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.
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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
>