28 Apr
2010
28 Apr
'10
1:30 a.m.
On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 10:18 PM, Liz and Bill
<staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I'd like your advice on the timing and teaching of "flutter wheel
with a butterfly whirl."
Lots of dances use the following in a 16 beat section:
Gents Allemand Left 1 1/2, scoop up Partner star Promenade, Butterfly whirl
or
Ladies Allemand Right 1 1/2 scoop up Neighbor for star Promenade 1/2,
Butterfly whirl
In Butterflies by Cary Ravitz, A2 is
A2 Men allemand left 1/2 . Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star
promenade across, and butterfly whirl 1/2 to put the ladies in the middle.
Ladies allemand right 1/2 Ladies keep right hands, pick up your
neighbor, star promenade across, and butterfly whirl 1/2 (men go forward,
ladies go backward) to put the men in the middle
so allemande left 1/2, star promenade, butterfly whirl is done in a 8 beat
phrase.
Notice the butterfly whirl here is 180 degrees rather than the 450
degrees rotation of
the more standard cases. Hence it take less time.
However in American Gothic by Nathaniel Jack which starts
A1 (around Neighbor) Mad Robin Ladies Allemand Left 1 1/2 (Scoop up
Partner)
A2 Star Promenade 1/2 (Ladies in the center) w/ whirl Gents start 1/2
hey by Right
Allemand Left 1 1/2 is done in a 8 beat phrase, and star promenade,
butterfly whirl is done in a 8 beat phrase.
This is typical timing.
I tried this dance earlier this year with experienced contra dancers
and many were having trouble
getting through A2 in time.
A1 Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing
A2 Promenade across, Ladies Allemand Right 1/2, scoop up Neighbor for
star promenade 1/2, butterfly whirl
B1 Pass Thru across (right shoulder), Neighbor Swing (face down four in
line)
B2 down the hall four in line, Turn alone, come back four in line, 2's
in the middle make an arch and pop the 1's Thru to the next couple.
Dancers would have to cut about 3 beats off the promenade here to
finish the A2 on time.
Timing's about
(5) Promenade (tight)
(3) Women allemande right 1/2
(4) Star promenade to the other side
(4) Butterfly whirl
For dancers used to doing a promenade in 8 beats, this is going to be
very counterintuitive.
Chances are dancers will be late for the B1, and it'll result in a
shorter neighbor swing.
How do you help people with the timing? I've tried to suggest that those
getting scooped up need to be ready.
Thanks.
Cheers, Bill
PS - in MWSD, right hand dancer allemand right 1/2, pick up person across,
star promenade back, is called Flutter Wheel
and left hand dancer allemand left 1/2 , pick up person across, star
promenade back is called Reverse Flutter Wheel. Both are
meant to take 8 beats. I have square dancers in my regular contra group and
need to get them used to
contra dance timing.
There's other differences. The connection in a star promenade is much
stronger in a star promenade (arms on each other's back) than a
flutterwheel (holding nearest hand with the other person, but only one
hand.) The flutterwheel doesn't have time for the extra 360 degree
rotation of the butterfly whirl.
-Chris Page
San Diego