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.:

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

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