[Callers] 15 Dances for 3-5 couples

OK, enough people have asked me for the list that I'm including it below. I hesitated at first because I'm well aware that while many dance choreographers are fine with having their dances appear online in this way, such feeling is not universal. I wasn't sure about the appropriateness of posting a longer list like this, though I guess there is a difference between posting in a discussion group and posting on a web page. I just didn't want to get anyone upset. I will say that some of the emails I received with dance suggestions prompted me to take a trip over to CDSS (I live about 12 miles away) and go through various books beyond the ones I already had. Having found lots of good dances in various books and booklets there, I would recommend to others to consider purchasing (online or in person) some of the smaller collections of dances that they have available. In particular, Gary Roodman has a number of booklets with interesting dance collections and commentary and the Gary Armstrong "Dance Workshop" has a large number of dances (contra, square, folk and novelty) that might be appropriate for smaller groups. This is of course in addition to the "Other Formations" sections of the usual sources such as Zesty Contras and Give and Take. Will ---------------------------------------------- The following list is made up of dances which either I found on my own or were referred to me in preparation for a dance that might potentially have 6-10 dancers. The Quadruplets are particularly interesting ­ especially Gary Roodman's Square Line Special which Linda Leslie referred me to. The notation has not been checked and the notes are usually verbatim from the source - website, email, whatever - so check the calls out before you try using them! Will Loving --------------------------------------------------------------- Microchasmic by Anne Fallon Triplet A1) Lines forward and back Opposite Do si do A2) Center couple turn Contra corners B1) ALL Balance & Swing Partner end facing up toward the band] B2 Top couple leads Peel the Banana all follow the leader when top couple hits the bottom they make and arch other two couples run throught the arch. This the Progression. I sometimes use it at regular contra dances as the 5th dance as a way to teach beginners the Contra Corners figure without all the pushing and shoving to be where they need to be. Corners only have to watch one direction for their turning couple. It fun for all and I advise them to make the Sets with at least one set of newcomers in the set. - Mavis L McGaugh ------------------------------------ Here are two suggestions, both set dances: Double Dot - for 5 people, and Pride of the Pingle for 9 people. I do not have authors. I think "Pride" is traditional. (Pingle is a peninsula in Ireland.) Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH DOUBLE DOT Formation: 4 people on the ends of a plus sign with the fifth person in the middle facing up (or if it easier to picture, 4 people on the sides of a square as if each was missing a partner, plus that fifth in the middle). Left and Right are from the perspective of the middle person - who is facing up A1 Middle person, top and right hand person - Star Right Into a Star Left for middle, bottom and left hand person A2 Hey for 3 up and down the middle - for middle, top and bottom; middle and top, right shoulders to start B1,2 Middle and RIGHT hand person balance together and away and change places (i.e. allemande right 1/2 way) Repeat for NEW middle and bottom Repeat for new middle and next Repeat for new middle and current top. Do not let go of this last change and form the star to start the dance again. I like to use waltzes, Marianne used Reels PRIDE OF THE PINGLE By Ken Alexander Formation: Four couples in longways formation, proper, men on caller's right, women across from them, AND an extra person at the bottom, between and below the lines, facing up. A1 All dance down the hall single file while the Dingle dances up between the lines Turn and dance back A2 "Climb the Ladder": On the sides, all Allemande Left 1/2, then Right 1/2. Dingle joins each allemande to make a 3 person star in succession moving up with each successive star. This is repeated (for a total of twice) until the dingle is at the top. B1 Dingle joins line of their own gender (if this can be determined). Lines go forward and back, with the dingle going forward to an empty spot. All go forward and back again but adjust so that the all are opposite a new partner. This means that the dingle's line moves down one place as it moves forward and a new dingle is popped out at the bottom. B2 All swing new partners. Optionally, Dingle can join the bottom couple to form a basket of three (although I normally do this dance for beginners and they are too busy getting straight to do the basket). ------------------------------------------------------------- Corner Triplet By Linda Leslie Type: Contra Formation: Triplet Level: Easy A1 ----------- (8) All Actives down the center as a couple (W on Left) (8) Turn alone and cast off with twos A2 ----------- (16) Active couple turn contra corners B1 ----------- (16) Active couple balance and swing, end facing UP B2 ----------- (8) Actives step btw twos and separate and go down the outside to bottom (to become threes) (8) Lines of three, forward and back Other Notes: I put together a triplet that introduces folks to the movements, as well as the cast off, which is found in so many contra corner dances. I have used it a lot, and it works well. SharedWeight - 4/26/08 --------------------------------------------------------- David's Triplet #5 By David Smukler Type: Contra Formation: Triplet A1 ----------- Couple one down the outside to the bottom and step into the center Up the center and cast off with couple two A2 ----------- All do-si-do partner 1-1/4 into a wavy line-of-6 (right hands with partner) Balance, allemande right partner just halfway into a new wave B1 ----------- Balance, pull past partner's right shoulder to start a hey-for-6 (just half a hey) B2 ----------- When you meet your partner, gypsy and swing Notes: Ends of hey function just like a hey for four with out on the right and back in by the right Other Notes: Ends in 3-1-2 order. --------------------------------------------------------- But that reminds me that I wrote a triplet a few years back, which works best with experienced dancers: TRIANGLE TRIPLET Three couple longways, actives in the middle, all proper By Alan Winston, Jan/Feb 2004, subsequent tweaks Music: Any 32-bar jig or driving reel, NOT TOO FAST. I like "Moon and Seven Stars" (in Portland Collection) and also like "K and E" for the raggy, driving feel. For the Triangle Country Dancers and Sun Assembly A1: Partners take right hand in right, balance fwd and back. Actives swing, ends pull by to start a weave the ring (circular hey with just the four end people). All finish at home. A2: Partners take right hand in right, balance fwd and back. End couples swing, actives turn right halfway (or pull by) and individually orbit the couple to their right; ends finish at home, middles go through home into the set and face up. B1: TRIANGLE STARS 1-4: Middles stick out the handy hand (woman's right, man's left) and ends join in same-sex triangle stars on the sides. Turn the star until the old middles are on the bottom (about 2/3ds of the way), then let go and face into the set; that leaves you in order 3-1-2. 5-8: Partners do-si-do. B2: 1-4: Lines of three forward and back, new middle coming back further than the others; finish with all facing into your group of three. 5-8: TRIANGLE SWING: cross your hands in front of you and take hands with your neighbors; turn once around with a buzz-step turn. Open up again in the same order; you're with the same partner. NOTES: On the Triangle star: A wrist grip star gives you an equilateral triangle. The star is with the people in your own line, and starts with the actives shoulder to shoulder in the middle, facing up. You may find you prefer to drop the forward and back and make a longer triangle swing; I like the opportunity for a smooth entry into the swing, and there's a memory of the end of "Walpole Cottage" in this sequence. Or, and this is probably better for most crowds, keep the forward and back and turn the triangle swing into a basket swing. --------------------------------------------------------- Square Line Special By Gary Roodman Type: Contra Formation: Quadruplet Music: ³Swinging on a Gate² or any 32-bar contra dance tune, 4 times through. A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Go forward again and pass through and turn alone A2 ----------- (4) Take Right Hand with partner across, balance (4) (in your group of four) pull partner by the Right, neighbor by the left (8) Swing the next (partner on the ends, neighbor for the centers) (End the swing forming a square) B1 ----------- (8) Head couples Right & Left through (8) Head couples ladies Chain B2 ----------- (8) Head couples lead to the right, circle left once (8) Sides arch, heads duck under, separate, around one (form lines to start the dance again, your original partner will be across from you) --------------------------------------------------------- Al¹s Quadruplet #1 By Al Olson Type: Contra Formation: Quadruplet A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (in fours) (8) Circle Right 1X (same groups) A2 ----------- (16) Dip and dive eight, start with 2s arch and 1s dive (End when original end couples have passed in the middle a second time) B1 ----------- (16) Balance and swing the one you face (new neighbor), end facing across B2 ----------- (8) Half Promenade across the Set (8) Partner swing - end with new ends facing new middles Notes: The dancers end a change in 3-1-4-2 order. Four changes return everyone to the original formation. --------------------------------------------------------- Al¹s Quadruplet #2 By Al Olson Type: Contra Formation: Quadruplet A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (in fours) (8) Circle Right 1X (same groups) A2 ----------- (16) Right and Left eight along the set, ending in orig positions facing Neighbor (each couple passes through along to the end of the set, turns as a couple, and continues to original starting position) B1 ----------- (8) Swing neighbor, end facing across (8) Long lines (of eight), forward and back B2 ----------- (8) New ends cast to the other end passing R shoulder (while the mids do-si-do perhaps?) (8) Partner swing - end with new ends facing new middles Notes: Four changes return everyone to the original formation. --------------------------------------------------------- Rise and Run By Gary Roodman Type: Contra Formation: Becket-CW Music: ³My Wife¹s a Wanton Wee Thing² (or any 32-bar contra dance tune - 4X through) A1 ----------- (8) Star Right 1X (both sets of four) (8) Middle four Star Left 1X A2 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing B1 ----------- (8) ³1st couples² Right and left through on the Right diagonal, courtesy turn (4) ³2nd couples² Right and left through on Left diagonal, and immediately turn as a couple to the right and (4) progress cw 1 position around the set B2 ----------- (8) Women Chain (8) Women Chain (for a mixer, substitute N Swing for second chain, or R&L for first chain) Notes: How about 4X through with same partner and then make a change which will cause you to change partners for 4X more? e.g. B2 could have women chain across to swing N, or R&L and then women chain ³There is sometimes confusion about how to form the left-hand star in A1 and when to take one¹s turn. I usually begin the teaching by designating the inside four people as 1s and the outside 4 as 2s. Then I can call their turns as the time comes. Also, for help in forming the left-hand stars, I have everyone note carefully who is in front of them in the star. That will be the person to find coming out of the right-hand star.² Gary Roodman --------------------------------------------------------- O¹Donnell Anew By Tony Saletan Type: Contra Formation: Becket A1 ----------- (8) Forward four and back (8) Neighbor Do-si-do A2 ----------- (8) Left shoulder Partner Do-si-do (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1-1/2 B1 ----------- (16) Hey, men passing left shoulders B2 ----------- (16) Swing neighbor who is new partner, end facing other couple in new position (aligned across the hall) Notes: Four changes returns everyone to place. If the first change is along the hall, the second is across and so on. Other Notes: Composed for Vince O¹Donnell, former NEFFA music chairman, on his birthday. --------------------------------------------------------- K & E for Eight By Al Olson Type: Contra Formation: Quadruplet A1 ----------- (16) Dip and dive eight, start with 2s arch and 1s dive (End when original end couples have passed in the middle a second time) A2 ----------- (8) End fours, Star Right (8) Same fours, Star Left (ending with end cpls home, mid W facing each other and mid M making do) B1 ----------- (8) Mid W 1/2 chain along the set with extra 1/2 courtesy turn (8) End fours 1/2 women chain along B2 ----------- (8) Same fours circle Left 3/4(?) (8) Mid four circle Left 3/4 while end cpls swing and face mid cpls Notes: Ending order: 3-1-4-2 Other Notes: Alt A1: End cpls face mid cpls: gd R&L for eight, six changes, M going cw --------------------------------------------------------- Levi Jackson Rag By Pat Shaw contras, quadrilles, squares, folk dances, mixers, line and novelty dances. (This is probably a great resource for other small group dances) Type: Other Formation: Becket with one extra couple facing down from the top A1 ----------- (8) Two pairs of couples R&L, lone cpl goes dn the ctr 1/2 way during courtesy turn (8) Two pairs of couples R&L back, lone cpl continues dn the ctr to bot during courtesy turn A2 ----------- (8) Foursomes circle Left while lone cpl cast up outside to orig pos (8) All DSD partner and face into set B1 ----------- (8) Five woman Star 2/5 passing pt and next M to courtesy turn with next M (8) Repeat - women passing two new men to new partner, courtesy turn B2 ----------- (4) Promenade new partner one position ccw (12) Balance & swing new partner and end facing across Notes: 5 couples, four in becket, one at top of group facing down Suggestion: People always seem to run out of time for the balance and swing, so as a queue for a more pleasing (longer swing), suggest that dancers may skip the second courtesy turn off the chain in B1 and do the promenade directly for a full 16 ct balance and swing. Or, just skip the balance. --------------------------------------------------------- A favorite triplet of mine is Melanie's Triplet by Melanie Axel-Lute. It's on her website: http://www.maxellute.net/triplet.html A simple dance for three couples starting in a circle goes: A1 Circle left, circle right A2 Right hands across star, left hand across star B1 Couple with lowest hands, lady ducks under to swing partner, then middle-hands couple, then top, so all are swinging partners B2 Promenade around the ring If there are just two couples, many simple contras can be done by just treating your partner as your next neighbor (and so the axis of the dance will rotate 90 degrees each time). In addition to couple dances to break things up, some simple ceilidh or whole set dances might work; and if you have exactly nine dancers, how about the fun square Nine Pin? ---------------------------------- Here is a dance that I have called a few times, and I like it because it is a little different. It is phrased, although the timing becomes a little more critical with four couples. I hope it is something you can use. Richard Green T.A.G. by Roger Whynot Proper Lines of 3 or 4 couples A1 1's lead down center, turn alone come back Return & Cast around 2's. As they cast: A2 Gents turn LH star, Ladies turn RH Star(at same time) B1 When 1's meet, switch stars, lady passing in front. Keep star moving. Each couple switches as they meet. All switch back as they meet again When 1's meet again lead all to top, peel the banana, 1's make arch at bottom B2 Others pass under arch to top, 2's are now 1s ------------------------------------