30 Apr
2008
30 Apr
'08
5:41 p.m.
Yes, this is a visiting big circle dance, as was done in the Southeast (I believe). There
is an initial lead couple that starts the shoofly swing, which is the allemande turning
figure that progresses from couple to couple. After the lead couple has passed about 3 or
4 couples, the next couple starts dancing the move and it travels around the circle. The
man follows along the inside of the circle and turns his partner as she returns to him.
If I were to call this, I would start with a big circle, possible circle left and right,
into the center and back, swing partner and promenade, grand right and left, and then when
that's all done, get the lead couple started with the shoofly swing. At the end (when
you have decided that it has gone on long enough), you can do a similar ending with the
whole circle. I probably wouldn't do this at a "contra dance" but there are
many one night stands, parties, and square dances where this would be totally appropriate
and fun.
Suzanne
-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Mitchell <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com>
Sent: Apr 30, 2008 10:19 AM
To: Suzanne Girardot <suzanneg(a)wolfenet.com>om>, Caller's discussion list
<callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Shoofly Swing
Ok. Having a little trouble picturing this.
a) Is the whole dance the shoefly swing?
b) If the women are visiting, does her partner
just follow her along the circle on the inside of the circle?
Thanks,
Jack
At 01:02 PM 4/30/2008, you wrote:
Gretchen, I have seen this dance called by Phil
Jamison. In a big circle, this dance goes on
for a while, but many people can be dancing at
one time. Once the women have danced all the
way around, the women can turn the men and the
men can do the visiting. This would indeed be a
long dance, but back in the day, this would have
been extremely fun and not at all boring. What I
enjoy about this dance is the chance to turn
smoothly with your partner, and then turn the
next person in the circle with the left,
smoothly going around into the allemande with
your partner again. It can be really rhythmic
and did I mention smooth? You can get a nice
groove going with it. It would be a fun dance
for newer dancers, especially with a driving
old-time band. It sounds as though you have the
entire dance. Once you get the dancers going
("Turn your partner with a shoofly swing") there
is no more calling necessary until you want to
bring that part of the dance to a close and
perhaps finish with a big circle or grand right
and left. Suzanne Girardot Seattle, WA
-----Original Message----- >From: Gretchen
Caldwell <gretchendance(a)yahoo.com> >Sent: Apr
29, 2008 12:12 PM >To:
callers(a)sharedweight.net >Subject: [Callers]
Shoofly Swing > >I'm looking for a circle dance
called, I believe, "Shoofly Swing". Cubby
Whitehead used to end every evening with it in
Bradenton Florida in the late 1980s. It
involves one couple starting with an allemande
right, lady then allemandes next gent by left,
then partner by right, next gent by left, and so
on. After the allemanding partners have passed
you by, you and your partner join until the
whole circle is peeling off in one amazing mass
of allemandes. >Anyone have it? >I've just
joined the list, have been calling for two
years, and appreciate the support of the
community. I plan to try Microchasmic soon for
our weekly Monday night dance, where the level
of dancing is, surprise surprise, improving as
we three local callers try more challenging
dances. Not a lot of contracorners going
on. This triplet might be just the
thing. >Gretchen Caldwell >Charlotte
NC >_____________________________________________
__ >Callers mailing
list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.shared
weight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
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