Re: [Callers] Dances with Down-the-Halls

JoLaine asked, "Many of our easier dances include down-the-halls, but there are so many ways to come back up! There's turn alone, and turn as a couple of course, but there's also sliding doors, right-hand-high-left-hand-low, loop-de-loop, cloverleaf. What are your favorite dances that include an unusual down-the-hall?". = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The references to Dublin Bay are slightly inaccurate. The original dance - see http://www.folkdance.com/LDNotations/DublinBay2000LD.pdf - contains: Line of four facing down the hall: Fall back four steps (heading backwards up the hall), go forward four steps, turn alone to face up the hall; fall back four steps, go forward four steps. Don't you just love the folk process? :-) How about someone writing an nice new contra based on the original Dublin Bay, and actually using the Dublin Bay up and down the hall moves? Note: the original tune has a 14 bar A-music and a 10 bar B-music! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Here are some of the ways I know to turn and come back (many of them mentioned already) and some dances that use them. Please let me know if you want me to post any of the dances in full. Down the Hall in Lines of Four; Don't Turn! Backwards up the hall; middles arch; ends duck through to face new couple Fairfield Fancy by Dick Forscher Jefferson & Liberty Steamboat - traditional with stepping One challenge with these dances is that the sets tend to move down the hall since those making the arches tend not to move back as far as they should. One solution is: Tecumseh by Dillon Bustin Lines of Four Go Down the Hall (4); Lines of Four Fall Back (4) #1s Arch, #2s go through the Arch = = = = = Dixie Twirl Just Skylarking by Rhodri Davies Plough & Harrow by Roger Whynot = = = = = Down the Hall in Lines of Four - just #1s (in the middle) drop hands - #2s Hand Cast/Gate #1s (#2s in middle now); Up the Hall Jeff's Gypsy by Paul Wilde = = = = = Up the Hall in Lines of Four; Ends Gate the Middles Fiddleheads by Ted Sanella Walk the Chalk Line by John Chapman A Truly Remarkable Total by Rhodri Davies Shadrack's Delight by Tony Parkes = = = = = Man on Left end Turn Alone - Ladies trade places as the Man between them does "right hand high, left hand low" Love Sting by Rick Mohr Love at First Swing by Bob Isaacs One twist on this is to swing before coming back: Down the Hall in Lines of Four; End Man Turn Alone WHILE Middle Man does Left Hand High, Right Hand Low: Draw Right-Hand Lady under arch and let her go, Draw Left-Hand Lady into a Swing Partner Swing - finish facing Up the Hall; Up the Hall in Lines of Four Ants Marching by Ron T Blechner = = = = = Down the Hall in Lines of Four (4); Tag the Line (4) Each dancer turns to face the center of the line. Taking a short side step to the left, each dancer walks forward passing right shoulders with oncoming dancers until he has walked past all of the dancers from the other half of the line Tag the Line by Bob Dalsemer = = = = = Down the Hall in Lines of Four - KEEP HOLD: #1s turn away from each other & back under their joined hands, #2s turn in - all face up Up the Hall in a "Cozy Line" - #2s can join hands behind the line as they lead back (or make a Triumph-style arch and bring their hands over the #1s) - form a cloverleaf by #2s joining hands above the #1s' hands Symmetrical Force by Fred Field = = = = = MMLL: Down the Hall in Lines of Four, Turn as (same-sex) Couples: fold the line (momentary circle), #1s join hands, unfold to a Line of Four facing Up the Hall, #1s in the middle Up the Hall in Lines of Four, #2s Gate #1s to Long Lines Curly Cues (by Erik Hoffman) = = = = = Do you ever dance Triplets (three couple sets) at your dances? If so try: March of the Triplets (by Bob Isaacs) #3s Gate #1s Down & all the way to face Down WHILE #2s Lead Down - form a Line of Six facing Down Down the Hall in Lines of Six, Turn Alone = = = = = A different way to get into a line of four: Half a Slice by Bob Isaacs Half a Slice on Left Diagonal to a Line of Four Facing Down Half a Slice: As a couple, go forward towards each other on the diagonal. The top two dancers join hands; the bottom two push off to make a line of four facing down. This is an efficient way to get everyone progressed and facing down in 8 beats, so there is time for creative or dramatic push-offs. = = = = = And here is a dance based on the "Half a Slice" idea, with yet another way of getting into lines of four: The Pattern Unfolds by John Sweeney Becket (CW) A1: Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross by the Left (Lady coming Up makes an Arch) - look for a New Neighbour - Men turn to a new Circle as well Balance the New Ring x 2 - on the second Unfold into a Line of Four Facing Down A2: Down the Hall in Lines of Four Neighbour Swing - finish facing across B1: Balance the Ring x 2 - on the second Unfold into a Line of Four Facing Up Up the Hall in Lines of Four - Bend the Line B2: Neighbour Allemande Right; Ladies Allemande Left 1/2 Partner Swing = = = = = Hope that helps. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent