Thanks for all the replies--I did get a couple direct-responses but the full court response is helpful :)

Joseph, I don't know if this will help or hinder, but here's my group dancing Coconut Cream Pie one iteration through. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zLeatvIlt5tYpWIWgm2xk1MyfgG2Oy01/view?usp=sharing (Calling while video-ing seems to result in poorer calling and poor video-ing, lesson learned...)

Appreciate all these suggestions--my dancers are probably more at the Apple Pie Quadrille level this year, but some day I'll figure out how to introduce rory o'more! The Devil's Backbone also looks really neat--I'll have to hold it in reserve for a day when my regulars:newbies ratio is high, but if I do that I bet we can be successful with it.

On Wed, Mar 6, 2024 at 9:00 AM Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

On Wed, Mar 6, 2024 at 2:49 AM Colin Hume via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
On Sun, 3 Mar 2024 17:30:25 -0600, Allison Jonjak via Contra Callers wrote:
> Any simple favorites? Bonus points if they are a california twirl progression to feel "familiar".

I'm really surprised that in three or four days no-one has responded to the request.
Maybe the people on this list just don't like 4-face-4 dances.

Er, for me it’s not “I don’t like them”, but rather “I have not yet called one, nor has my local community ever danced one to the best of my knowledge, so I am eagerly awaiting other suggestions that I can wrap my own head around well enough to call on my first outing.”

So I decided to write one It has the obligatory two swings! And the bonus points!

Allison's Favorite (or if you don't like the title, Allison, I'm happy to change it).

I suggest 32-bar jigs because of all that balancing.

A1: Lines of four forward and back.
Left-hand people (of each couple) make a left-hand star: balance in and out; star half-way.

A2: Meet the one diagonally across from you, balance and swing -
finish on the usual side, facing into the set.

B1: Right-hand people make a right-hand star: balance in and out; star half-way.
Swing partner and face into the set.

B2: Join hands in a ring of 8: go in to the middle and back (with suitable noises).
Balance the ring; California twirl partner to face a new line.

As usually happens in a double contra, you stay with the other couple in your own line
but alternate ends.

For the partner swing, the left-hand people need to move forward and to the left
as your partner approaches.

When you're out at the ends you can do the figure as a two-couple set.
Just make sure that the final California twirl leaves you facing the approaching line of four.

Colin Hume

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