HOW HAVE I NOT KNOWN THIS DANCE BEFORE THIS MOMENT??

On 4/28/22, Ridge Kennedy via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Balance the Star qualifies as a chestnut and works well. The stars
> encourage a little hand jive action that is a lot of fun.
>
> Here's my go-to dance for raggy tune sets which stole a good bit from
> Balance the Star -- and Beaumont would work just fine with it.
>
> (And per what I think others said, tembo matters. It's no fun -- not even
> very raggy at -- warp speed.)
>
> Ragtime Sammy
>
>
> Contra, Duple, Improper
>
> Ridge Kennedy
>
> 20
>
> A-1 Right Hands Across Star (8) Left Hands Across
> Star (8)
>
> A-2 Gents Turn Back over right shoulder (peel off) make eye contact
> and and swing Neighbor
> (a short gypsy) (4-6) Long Swing
> (12-10)
>
> B-1 Circle Left Three Quarters (8) Partner
> Swing (8)
>
> B-2 Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2 (8) Neighbor Allemande Left
> 1 1/2 (8)
>
> Notes: The first version of this dance was made up in about 2013 for a
> dance with Big Phat American K-Lee Band in Glen Echo. Early in the program
> – maybe first dance, the band was going to do a set of rags. So we wanted
> a dance that would work well with rags and that was pretty easy – a starter
> upper. The only tricky bit here is moving from the allemande left with
> neighbors to the next star. Just keep dancers mindful of which way they
> will be going to progress, and it will work out fine.
>
> The idea behind using the hands across stars was to encourage dancers to
> use their free hands to do a little hand jive if the music so inspired
> them. And so it did. The final ending sequence for the dance was finally
> locked in place during 2015, I think. For all the time the dance was
> evolving it was my “raggy, starry hand jive dance.” Recently though,
> noting that bands frequently included Ragtime Annie in their raggy sets and
> since (little known secret here) my first name is Samuel – well Ragtime
> Sammy seems like a fitting title. Yeah, it’s a silly little dance, but when
> the music is right, dancers really do feel encouraged to get into the hand
> jive and more.
> Ridge Kennedy [Exit 145]
>
> Hey -- I wrote a book! *Murder & Miss Austen's Ball. *
> It's a novel with musical accompaniment. Now that's different.
>
> Read all about it here! <https://www.hedgehoghousebooks.com>

>
>
> On Thu, Apr 28, 2022 at 3:17 AM Colin Hume via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 27 Apr 2022 16:46:36 -0400, Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Contra
>> Callers wrote:
>> > Balance The Star was written to go to Beaumont Rag. It's a simple
>> dance, usually done as a Sicilian Circle, so it
>> > may not be what you want for your crowd.
>>
>> That's the one I was going to suggest. Here's how I explain it:
>> https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Balance_the_Star
>> and the vital phrase is "turn your back on your partner" - if callers
>> can't get that across there is general confusion.
>>
>> Also a contra by Susan Kevra where she actually specified "Beaumont Rag
>> and similar":
>>
>> Country of Marriage
>>
>> Longways Becket, single prog. 32 bar rags
>>
>> A1: Circle left 3/4. Do-si-do neighbour to a wave.
>>
>> A2: Balance right and left; ladies allemande left all the way
>> (rapidly). Swing neighbour, finish facing across.
>>
>> B1: Right & left through. Men allemande right 3/4 to meet next man;
>> allemande left with him 3/4 while ladies move to
>> left.
>>
>> B2: Balance and swing partner.
>>
>> Dance: Susan Kevra -- English Dance & Song, Winter 1992.
>>
>> Colin Hume
>>
>> Email colin@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
>>
>>
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>
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