Hi Allison, 

Early Evening Roll Away by Bob Isaacs comes to mind for a roll away. Although (with deference to Bob) I'd probably change the R&L through in A2 to a promenade across the set to make it more accessible. Gene Hubert's "New Harmony Reel" has a roll away without the catch of going from one person to another. 

You don't list petronellas. I think that's something that new dancers could get that feels like a new thing. Linda Leslie & Dean Snipes independently wrote Old Time Elixir #2 / Tica Tica Timing. Again, I'd use a promenade rather than a right and left through (which I think is Dean's Tica Tica Timing version, and Linda's was a R&L).

For a Rory O'More dance, Chris Weiler's Earl & Squirrel is accessible. 

My go-to butterfly whirl dance is also my favorite title in contra dancing: There is No Way to Peace, Peace is the Way by Erik Hoffman.

Have fun!

Early Evening Roll Away
by Bob Isaacs
Contra/Improper

A1 -----------
(16) Neighbor balance and swing
A2 -----------
(8) right and left through
(8) Robins’ chain to partner
B1 -----------
(4) Balance the Ring
(4) Larks roll neighbor across set, CATCH partner
(8) Partner swing
B2 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4 and pass through along the set
(8) NEW Neighbor Do-si-do

New Harmony Reel
by Gene Hubert
Contra/Improper

A1 -----------
(8) long lines, forward and back
(8) Robins allemande left 1-1/2
A2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing
B1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 1X
(2) Larks roll Ptr away with half sashay on side
(6) Circle Right 3/4
B2 -----------
(16) Neighbor balance and swing

Old Time Elixir #2 / Tica Tica Timing
by Linda Leslie & Dean Snipes
Contra/Becket-CW/Easy

A1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
(8) Neighbor swing
A2 -----------
(8) right and left through (or promenade)
(8) Robins’ chain (to partner)
B1 -----------
(8) Balance the ring and twirl to the right (petronella)
(8) Balance the ring and twirl to the right (petronella)
B2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing (look on the left diagonal for new cpl)

Earl & Squirrel
by Chris Weiler
Contra/Improper

A1 -----------
(8) Robins allemande right 1-1/2 (larks step left)
(8) partner swing
A2 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do to short wavy lines
B1 -----------
(8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More)
(8) Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More)
B2 -----------
(16) Neighbor balance and swing
robins look right for new robin

There is No Way to Peace, Peace is the Way
by Erik Hoffman
Contra/Becket-CW

A1 -----------
(8) Robins do-si-do 1x
(8) partner swing
A2 -----------
(8) Larks allemande left 1-1/2
(8) neighbor swing
B1 -----------
(8) long lines, forward and back
(8) Robins right elbow turn 1-1/2x, scoop up partner
B2 -----------
(8) star promenade 3/4 (robins have r)
robins let go of r elbows, Larks link l elbows with next (the progression)
(8) star promenade 3/4 (larks have l) & butterfly whirl

On Sat, Jan 21, 2023 at 9:51 PM Allison Jonjak via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hopefully a fun question. At the same time as the pandemic, I moved to my rural hometown, and (after some years of hunkering) have gone from 'sometimes' to 'occasionally' to now monthly hosting a barn dance with a great band on a wonderful dance floor here.

I have promised the dancers "as we get practice, and as we build up skills in the community, gradually we can start doing dances with more moves," and some of the regulars asked for a 'practice dance' with a few of these fun ones, so I now get to plan one. But I suddenly realized, I haven't myself danced contra in such a long time that most of the names of the 'old favorites" have abdicated the brainspace they used to hold. 

So, what I'm asking for: 
Remind me the names of simple, fun dances that include some of my favorite figures (roll-away with half sashay, Rory O'Moore, maybe box circulate or butterfly whirl?) I want to give them a taste for "why it's worth it to get more complex" without actually getting TOO complex yet (probably going to avoid becket formation, and I don't think I want to teach heys yet. I haven't taught courtesy turns (chain, R&L through, et al) yet, but I could probably do so either at this practice or a future one. Most of our progression thus far have been "pass through", but if there's a good candidate dance with a non 'pass through' progression, I can modify it a skosh to keep things consistent.

I am attaching the program from our last dance to give you a sense of where we are ( https://contradb.com/programs/278 ). This practice dance is going to have 12 dancers, who have understood progression as we've done it in Do Si Three and in Jefferson's Remorse, and on the dance floor they've been some of the ones helping newcomers understand. 

Thanks in advance for your recommendations! 
Allison 

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