Re: [Callers] Questioning a sacred cow of contra dancing

Luke Donforth said "I'd like to flesh out options for that level of crowd that aren't mixers and are swing forgiving". For that crowd you can always challenge another sacred cow and don't have swings! All these work well with beginner contra groups: Family Contra (by Sherry Nevins) Contra; Improper A1: Balance the Ring x2; Circle Left A2: Balance the Ring x2; Circle Right B1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido B2: As Couples Dosido 1 & 1/2 to a New Couple Finding Your Balance (by John Sweeney) Contra; Becket (CW) A1/A2: Four Changes of Right & Left with Balances Forward & Back before each one - Start Right with Partner B1: Balance the Ring; Men Cross Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross B2: Half Promenade Yearn on the Left Diagonal to New Neighbours (Or First & Second Corners for the crossings if you want to avoid gender) Duck! (by John Sweeney) Contra; Improper; Double Progression A1: Neighbour Dosido Neighbour Two Hand Turn - open into a circle A2: Circle Left; Circle Right B1: Men Dosido Ladies Dosido B2: Balance the Ring; #2s Arch, #1s Duck Through to New Circle (Turn (as a couple) quickly if you have reached the end and join in again straight away) Balance the Ring; #2s Arch, #1s Duck Through to face New Neighbours (Or First & Second Corners for the Dosidos if you want to avoid gender) (I had intended to alternate the arching - but having all the arches come up the hall is easier for beginners.) Jefferson & Liberty Contra; Improper A1: Circle Left Circle Right A2: Star Right Star Left B1: #1 Balance & Swing - finish facing down B2: Down the Hall in Lines of Four; #1s Arch #2s through the arch to face New Neighbours (I think the original B1 was #1s Separate, go down the outside (8) Come back up the outside and into the centre (8)) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent