Wizards Walk by Ruthie Ungar would be another good one.  Especially if the band can play the tune.  One band I have worked with sometimes used Childgrove or Dancing Bear as change tune.  They would start with the other tune and then switch to Witches Switches.

Jonathan


On 10/24/2024 10:33 PM, Jonathan Sivier wrote:
> Witches' Switches by Al Olson.  It's triple progression, so a bit challenging, but can be fun.
>
> -----
>
> When The Stars Are Right
> Jonathan Sivier
> duple improper; beginner-intermediate
> written: 2/2/2000
>
> 1 - allemande left 1 1/2 with neighbor
> 2 - ladies chain (to partner)
> 3 - hey for four halfway (ladies start passing right shoulders)
> 4 - swing partners (on ladies' original side)
> 5 - gents allemande left 1 1/2 in the center
> 6 - swing neighbors on the other side
> 7 - star left 1 time
> 8 - star right 1 time (look for new neighbors)
>
> Notes
>
> 7 - the transition from a swing to a left hand star may be a little awkward,
> but I think the satisfying transition to a right hand star makes up for that
>
>
> History
> This dance was inspired by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft.  Many of his
> stories take place in small towns and back-woods areas in New England in the
> early part of the 20th century and that was where contra dancing was being done
> at that time.  While he never mentions dancing in his writing, and I have no
> reason to think he even knew what contra dancing was, I like to think that his
> characters occasionally went contra dancing for recreation.  Lovecraft was an
> anglophile and more interested in things of the past than in the present and I
> think he would have approved of contra dance's roots in the past and the dances
> from England.  In many of his stories reference is made to the Great Old Ones
> and how they will rise up "when the stars are right" so I wanted to create a
> dance where you progress on to your next neighbor when the stars become right.
>
> Jonathan
>
> On 10/24/2024 10:23 PM, Cheryl Joyal via Contra Callers wrote:
>> Wondering if there are any dances with a fall or Halloween themed name …. Or that may be extra fun in costume ?
>>
>> TIA - Cheryl
>>

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