[Callers] Re: Basic Beckets for Beginners

I called Star Trek Phraser at a beginner-heavy college dance last weekend and it worked quite well! The only thing I noticed was that I had to keep jumping in to keep the oval on time (dancers kept trying to shift it to A2) and even still it got pretty messy. But it's a nice whole-set moment that I think is worth it. (And for attentive beginners I think it also reveals something to them about the structure of the dance.) I was surprised and pleased by how well beginners were able to handle the star-to-star transition, quick though it is! Thanks for that one, Luke! Harris Lapiroff Dance Caller and Organizer Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA) Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA) https://chromamine.com/contra/ On Mon, Sep 9, 2024, at 8:08 PM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote: Thanks all. I continue to turn this one over in my head, and I think I've got a new one (borrowing heavily from Bob Isaac's *To Turn a Phrase* and the star-to-star transition of Mick Richardson's *Star Trek*) Star Trek Phraser by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CCW A1 ----------- (8) Left hand Star (8) Whole set oval right A2 ----------- (8) whole set oval Left (8) Groups of 4 Circle Left 1X B1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Left hand Star 1x, walk on to next star On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 7:55 PM &lt;sjapartments(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: Hello all, Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways set dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an evening. But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking to grow their familiarity with the dance form. I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option: Pluck It Contra/Becket-CW A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right A2 ----------- (8) Left hand Star (8) Right hand Star B1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 ----------- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set (8) Long lines, yearn left This is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter Shot but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, which in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I wouldn't use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think it's accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and if folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over improper for this type of dance; different position on the side is less disorienting than different side of the set). What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No larks allemande or robins chain, etc. On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one (which may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community dance I was at: A Pillar of Weathersfield Contra/Becket-CW A1 ----------- (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) A2 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall B1 ----------- (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) (8) Return and face across B2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress (Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and the new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple) I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level contras when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper dances with neighbor swings. Thanks! Luke Donforth Burlington, VT _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com &lt;Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com&gt; _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net