Regarding squares:

 

Every caller who uses squares should have Cumberland Square Eight in their repertoire. It’s easy both to dance and to call.

 

CUMBERLAND SQUARE EIGHT (trad. English)

Music: My Love Is But a Lassie Yet (2/4) or Athol Highlanders (6/8) or some of each

A.1  Heads slide across in ballroom hold or “kayak” position (join two hands, spread arms to side); gents pass back to back

Return, ladies passing back to back

A.2  Sides the same

B.1  Heads right hands across (English star), left hands back

B.2  Sides the same

C.1  Heads basket

C.2  Sides the same

D.1  All circle left once around

D.2  All promenade once around

 

A polka or rant step is traditional for D.1 and D.2, but a dance-walk can be used.

With groups that don’t know the buzz step (i.e. at most one-nighters), I replace the basket with a slipping circle of four (to the left only, about twice around).

It seems to be traditional to do the whole dance twice through – or is that just because it neatly filled up half a record side in the days of 78s?

 

Just about my favorite easy square is Kitchen Lancers. It does take a bit more calling skill than Cumberland.

 

KITCHEN LANCERS (one of several simplified versions of the 5th figure of the Lancers Quadrille from 1817, collected at country dances in New England and Quebec)

Music: Quebecois reels (note that it’s a 48-measure figure, but you can use 32-measure tunes and start the 2nd and 4th couples halfway through the tune)

A.1  Couple 1 promenade the inside, ending at home facing out; sides jump in behind #1 to form a column all facing the music

A.2  All forward and back; all slide to right and return to left

B.1  Ladies/ravens parade in single file around partner’s line (four around four, not each one around one)

B.2  Gents/larks the same

C.1  All face partner, back up three steps, forward three steps; swing partner to original place in the square

C.2  All join hands, forward and back twice

Sequence: Once for each couple (when a side couple is active, the heads will jump in at A.1)

 

After the walkthrough, I mention that the whole contraption will face a different wall for each active couple. Sometimes I walk A.1 and C.1 for Couple 2 to illustrate this.

 

Tony Parkes

Billerica, MA, USA

 

From: Emily Addison via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2019 2:19 PM
To: Caller's discussion list <callers@sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Really fun 3X3 dances? And easy squares?

 

Hi fellow callers!

 

I remember seeing a video a few months back from the Portland Intown contra.  The dancers seemed to be having an absolute blast with a 3X3 contra-like dance.

 

Does anyone have any really fun 3X3 dances?

I'm looking to add variety into the formations I'm calling at an upcoming contra/square/barn dance.

 

Also --> Any suggestions for super fun but easy to learn square figures?

 

Thanks!

Emily in Ottawa