I had never thought of that....

Like I said, I just called it and it went well - no questions, no issues, lots of enjoyment-- (with a number of beginners and nobody else in the group of 40+ people terribly advanced) - and it certainly didn't seem to hamper their dancing abilities in that dance or any future one.

When I dance it here in my house to try it out, I feel there is still a great rhythm to that combination--maybe it's got a bit of a syncopated feel?

Anyhow, I still say, "don't knock it till you try it" :)

KK

Sep 27, 2023 11:23:18 AM Tony Parkes <tony@hands4.com>:

I’m not saying this phrasing should be outlawed. But it’s enough of a challenge to get new folks to do a balance on 1-2-3-4 without giving them an exception early on.

Tony Parkes

Billerica, Mass.

www.hands4.com

New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century

(available now)

From: Katherine Kitching <kat@outdooractive.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:03 AM
To: Tony Parkes <tony@hands4.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence

aw, really?

I say, don't knock it till you try it :)

- I had a mix of beginner and more experienced dancers - I didn't explain it any detail, I just demo'd it once, and then they all did it easily and with gusto.   :D

Sep 27, 2023 10:50:10 AM Tony Parkes <tony@hands4.com>:

Ah, thanks.

Different strokes for different folks. I don’t think I could bring myself to ask for a balance on 3-4-5-6 of an 8-count phrase.

Tony Parkes

Billerica, Mass.

www.hands4.com

New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century

(available now)

From: Katherine Kitching <kat@outdooractive.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 9:46 AM
To: Tony Parkes <tony@hands4.com>
Cc: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence

haha I was unsure it would work when I called it for the first time the other night - but it worked great!!

Previously I had done LLFB, LLF and pull by, LLFB, LLF and pull by--

but my dancers did it so fast and energetically there was a super long and awkward pause after they pulled by and turned to face their partner again.

the secret is, it only takes them 2 counts to get close enough to rt-hand balance.

so it's 1-2 (walk), 1-2-3-4 (balance), and 1-2 pass by and turn - that part is admittedly fast, but they enjoyed the challenge of it and it really livened up this beginner-oriented dance.

Sep 27, 2023 10:40:00 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>:

“- LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again”

Will someone please explain the timing of this sequence? I get 8 steps for LLFB, 4 for LLF, 4 for a balance, and 4 for a pull by, adding up to 20; but I assume it’s intended to be done in 16. (I’m assuming that “turn to face in” is done as part of the pull by – no problem there.) Is there actually no LLF apart from the balance?

Tony Parkes

Billerica, Mass.

www.hands4.com

New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century

(available now)

From: Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 9:33 AM
To: Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe@gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence

lol "full washing machine" - I hadn't heard that before!

I agree on avoiding the full one as much as possible - but I quite like just a circle-left-circle-right - brings the group together for some smiles and allows for fancy footwork for those who want to throw in a little something extra.

But it may be interesting to ask the group to compile a list of beginner-friendly figures, beyond the very basic ones like allemandes and do si dos, that could be used to put together some dances of the type that you (and I, always!!) are seeking?

My criteria would be:

- does not take anyone out of home place
(or takes them out temporarily but puts them back again, such as pulling by your partner across the set, but then pulling by again within the next 1 or 2 moves).

- doesn't involve anything that is known to cause confusion for total beginners, such as courtesy turns or heys.

Here are some that I like:

- do si do as couples

- LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again

- take 4 steps left then 4 steps right, around the oval

- turn and walk individually around the oval for 8, then back for 8

- balance and spin the star (as per Louise S)

- balance the ring, then 2 hand balance your partner

- holding hands, veer right then left with your partner to progress

- what else?? :)

Sep 27, 2023 12:44:51 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe@gmail.com>:

Thanks for this thread!  My group is tired of me bailing out to a small collection of trivial contras (Airpants, Midwest Folklore...).

How about the easiest dance *that experienced dancers don't mind dancing*? I have always disliked the "full washing machine" of circle left, circle right, star right, star left.  Even a half-wash makes my shoulders sag, inwardly.  Of course, I will try to do them with a smile and encourage both the new dancers and the caller.  But, surely we can make it a little more interesting without losing the newbies.  Airpants and Midwest Folklore do, though they involve swings. Elbow or crossed-hand swings are fine for this and don't need to be taught outside of a walkthrough. If I'm using these dances in a workshop, I do tell the experienced dancers not to teach the ballroom swing, we'll get to that in a minute.  Otherwise, they all try.

--jh--

On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 7:27 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Here are a couple more that I wrote, that I called the other night and went very well.
(again, I haven't searched to see if they exist already)

these all build on the skills we did in my "very simple contra" in the sicilian formation, that I outlined in a previous message.

1. "Off they go"

- Circle left
- Circle right
- LLFB
- (still holding hands) - walk 4 steps left then 4 steps right (or call it a giant oval left then right if you prefer)

- partner do si do
- neighbour left hand turn (allemande)
- partner 2 hand balance twice (I suggest the convention of veering slightly to the left the first balance, and slightly to the right on the second, for interest)
- holding inside hands with your partner facing the other couple, veer on a forward right diagonal to pass the other couple, then on a forward left diagonal to meet the next couple


2. "first out of place dance" (at a brisk pace)
people found this very fun!!

- circle left
- circle right
- partner do si do
- neighbour 2 hand balance once, and baby turn (ie switch places, by circling while holding 2 hands in the same direction you would in a 2 hand turn or swing - can also say - switch places with your neighbour, with the ravens going on the inside)

- LLFB
- LLF, balance partner by the right one time and pull by (to switch places w partner)
- LLFB
- LLF, just pull by the right (no balance) - give a little nod and stomp to your old group, turn to face the new

3. " first down the hall dance"

-1's split the 2's and all walk down the hall in line of 4, turn alone
- come on back, bend line
- circle left
- circle right

- partner left shoulder round
- neighbour right hand turn (allemande)
- all circle left again
- left hand star to new group


4. "first swing (or 2 hand turn) dance"

- N bal and 2 hand turn (or swing, depending on level of dancers), for 16
- LLFB
- Partner left shoulder round

- Neighbour right shoulder round
- circle left
- circle right
- balance the circle one time, 2 hand balance your partner one time, turn to face new group

There were 2 more dances in my sequence after this, but they wouldn't qualify as super easy.  (though probably still easier than most of you call!! :) )

- Kat k
in Hfx, NS, CA
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