Hi Maia,

Here are a few for your consideration:

13ème avenue*, improper, Aug 2016

Start: 2s step up between 1s, then all turn to face down in line-of-4

A1           1-4          Down the hall, California Twirl

               5-8          Up the hall, Butterfly whirl (3/4 or 1-1/4) to end facing across

A2           1-4          W gypsy R-sh 1-1/2 to Partner

                5-8          Partner swing

B1           1-4          Long line forward; turn single back R-sh and extend R arm into…

                5-8          Star R 1x

B2           1-4          With partner, slide L along line (2), circle L 3/4 with new neighbors (6)

                5-8          (new) neighbor swing (end facing down)

(Note: in B2 it helps if partners face across set, take inside hands for slide)

(* - this is French for 13^th avenue, where I lived in Montreal – to hear it, go to https://translate.google.com/#auto/fr/13th%20avenue)

Allemandery my Dear Watson, improper, Jun 2015

A1           1-4         (new) Neighbors allemande R 1-1/2

               5-8"        Gents allemande L 1-1/2 (end facing partner in line of 4)

A2           1-4         1/2 hey, partners start R-sh (PR, WL, NR, ML, into...)

                5-8          Partner swing

B1           1-4          Women allemande R 1-1/2

                5-8          Neighbor swing

B2           1-4          Long lines fwd + back ("half-roll"* the women into...)

                5-8          Neighbors allemande L 1-1/2 (onto to new neighbors)

* Half-roll - gents roll the ladies to the L with the women ending facing out, while the men transfer the ladies’ L hand from the gent's R to his L to lead into the allemande)

Barbara's Cascade, improper, advanced*

A1           1-2          Gents allemande L 3/4 to neighbor (4)

                3-4          On the diagonal⁺, allemande neighbor R 1x (4)

                5              Gents pull-by L to partner (2)

                6-7          On the diagonal⁺, allemande partner R 1x (4)

                8              Gents pull-by L to neighbor (2)

A2           1-4          Gents scoop up neighbor and butterfly twirl 2x (if they can) ending on gent's original side facing across

                5-8          Women gypsy R-sh 1-1/2 to partner

B1           1-8          Partners balance and swing

B2           1-4          Pass thru across set, California twirl

                5-8          Circle L  1/4 (only) and zig-zag L + R to new cpl (so gents can flow into A1)

* A1 has a high piece count and very little recovery time.  B2 timing is a bit fuzzy with extra time allowing for those who start B2 5-8 a little slow.

⁺  The original concept for A1 was to have the gents to a diagonal contra corners with the women as the “corners”.   I found mentioning this up front only confused people, and the dancers tend to “flatten” the diagonals anyway.  Since the dancers are always right, that’s what the dance became.  😊

Pinehurst Road, improper, intermediate

A1           1-4          Gents allemande L 3/4; balance neighbor

               5-8          Neighbor swing

A2           1-4         Circle L 3/4

                5-8          Partner swing

B1           1-4         Long lines fwd + back

                5-8          Star R 3/4

B2           1-2          Partners allemande R 3/4 into wavy line up/down the set (women in ctr by L)

                3-6          Women allemande L 1-1/2 while gents orbit CW 1/2

               7-8          Partners allemande R 3/4 (so that gents face new neighbors)

The B2 borrowed a figure from English Country dance Fentalarick.  Once they figure out the timing, dancers seem to really enjoy it.

Thanx, Ric Goldman

letsdance@rgoldman.org

From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Maia McCormick via Callers

Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2017 6:27 PM

To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net

Subject: [Callers] In search of un-premiered contras!

Hi choreographer folks,

I'm leading a session at NEFFA called "Cutting-Edge Contras", consisting of un-premiered (or very sparsely called) contras. If anyone has any dances they'd like to throw my way for consideration, please do so!

Cheers,

Maia