These could be Southern, New England, or other.
> Looking for a few new options...
>
> Less interested in non-squares (circles, mixers, etc.), but if you have
> something you really like in one of those categories, feel free to share it.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rich Sbardella <richsbardella(a)gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 11:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: square dances for teens
To: Charles Abell <chuckabell(a)hotmail.com>
Chuck,
It would be nice to know your "old" options.
I would suggest Push Pa, Shove Ma, Some version of divide the Ring (cutaway
six, cutaway 4, cutaway 2).
Here is a circle mixer I use to teach Grand R&L.
*Number Five is Alive!*
CL 8, Fwd & Bk
CR 8, Face Partner, Grand R&L,
with #5 DSD, Swing that one
Promenade.
I modify it to use as a singing mixer. I usually call this as the second
dance of the night after an easier mixer such as La Bastringue, and then
move on to squares.
https://youtu.be/HqCyZfweFk0
Here is an easy New England square that fits any 32 bar tune.
https://youtu.be/em5KBTtFNUI
Rich Sbardella
Stafford Springs, CT
On Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 9:12 AM Charles Abell via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Hey all, What are your favorite square dances for older teenagers in a
> one-night-stand setting? These could be Southern, New England, or other.
> Looking for a few new options...
>
> Less interested in non-squares (circles, mixers, etc.), but if you have
> something you really like in one of those categories, feel free to share it.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Mayyybe this version of Barnacle Bill:
Two head la---dies cross the floor
Two side la---dies do the same
Honor to--- the one you lost
Honor to---- your own sweet dame. Oh...
Swing your corner round and round says Barnacle Bill the Sailor
Make their feet lift off the ground says Barnacle Bill the Sailor
Promenade, around you go, left foot high and right foot low,
Kick'em out if they're too slow --- says Barnacle Bill the Sailor (all
settle in man's place, bow to partner)
It's good early in the evening for teaching positions, progression,
how to come out of a swing on the correct side -- assuming you're
doing gendered couples. I'll leave it to you to redo the words to the
right "woke"-ness level for your group. :)
The high schoolers at Farm And Wilderness in the late 90s clamored
for/did it every week with great relish and abandon, mainly because
they knew each other well enough that the simple crossing-the-floor
moment became something of high drama and creativity.
On 2/21/20, Charles Abell via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Hey all, What are your favorite square dances for older teenagers in a
> one-night-stand setting? These could be Southern, New England, or other.
> Looking for a few new options...
>
> Less interested in non-squares (circles, mixers, etc.), but if you have
> something you really like in one of those categories, feel free to share
> it.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
If it's dancers, for 1920's I'd do 12th Street Rag.
Engaging and familiar novelty tune, fun "typical" moves that most can
pick up fairly quickly.
Actually easier than Salty Dog, which usually gets mentioned.
Dead-pan Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQv38Lpj6V0
If it's civilians, you can modify 12th St to make it easier, ask for
details if you want or just make up your own.
On 2/21/20, John Sweeney via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Since it is 2020 I have been asked to call a dance with a
> '20s
> theme.
>
>
>
> What are your favourite dances from:
>
> 1520s
>
> 1620s
>
> 1720s
>
> 1820s
>
> 1920s
>
> 2020s
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Happy dancing,
>
> John
>
>
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
> 940 574
>
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
>
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
>
> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
>
>
>
>
>
>
Hey all, What are your favorite square dances for older teenagers in a one-night-stand setting? These could be Southern, New England, or other. Looking for a few new options...
Less interested in non-squares (circles, mixers, etc.), but if you have something you really like in one of those categories, feel free to share it.
Thanks!
