Hi folks, I am always creating simple dances that minimize confusion for my heavily-beginner group.

I recently wrote out a few for a guest caller, so am including them here in case anyone finds them useful.

(Side note-- Recently we made the switch to dancing always in Becket for the beginner-friendly portion of the evening - it's been a huge breakthrough for us, (sliding "out" is less confusing than improper duple ejection; .....and now I can call a "partner two-hand turn" for beginners but with option to swing for more advanced folks- and everyone ends up back in home place after the swing!)--it was thanks to someone's suggestion on this list!  I am very grateful :) )

HERE IS MY QUESTION
Because my dances are simple, I call a lot of simple one-on-one figures, alternating an interaction with one's partner, then an interaction with one's neighbour, for variety.
This leads to interactions across the set with neighbour (in Becket) -- interactions with partner across the set in improper duple.

These include do-si-dos, right and left allemandes, and right and left shoulder rounds.

I was noticing that these calls might be rare or non-existent in the larger contra world - seems like only Robins or Larks would do an interaction across the line in most contra dances - not all 4 people at once? 
- Is my instinct correct?  You folks don't normally write or call dances where all 4 people would simultaenously do-si-do or right-hand-turn across the set to the person they are facing?
- Is this because it's considered too crowded in the lines?  And so you folks avoid it, just like you avoid everyone swinging across the set?

I've certainly noticed that when our dance hall gets crowded, people have to squeeze a bit to make these figures work-- but ultimately it does work.  Just wondering how much of a "faux pas" it is :)

You'll see I include such figures in my dances below.
I love dances where everyone is moving all the time (and my dancers like it too!) which is why I favour these "everyone" moves across the set, rather than "just the larks" or "just the robins".


nice n' easy becket (no official name)

Circle left
Circle right
Right hand star
Left hand star

P: do si do
N: right hand turn
P: 2 hand turn (or optional swing if you know how/both want to)
Long Lines forward, on way back, slide shift left to new


slightly more interesting variation on nice n easy,
Circle left
Left hand star
Partner do si do (or right hand turn could be called instead)
Neighbour left shoulder 'round 

2 Hand balance partner 1 time then two hand turn (or swing if you both know how/want to) (16)
Long Lines forward and back,
Long lines forward again, give a nod goodbye to current neighbour, on the way back, slide left to new

------------------
Double SWLs (no official name)-

Bal ring x 2
Do si do P - into short wavy lines*
Bal lines, to the right, to the left, to the right, push off palms of others, back to home place (walking backwards to your home place for 2 counts)
Left hand turn neighbour

Long Lines forward and back
Do si do P again, into short wavy lines (as above)
Bal lines as before, to the right, to the left, to the right, push off palms to home (as above)
As a couple advance towards other couple, nod goodbye, and veer left on way back to new neighbours

*SWLs have partners holding right hands, and people in the middle holding left hands.

-------------

Dance with petros and short wavy lines! (no official name) 
A bit repetitive with all the petros,  - but fun for a short-ish dance for total newbies!

Balance and petronella turn
Balance and petronella turn
Balance and petronella turn
Balance and turn one last time/walk home (if you are lost, just get home!!)

Neighbour right hand turn
Partner do si do 1.25 times, into short wavy lines -as in the above dance
Balance the line - right-left-right-- then push off the palms of the others to walk yourselves backwards to home place (2 counts)
Long lines forward, nod to the old couple, slide left to new to form a ring....

--------------------

Intermediate with down the hall - total beginners found this confusing but everyone else had no problem and enjoyed it!  (no official name)

Balance and turn w partner, end facing down hall
Down hall, turn as couples
Come back, bend line
----
Circle left
left hand star
Neighbour do si do
Slide left to New N, clasp right hands*, fall back to partner

*Slide left, move towards NEW Neighbour and take their right hand for a moment to acknowledge they are your new neighbour, then fall back to your partner to re-start the dance.  (basically do a quick right hand balance with them - but it has to be quick so I just said "take right hands" - it's like a warm gesture of welcome )

--------

Intermediate + dance down hall (has ravens chains) - a bit similar to the one above, I would do one of these two, not both!)  I can't remember if I wrote this or found it somewhere...

Partner balance and swing, end facing down hall
Down hall in line of 4, turn as couple
Come back, bend line (you should be home again)

Ravens chain
Chain again (back to home once again!)
Circle RIGHT (show them the flow, of a ravens chain into circle right- it works well!!)
circle left to new

---------

barrie bullimore via Contra Callers

Monday, January 13, 2025 7:18 AM

Peter Foster (Australia!) has a good Becket dance for beginners although I'm not sure he's named it.

A1   Star Right; star left

A2  Pass thru across the set and swing partners to face down

B1  Down the hall as couples (4 in line) turn as couple and return to face across

B2  Long lines forward and back; half promenade and wheel right to face new couple (J-promenade)

Barrie bullimore

On Sun, Jan 12, 2025 at 9:59 AM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

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Luke Donforth via Contra Callers

Monday, September 9, 2024 8:08 PM

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

--

Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth@gmail.com

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