There are a number of dances in English Country Dance where 2 lines function as 1 set (eg Pat Shaw's K&E). There is also at least one dance in the contra repertoire which does this - Major Hey. Although Major Hey is described as a 4-facing-4 it is really 2 becket sets side by side with dancers involved from both sets together. As you are working in groups of 8 dancers, it is not difficult to envision moving backwards and forwards between contras and squares with this formation. The tricky bit would be lining everyone up correctly, as it would need an even number of lines and each pair of lines would require an equal number of couples.

Over to you, Bob Isaacs!

Michael Barraclough

On 25/04/2023 13:12, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers wrote:

"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"

The contra dance medley at NEFFA is normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted to include a square...

The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at the bottom to square up?

(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides, etc)

Would this work?

Jeff
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