Here are a couple novelty dances I've made up:


Garbology

Erik Hoffman

Odd—Modified Tempest Formation

December 1998

 

A1 Ones down center, turn as a Couple, Return, WHILE the twos and threes slide up the set one Couples place, cast off with (new) same sex two and three person

 

A2 Hey for Four, ones start, passing Right shoulder, Couples two and three acting as “units” latching (arms around each others backs) onto Partners.

 

B1 Finish the hey (it takes longer with “units”), ones cross to Star Left (in threes) with the opposite Couple (ones without Partners)

 

B2 All Balance & Swing Partners

 

Formation is a U shaped triple minor formation, Couple one facing down, Couple two to the Right of Couple one (from the callers point of view), facing in, Couple three to the Left of Couple one, also facing in.  I set this up by having both the ones and the twos get Improper, then the twos and threes circle Left one-quarter, as in Becket formation.

On the first walk-through I don't teach the progression; I do on the second walk-through.  Note that when couples finally progress, two couples come out at the same time.  Since only one goes in the next time round, at the top I have the number two Couple go in first, and the number three Couple wait out an extra time.  At the bottom, when the a couple comes out, they need to wait for a second Couple before entering the dance.  I suggest the first Couple waiting out become a number two, the second a number three. That way, Twos wait out twice at the bottom, threes, twice at the top.

This dance was written at Camp Harmony, the San Francisco Folk Music Club’s annual new years camp.  It was at a workshop where I was making up “experimental contras.”  I was naming them for the signs around the hall.  This one landed on the “Garbology” sign – one discussing the use of garbage.  Since this is something we should all consider, I think it’s well named
    Part of the idea for this came from the beautiful and flowing dance, American Summer, by Phillipe Callens.



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The next is designed as a Christmas dance, to go with the tune, We Three Kings, played as a straightened out jig. But I think it can be fun just as it is:


 

Follow That Star

Improper

Erik Hoffman

 

A1  with New Neighbors: Star Left;  with Old Neighbors: Star Right
A2  Ones take Number Two Man Down Hall in Line of Three WHILE
                 the Number Two Women come up the hall single file,'

      Turn Alone, Return, the Lines of Three Folds into a Circle around
      Number Two Women

B1  Circle Three around Number Two Wm;  Neighbor Swing on “Own” Side

B2  Long Lines Forward &Back;  All Swing Partner (or just Ones if space is tight)

 

The story line is:
   Three Kings Follow Stars. They find a Babe in a Manger, Everyone Celebrates!  To be danced to “We Three Kings” straightened out and as a Jig.

 


-- 
~Erik
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