Hello All;

Just wondering if anyone out there had ever seen, danced and/or called the following variation. Even if you haven't, I'd appreciate your comments;

Chorus Jig           Proper                Traditional (well, sort of)

1A1. 1's down outside, return

1A2. 1's down center, return and cast w/same-sex neighbor

1B1. 1's turn contra corners

1B2. 1's balance, swing

2A1. 2's up outside, return

2A2. 2's up center, return and cast w/same-sex neighbor

2B1. 2's turn contra corners

2B2. 2's balance, swing

Clearly by alternating the actives the dance is somewhat harder to teach, and dancers don't get that aerobic high from being active all the way down (or the boredom from being inactive all the way up). So this variation is justified only if there are good reasons for it, and there are;

1. Obviously, one reason is to make this dance accessible to large audiences when it is impractical for everyone to be active all the way down. So instead of moving people around to get short enough sets, change the dance to fit the length of the sets.

2. Both times I've called this experienced male dancers have come forward and complained that when they were 2's it was awkward to go from the cast into contra corners.  Of course, they were just discovering what the ladies have been putting up with forever.  Alternation evens this out so that the #1 lady and #2 gent will be equally inconvenienced.

3. Here's what I (and the dancers) really like; as you all know, when inactive modern dancers will commonly "cheat" - swing their partner in the center when the actives go up/down the outside.  I believe it is this feature that has helped Chorus Jig to remain popular while other chestnuts have not.  Now in the alternating version, when a couple is finished being active, they can begin cheating by simply keep on swinging.

Bob