Hello all,

I recently got to drop in on the Charlotte dance in North Carolina, and had a chance to chat with Dean Snipes. Dean (and independently, Linda Leslie) wrote my favorite contra dance, Tika Tika Timing. Judging from the 100 videos of it on Caller's Box, I think I'm not alone in enjoying this dance.

Dean said he was inspired to write the dance after hearing the hit Good Timin' by Jimmy Jones, and felt the B1 petronella's did a nice job of conveying the rhythm. He also mentioned that Mr. Jones had another hit "Handy Man" (later covered and turned into another more sedate hit by James Taylor).

So with a recent bout of insomnia, instead of re-writing Tika Tika Timing as I have done numerous times, I put together a new dance. Jimmy Jones seemed to like twirls, he does several in his live performance of Handy Man. I hope he'd be amused by this.

Handy Man
Contra/Becket-CCW

A1 -----------
(8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
Turn away and face new neighbors
(8) Neighbor swing
A2 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Larks’ Chain across
B1 -----------
(8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
(8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
B2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing

Hope you're all doing well and finding fun connections.

Luke
Burlington, VT