[Callers] FW: Dances with fewer swings

Hi Lisa, "The idea that dances without swings open up 32 beats of opportunity for new choreography" is not new! As Tony says, look at the classics - try Cracking Chestnuts: https://www.cdss.org/programs/cdss-news-publications/cdss-online-library/cr… Also, in England we never adopted this artificial distinction between Country and Contra, since they are, fundamentally, the same thing. So we have always written lots of one-swing and no-swing dances. Re English Country Dances: "Set" is synonymous with "Balance" and there are 50 ways to do that - encourage different footwork - see https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=north… page 13. "Two-Hand Turn" is synonymous with "Swing" - see http://contrafusion.co.uk/SwingTwoHandTurn.html - make sure you finish on the correct side though! "Lead" and "Gallop" can be interchanged if your dancers want to use more energy. So pick some "ECD" dances with interesting choreography, re-interpret them with contra-styling, and dance them to your favourite contra tunes. Here are some of my partner-swing and no-swing dances from my dance page: http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/BalancingAct.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/CheekboneCity.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DosiAll.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/FindingYourBalance.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/FlutterRing.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GrapevineJig.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/LifeisButAMelancholyFlower.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheMadGypsy.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/Rotafl.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/SlithyDance.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TripToHazlitt.html Note: they vary significantly in complexity. Some were written for beginners, some for experienced dancers. And two that I haven't published yet: Farewell To The Taliban (by John Sweeney) Contra; Improper A1: Balance the Ring; Men Roll Ladies Balance the Ring; Ladies Roll Men A2: Ladies' Chain x2 B1: (Ladies Cross; Men Cross) x2 B2: Neighbour Dosido Balance the Ring; #2s Arch - Move forwards to next couple The Honking Swan King (by John Sweeney) Contra; Improper A1: Men Gypsy, flowing into Neighbour Gypsy 3/4 finishing in Line of Four, Facing Down the Hall – Men in the Middle A2: Down the Hall in Lines of Four, Turn Alone Up the Hall in Lines of Four – Face Neighbour B1: Swing Through; Partner Swing B2: Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross Over Long Lines Go Forward & Back Note: make the Gypsies wide as there is plenty of time. (Inspired by Giant Robot Dance's Swan Lake Theme; In the Hall of the Mountain King) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs