When I was a newish caller I wrote a dance called "CC & 7 With a Twist" that had a contra corners move where every allemande on the side was 1 1/2 turns, sending different people into the center. It caused the actives to progress four places away from each other and then brought them back together with a yearn and had crazy end effects. I only called it once in a "challenging contras" session at a DIY camp. It took about 10 minutes just to teach, but worked once everyone knew it. It was less of a dance and more of an exercise in Newtonian physics. Hey, it occurs to me that "Newtonian Physics" and "Three Body Problem" would both be excellent names for dances. (Oh, Seth Tepfer
beat me to it on the second name.)
To give a more realistic answer to the question, there was a tradition (started by Kathy Anderson, IIRC) at the same camp to hold a "Dutch Crossing" session. That also took a long time to teach, but isn't an inherently difficult dance. Just a lot to remember all the parts, and very satisfying to do correctly.
Fun topic.
Cheers!
Adam
"Irish Stars" first appeared in the book Midwest Folklore, published in1995 by the Urbana (IL) Country Dancers, in honor of Orace Johnson, one of our group's leaders who died of a heart attack at one of our community dances. I edited the dances in the book, had not looked at the dance in almost 30 years, but had danced it 2 or 3 times. Orace and Al Olson used to talk often and long by phone (pre-internet days) about dance compositions. Seeing it in your post I looked at it for the first time in close to 30 years. The dance is challenging since A2 and B2 parts each a bit over 16 beats. So the music must be slowed and/or the dancers must adjust. I think dancers today would have an easier time with it. And, as you know, it has no swings.
I must be wide awake before reflecting on "Reflections"
Two dances, very different from each other (not afraid to call, just very reluctant):
"Irish Stars" by Orace Johnson
"Reflections" by Carey Ravitz
Woody
--
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
On 9/25/2023 3:38 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
What are the most difficult contras (improper, proper, indecent or becket) that you have danced, have called, and remain afraid to call?
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