[Callers] K&E explanation

I LOVE this dance! I've danced it several times and remember it well, though I have not personally called it. It's a favorite of the Ann Arbor (MI) English Country dance community. K&E by Pat Shaw- formation Double Becket 1's are in the middle and progress down, 2's are on the ends and progress up A1: 1's split the 2's, cast back to place, end facing the other 1's(8) 1's only- Right hand star, back to your 2's (8) A2: 2's split the ones and cast back to place (8) Same four (1's w/ 2's): Left hand star (8) B1: 1's only- Ladies chain with power turn - face out (8) Ones with the twos: Ladies chain (8) B2: Same four: Circle left ? (8) 1's Circle left ? and move down a little while 2's Swing and move up (8) I believe the formation is more often known as "Vermont Tempest" formation. You can also think of it (if you're a good New Englander ;-) as "Cribbage board" progression--"Up the outside, down the inside." "Double Becket" may be misleading, because the "half" of the set on the caller's right is progressing clockwise while the "half" of the set on the caller's left is progressing counter-clockwise. Okay, that's gotta have been even more confusing than you're used to. Try the "diagram" version of the Progression (Please look at this in Courier or another fixed-width font): Dance Turn 1: BAND 2M 1L 3M 4L 2L 1M 3L 4M 6M 5L 7M 8L 6L 5M 7L 8M Dance Turn 2: BAND 2L 2M 4L 4M (Out) 6M 1L 3M 8L 6L 1M 3L 8M 5M 5L 7M 7L (Out) Dance Turn 3: BAND 6M 2L 4M 8L 6L 2M 4L 8M 5M 1L 3M 7L 5L 1M 3L 7M ... Got it? Good. (Cue Danny Kaye ...) Next question: splitting & casting off. The dance starts with "insides" (your description's 1s) facing (as couples) their respective "outsides" (your description's 2s). You could say the "insides" are dancing the path of a mirror do-si-do--but the "outsides" just get out of the way instead of fully participating, and the "insides" are always moving forward. In other words, the "insides" dance forward shoulder-to-shoulder, the "ousides" move apart from each other, then (*behind* or outside the "outsides") the "insides" turn away from each other, around their respective "outsides" (gent 'round lady, lady 'round gent) and dance back into the middle to face the other "inside" couple. The A2 Left-hand Star is VERY IMPORTANT. The "inside" ladies must keep in mind that they are looking in the B1 to chain across with the other "inside" lady--this means they actually want to start chaining when they have only starred about 3/4. Power turn: another great invention. It's simply a courtesy turn+180degrees. Inside Gent takes the "inside neighbor" lady in courtesy turn position and they guide each other around as per usual to face the opposite couple--and PAST that position they keep turning until their backs are to the opposite couple (their partners), and, in this case, facing the "outsides". Note that the "inside" ladies are now with their "inside neighbor" gents and about to chain AWAY from them to an "outside neighbor" gent. Don't worry, the circles will get you back with your partner. The Circle Ls are both 3/4--i.e. until the "insides" are back on the inside of the set and can whirl around to take Circle L hands-4 with their partners. I'm happy to mail you (USPS) a full diagram of the dance if this isn't enough. Or if there's a place on the list where I could upload a scan, that's okay, too. It's an awesome dance! Have fun! Lark Speyer -- "In this case, we may waive formalities. We really haven't time. This is to-day, but it will soon be to-morrow, and then we may be very different people, and in some other country." -- Willa Cather, _The Song of the Lark_