Following up on Rick's request for dances for a monthly group of teenagers, I was trying to put a basket swing in a becket dance; and I'd appreciate folks thoughts and suggestions on flow and timing.
Basket swings are not something I'd run in a regular dance, but this sounds like the same group of teens getting together regularly, and I was intrigued on what you might be able to do in a class where all the students know each other.
Couple of options:
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1
Long lines yearn to the RIGHT
Left Hands Across Star
A2
Right Hands Across Star
Gents Do Si Do 1x
B1
Ladies Two Hand turn 1x
Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies
ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents
Basket Swing (crosses over into B2)
Basket swing continues,
on home side, partner swing
This seems a little odd to me in that it breaks up the two stars into different musical phrases, whereas often (in beginner dances) those occupy once section of the tune together.
It could be that you make it a long lines yearn left, and then make the stars right and left, and the gents sea saw; not sure it's worth it. Alternatively, make it only one star, get the basket swing nominally contained to B1, and leave all of B2 for partner swing; for a clearer split with the tune.
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1
Long lines yearn to the LEFT
A2
Gents Do Si Do 1x
Ladies Two Hand turn 1x
B1
Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies
ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents
Basket Swing
B2
on home side, partner swing
That's probably ~24+ beats of cw swinging between the basket->partner, which seems excessive. Trying to cut that a little shorter, possibly moving the basket and partner swing to just B2, leads to something like
B1
(4) Gents take two hands, balance,
(4) Gents lift hands over ladies heads and behind backs
(4) Ladies take two hands, balance
(4) Ladies lift hands over gents heads and behind backs
(8) Basket Swing
(8) On home side with partner, swing
Where you could put the A1&A2 of either of the previous versions on top of it.
Anyway, if you have thoughts or experiences, I'd like to hear them.
Happy Dancing.
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