Interesting that Lisa got Kingston Flyer from me, as I’ve only used it once or twice that I can recall (though it’s definitely on my short list of nearly bombproof dances). Seeing it here prompted me to search for its origin. I found this:
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/kingston-flyer.html
I had assumed the “down and back” was originally a sashay, but these directions just say “lead.” And apparently the dance ended with the #1 couple doing a right-hand turn at the bottom, rather than everyone doing a do-si-do. Like most easy
dances, it’s been folk-processed in various ways.
I would tend to think of Kingston Flyer as a ceilidh dance, but this website treats it as a Scottish country dance. The site has a separate page with a list of ceilidh dances (with links to directions) that may help some of us expand our
list of easy material. The list includes some fairly recently devised dances, but not Kingston Flyer.
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/ceilidh-dances.html
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
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From: Lisa Sieverts via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, October 9, 2023 11:10 AM
To: Bree Kalb <breekalb@gmail.com>; Shared Weight Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental disabilities
Bree,
I’ve done a few dances at a local residential facility which had events for the clients and their families. My notes to myself after doing it for the first time:
Spend some time re-writing dances so that there are almost no "single person" moves. The crowd does best when connected moves, such that one person in the pair is able to help direct the other. Casting down the outside is about the extent of "single person" moves that are possible.
I did dances like these:
(4-couple longways). From Tony Parkes
FAMILY
A1. Line 1 around Line 2 (let it take as long as it takes)
A2. Line 2 around Line 1
B1. top couple strut down the middle and back
B2. top couple (only) cast to the bottom and everyone do- si-do (I skipped the do-si-do)
Once I settled into realizing what was possible, I found these dances to be very rewarding. It was wonderful to watch everyone working together and having fun together.
Best,
Lisa
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
lisa@lisasieverts.com