[Callers] Re: next steps between barn dance & contra, focus on fun figures

Hopefully a fun question. At the same time as the pandemic, I moved to my rural hometown, and (after some years of hunkering) have gone from 'sometimes' to 'occasionally' to now monthly hosting a barn dance with a great band on a wonderful dance floor here. I have promised the dancers "as we get practice, and as we build up skills in the community, gradually we can start doing dances with more moves," and some of the regulars asked for a 'practice dance' with a few of these fun ones, so I now get to plan one. But I suddenly realized, I haven't myself danced contra in such a long time that most of the names of the 'old favorites" have abdicated the brainspace they used to hold. So, *what I'm asking for: * *Remind me the names of simple, fun dances that include some of my favorite figures (roll-away with half sashay, Rory O'Moore, maybe box circulate or butterfly whirl?) *I want to give them a taste for "why it's worth it to get more complex" without actually getting TOO complex yet (probably going to avoid becket formation, and I don't think I want to teach heys yet. I haven't taught courtesy turns (chain, R&L through, et al) yet, but I could probably do so either at this practice or a future one. Most of our progression thus far have been "pass through", but if there's a good candidate dance with a non 'pass through' progression, I can modify it a skosh to keep things consistent. I am attaching the program from our last dance to give you a sense of where we are ( https://contradb.com/programs/278 ). This practice dance is going to have 12 dancers, who have understood progression as we've done it in Do Si Three and in Jefferson's Remorse, and on the dance floor they've been some of the ones helping newcomers understand. Thanks in advance for your recommendations! Allison -- Allison Jonjak allisonjonjak(a)gmail.com allisonjonjak.com <http://allisonjonjak.com> _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list --contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email tocontracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net