Be wary of any motion that requires all dancers to be in the center at the same time.
Consider dances where first two persons swing in the center, and then the other two swing in the center
A few of my dances that would work
E.J.M.J.F. in Cincinnati Improper
A1 Balance and swing neighbor.
A2 Men allemande left 1 1/2 and swing partner.
B1 Long lines forward and back. Women chain to neighbor.
B2 Women allemande right (4).
1/2 hey, neighbors start passing left shoulder, until
neighbors on the side they started the dance (8).
Neighbors pass left shoulders and go along set to meet new
neighbors (4).
Spin to Your Neighbor Improper or Becket
Improper version (for Becket version, start at B1 and read notes below)
A1 Neighbors balance and swing
A2 Men allemande left 1 1/2, partners swing
B1 Women do-si-do 1 1/2 to exchange places.
On the side of the set, neighbors allemande right 1 1/2
B2 Half hey, women start left, end in long wavy lines with
the men facing out, women facing in, neighbors'
right hands joined
Balance towards your neighbor (right),
then away (left), then slide past your neighbor to face a
a new neighbor. (Actually spinning past your neighbor is
much more fun, and was the motivation for the dance.)
Say Go to the Do-si-do Becket Clockwise
A1 Circle Left 3/4
Neighbors do-si-do 1 1/2, ending with men facing in, women out
A2 1/2 hey men start left shoulder, finish in long waves on opposite side,
men facing in, neighbor's right hands joined.
Balance to and way current neighbor, spin (or slide) past this neighbor
to face new neighbor
B1 New neighbors balance and swing
B2 Star left 3/4, partners swing
Note: At ends, dancers must face in the wrong way, i.e. man on right,
woman on left !!
Star Birth Duple Improper
A1 Man 1 and woman 1 turn in different right hands across
stars: man 1 with the couple and next active woman
above, woman 1 with the couple and next active man
below
As Man 1 and woman 1 approach each other in center of set,
they do-si-do once and almost a 1/2 more along (not across)
the set, finishing back to back, with man 1 facing down,
woman 1 facing up.
A2 Star left (hands across), man 1 with couple and next active
woman below, woman 1 with the couple and next active
man above.
1's meet in middle, swing, end facing down.
B1 Down the set 4 in line, 1's turn as couple, return and hand
cast off. (For less experienced dancers, just bend the
line.)
B2 Circle left. 1's 1/2 figure 8 above. (Experienced inactive
couples can do-si-do or gypsy immediately after the 1's
have crossed between them during the 1/2 figure 8,
finishing just in time to grasp partner's hand for the
star right.)
Dave Found the Missing Coffee Cup Becket Clockwise
A1 Slide left to new neighbors, circle left 3/4. Swing neighbor.
A2 Circle left 3/4 and pass partner by right shoulder up and
down set, to face a shadow (same person throughout
dance).
Allemande left shadow (4). Allemande right partner 1/2, so
women face into center.
B1 Hey, women start passing left shoulder, continue until
partners meet on the side of set they started the
dance.
B2 Balance and swing partner.
Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217 239 5844