27 Sep
2023
27 Sep
'23
9:33 a.m.
lol "full washing machine" - I hadn't heard that before!
I agree on avoiding the full one as much as possible - but I quite like just a
circle-left-circle-right - brings the group together for some smiles and allows for fancy
footwork for those who want to throw in a little something extra.
But it may be interesting to ask the group to compile a list of beginner-friendly figures,
beyond the very basic ones like allemandes and do si dos, that could be used to put
together some dances of the type that you (and I, always!!) are seeking?
My criteria would be:
- does not take anyone out of home place
(or takes them out temporarily but puts them back again, such as pulling by your partner
across the set, but then pulling by again within the next 1 or 2 moves).
- doesn't involve anything that is known to cause confusion for total beginners, such
as courtesy turns or heys.
_Here are some that I like:_
- do si do as couples
- LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again
- take 4 steps left then 4 steps right, around the oval
- turn and walk individually around the oval for 8, then back for 8
- balance and spin the star (as per Louise S)
- balance the ring, then 2 hand balance your partner
- holding hands, veer right then left with your partner to progress
- what else?? :)
Sep 27, 2023 12:44:51 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>om>:
Thanks for this thread! My group is tired of me
bailing out to a small collection of trivial contras (Airpants, Midwest Folklore...).
How about the easiest dance *that experienced dancers don't mind dancing*? I have
always disliked the "full washing machine" of circle left, circle right, star
right, star left. Even a half-wash makes my shoulders sag, inwardly. Of course, I will
try to do them with a smile and encourage both the new dancers and the caller. But,
surely we can make it a little more interesting without losing the newbies. Airpants and
Midwest Folklore do, though they involve swings. Elbow or crossed-hand swings are fine for
this and don't need to be taught outside of a walkthrough. If I'm using these
dances in a workshop, I do tell the experienced dancers not to teach the ballroom swing,
we'll get to that in a minute. Otherwise, they all try.
--jh--
On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 7:27 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Here are a couple more that I wrote, that I called the other night and went very
well.
> (again, I haven't searched to see if they exist already)
>
> these all build on the skills we did in my "very simple contra" in the
sicilian formation, that I outlined in a previous message.
>
> 1. "Off they go"
>
> - Circle left
> - Circle right
> - LLFB
> - (still holding hands) - walk 4 steps left then 4 steps right (or call it a giant
oval left then right if you prefer)
>
> - partner do si do
> - neighbour left hand turn (allemande)
> - partner 2 hand balance twice (I suggest the convention of veering slightly to the
left the first balance, and slightly to the right on the second, for interest)
> - holding inside hands with your partner facing the other couple, veer on a forward
right diagonal to pass the other couple, then on a forward left diagonal to meet the next
couple
>
>
> 2. "first out of place dance" (at a brisk pace)
> people found this very fun!!
>
> - circle left
> - circle right
> - partner do si do
> - neighbour 2 hand balance once, and baby turn (ie switch places, by circling while
holding 2 hands in the same direction you would in a 2 hand turn or swing - can also say -
switch places with your neighbour, with the ravens going on the inside)
>
> - LLFB
> - LLF, balance partner by the right one time and pull by (to switch places w
partner)
> - LLFB
> - LLF, just pull by the right (no balance) - give a little nod and stomp to your old
group, turn to face the new
>
> 3. " first down the hall dance"
>
> -1's split the 2's and all walk down the hall in line of 4, turn alone
> - come on back, bend line
> - circle left
> - circle right
>
> - partner left shoulder round
> - neighbour right hand turn (allemande)
> - all circle left again
> - left hand star to new group
>
>
> 4. "first swing (or 2 hand turn) dance"
>
> - N bal and 2 hand turn (or swing, depending on level of dancers), for 16
> - LLFB
> - Partner left shoulder round
>
> - Neighbour right shoulder round
> - circle left
> - circle right
> - balance the circle one time, 2 hand balance your partner one time, turn to face new
group
>
> There were 2 more dances in my sequence after this, but they wouldn't qualify as
super easy. (though probably still easier than most of you call!! :) )
>
> - Kat k
> in Hfx, NS, CA
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