I had complaints about a dance I called with shadow swings.  Basically: "I didn't get to choose my shadow and they were someone I try to avoid.  Neighbor swings in passing are OK, but..."

Dale

On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 10:03 AM Joe Harrington via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
From the notes:
This is an Officially Compliant Contra DanceTM. It has two swings, one with the same person each time and one with someone else...

Most Perfect Holiday (written April 1, 2025)
Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe@gmail.com>
Contra
Becket CW
A      8 Long lines backward and forth (1)
      16 Swing shadow (2,3)
        8 w/ neighbor across, balance right & square through two, find your partner
B1    8 Balance the original ring & spin to the right
        8 Balance the ring & Arky twirl (4)
B2    4 Larks swat the flea (5) while robins balance anyone but your neighbor robin (6)
      12 Swing this one (7)

Notes:
1. Loud, whooping, "WOO!" on four. Don't knock into the people behind you!
2. Yeah? So? (*sigh*...if you don't like it, then do-si-do twice or two-hand turn. Sheesh.)
3. Recommend twirl at end, so lark's right hand is free.
4. Like California twirl. Take inside hands with partner, trade places and directions, taller person ducks under shorter person's raised hand.
5. No balance. You figure out who ducks. Maybe the taller one.
6. Recommend the robin behind you in the next line, or next to you if in a side or only line. No limit on the number of dancers. Best to flout quickly over your left shoulder and ignore the lark antics.
7. Larks' setup is for wedding-cake swing, but hey, be creative. I told 'em not to look...

This is an Officially Compliant Contra DanceTM. It has two swings, one with the same person each time and one with someone else.

Source:
Posted to Shared Weight callers email list April 1, 2025.  Without testing, of course.

--jh--

_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net