There are a couple x2 contras, where it's basically the same dance twice through. Those tend to have two swings, so may be less pertinent, but (the similar) "Will you marry me" by Seth Tepher, or "Midwestern Folklore" by Oracle Johnson may be pertinent.

Staying in the Becket theme is one I wrote for the wedding of friends called Frog Stars; and for the couples that insist on having "contra!" at their weddings instead of just circle and longways dances, I tweaked Family Contra to Wedding Becket (proper/improper/whatever, role doesn't matter). Becket can be really friendly for beginners, and if you use circles L&R, Stars R&L, that fills up to half the dance; use a yearn progression (easy double progression, so no one is out in a short even set), and fill it out with whatever else you want them to do. For instance "Pluck It"

These don't have chase figures or basket swing, etc. Most of my "around two, fall through" dances I'd consider more complex. If you've got time to work with them it could certainly happen though. But I'll toss the scatter mixer Basket of Frogs out there. (Written in honor of Fiddling Frog dance weekend in S. California) It's got a lot of swing time; so I'll propose a becket version that keeps your partner, but I'll start a separate thread for that one because I want to get the hive-minds opinion on timing.

~~~~~~Beginner Beckets~~~~~~

Will You Marry Me

by Seth Tepfer

Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner

A1 -----------

(8) Circle Left 3/4

ooze into a short wavy line with Women in the middle with L

(4) Balance the short Wavy line

(4) Ladies allemande Left 1

A2 -----------

(16) Neighbor balance and swing

B1 -----------

(8) Circle Left 3/4

ooze into a short wavy line with Women in the middle with L

(4) Balance the short Wavy line

(4) Ladies allemande Left 1

B2 -----------

(16) Partner balance and swing

slide left

Midwestern Folklore

by Oracle Johnson

Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner

A1 -----------

(8) Circle Left 3/4

(8) Neighbor Do-si-do

A2 -----------

(16) Neighbor balance and swing

B1 -----------

(8) Circle Left 3/4

(8) Partner Do-si-do

B2 -----------

(16) Partner balance and swing

slide left to next

Frog Stars

by Luke Donforth

Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner-Easy

A1 -----------

(8) Left hand Star

(8) Right hand Star

A2 -----------

(8) Partner Do-si-do

(8) Partner swing

B1 -----------

(8) Circle Left 3/4

(8) Neighbor swing

B2 -----------

(8) Ladies Chain across

(8) Long lines, yearn to the left

Wedding Becket

by Luke Donforth

Contra/Becket-CW/Dbl-Prog/Beginner

A1 -----------

(4) Balance Ring

(8) Circle Left 1X

A2 -----------

(4) Balance Ring

(8) Circle Right 1X

B1 -----------

(8) Neighbor Do-si-do, straight across

(8) Partner Do-si-do

B2 -----------

(8) Two hand turn with partner

(8) Long lines, back and forward, shift left, looking at new new couple

Pluck It

by Luke Donforth

Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner

A1 -----------

(8) Circle Left

(8) Circle Right

A2 -----------

(8) Right hand Star

(8) Left hand Star

B1 -----------

(8) Partner Do-si-do

(8) Partner swing

B2 -----------

(8) Neighbor Do-si-do

(8) Long lines, yearn left

~~~Basket Dances~~~

Basket of Frogs

by Luke Donforth

Scatter Mixer/Improper

A1 -----------

(16) Promenade around the room, find another couple

A2 -----------

(8) Gents Do-si-do 1x

(8) Ladies two-hand turn 1.5x, keep holding hands

B1 -----------

(2) Gents take two hands over women’s, lift over heads and behind back of women

(2) Ladies lift hands over and behind backs of men

(12) Basket Swing

B2 -----------

(16) Neighbor swing

New partner

On Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM Rick Mohr via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in many ways.

My easiest “regular evening” contras are a good challenge for the group, so I’m looking for some varied easy contras to lead up to those. (Also interesting barn dances -- asking about those in a separate thread.)

The teens are fine with swings but aren’t hooked on them like most contra dancers. So contras with no partner swing, no neighbor swing, or no swings at all are just fine, and good for variety. And our lines are fairly short, so unequal dances are OK.

Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add? The group is all about having fun, so it’s fine to have chases, basket swings, sashaying, and other goofiness.

Family Contra (Sherry Nevins)
A1: Bal ring x2, circle R
A2: Bal ring x2, circle L
B1: Dosido P, dosido N
B2: Dosido as couples 1.5

Andy White's (Amy Cann)
A1: Circle L, dosido P
A2: As couples dosido Ns, 2 hand turn N
B1: Clap both/R/both/L with P, same with N; repeat all
B2: 2s arch, 1s duck; 1s arch, 2s duck BACK; 2s arch, 1s duck

Jefferson & Liberty
A1: Circle L/R
A2: Star R/L
B1: 1s balance & swing
B2: Down center, 1's arch, 2's duck; return (1s backing up)

Monterey Detour (Bob Dalsemer)
A1: Down center (turn alone) & back
A2: Circle R/L
B1: Dosido N, sw N
B2: F&b, 1s sw

Thanks!

Rick

_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/