12 Feb
2012
12 Feb
'12
4:34 p.m.
And of course I got the circle directions backwards when I typed it up:
circle left first then right.
Dale
On Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 3:31 PM, Dale Wilson <dale.wilson(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Richard,
I took the liberty of "adapting" your dance a bit then called it last
night at a dance in Elsah, Il. The crowd of about thirty dancers was a
fairly even mix of experienced dancers and first or second timers with a
wide range of ages (Teens to 80's).
The revised instructions I used were:
Make groups of three people--gender doesn't matter. If it doesn't come
out even, make one or two groups of two people so everyone gets to dance.
Make a big circle holding hands with the people in your group, then turn
your group of three together to face right. Like spokes on a wheel.
Notice who's closet to the middle of the big circle. That's the INSIDE
person.
Everybody walk forward (promenade holding hands).
Make a circle of three and circle to the right.
Circle left. End with the inside person facing both partners. [Note it
doesn't matter which way the group as a whole is facing]
Inside person with right hand partner: Clap (self); clap (self); Clap both
hands with right hand partner; pause a beat.
Inside person with left hand partner: Clap(self); clap(self) Clap both
hands with left hand partner; pause a beat.
Inside person with left hand partner: Allemande right (about 3/4ths)
Inside person with right hand partner: Allemand left once.
Repeat the allemand's until the caller says "Swing" then inside person
swing (or two hand turn, or...) the one they are with.[*]
Extra people go to the middle of the circle and mess around with each
other (that got a laugh) Mingle; Improvise.
When caller says "Promenade" the swinging couples make the spokes of the
wheel again and extra people join in as the new inside person.
[*] Last time through the caller says "As a group of three, Swing" to end
the dance.
There was mild confusion particularly at the transition from clapping to
allemandeing. There was also a lot of laughing and smiling. I'd say it's
a hit.
Thanks,
Dale
On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 4:54 PM, Richard Fischer <
richardallenfischer(a)verizon.net> wrote:
--
*So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix it?*
Actually I've just recently written a dance
for threes. It meets only
some of Rickey's criteria, and I haven't yet tried it out on my kids at
school, but I will soon. I'll paste it below, and if you give it a try, I'd
love to hear how it went!
Richard
Mixer for Groups of Three
Tentative Title “Near and Far”
to the tune Beaumont Rag
Richard Allen Fischer
(numbers refer to beats)
A1 (first time through) Promenade CCW in groups of three (16)
(Note who the inside-track person is.)
A2 Circle left (8) and circle right (8) in groups of three
End in a spoke-like line with inside-track person facing out of the
circle to their partners, and their two partners facing in towards them
B1 (Clapping pattern: clap, clap, clap, rest. First two claps with
one’s own hands, last with a partner)
All clap own hands twice, then inside-track person with
nearest partner (4)
All clap own hands twice, then inside-track person with
distant partner (4)
All clap own hands twice, then inside-track person with
nearest partner (4)
Boogie/Clog/Improvise (4)
B2 Caller says “Choose Near” or “Choose Far.” Inside-track person
swings one partner, and the other partner goes to the center. Folks in the
center are encouraged to improvise on their own and with each other
during B2.
Dance begins again with (and proceeds with)
A1 Promenade CCW with partner; folks in center join a couple as the
inside-track person.
Dance ends with
B2 Caller says “Choose Both!” Swing all three.
Notes: Some playfulness/dodging/blocking expected with the clapping in
B1. Center dancers are discouraged from rejoining their old group. In my
school setting I would use the calls in B2 to avoid awkwardness about
choosing; in other setting calls might not be needed. Again, in my school
setting, swing can be a two-hand turn, elbow turns, ballroom position
swing, etc.
--
*So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix it?*