_______________________________________________Luke,
I called this one and my group of relatively new dancers had some struggles.
We liked the Star to Star progression!
But getting from the first Star to the Whole Set Oval was more than they could handle.
And even the line that managed to get into the Oval right and left struggled to circle Left with the correct neighbors.
The Partner do-si-do and swing on the side was the “fix it” point, thank you for including this.
Maybe this wasn’t intended for beginners … but figured this feedback would be interesting to you.
Thank you,
LisaLisa Sieverts
Nelson, NHOn 9 Sep 2024, at 20:08, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
Thanks all.I continue to turn this one over in my head, and I think I've got a new one (borrowing heavily from Bob Isaac's To Turn a Phrase and the star-to-star transition of Mick Richardson's Star Trek)Star Trek Phraser
by Luke Donforth
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1 -----------
(8) Left hand Star
(8) Whole set oval right
A2 -----------
(8) whole set oval Left
(8) Groups of 4 Circle Left 1X
B1 -----------
(8) Partner Do-si-do
(8) Partner swing
B2 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Left hand Star 1x, walk on to next star
On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 7:55 PM <sjapartments@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:_______________________________________________Hello all,Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways set dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an evening. But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking to grow their familiarity with the dance form.I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option:Pluck It
Contra/Becket-CW
A1 -----------
(8) Circle Left
(8) Circle Right
A2 -----------
(8) Left hand Star
(8) Right hand Star
B1 -----------
(8) Partner Do-si-do
(8) Partner swing
B2 -----------
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set
(8) Long lines, yearn leftThis is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter Shot but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, which in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I wouldn't use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think it's accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and if folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over improper for this type of dance; different position on the side is less disorienting than different side of the set).What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No larks allemande or robins chain, etc.On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one (which may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community dance I was at:A Pillar of Weathersfield
Contra/Becket-CW
A1 -----------
(8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
(8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
A2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall
B1 -----------
(8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples)
(8) Return and face across
B2 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress
(Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and the new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple)I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level contras when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper dances with neighbor swings.Thanks!Luke DonforthBurlington, VT
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