12 Dec
2008
12 Dec
'08
2:15 p.m.
I'm wondering if anyone has any squares that work well for house
parties?
Background: I've called contras a good bit, primarily at swarthmore
college, and sometimes find myself in a situation where there are
people who want to dance, good music, and space for a square but not a
contra. Generally the dancers are more familiar with contra dance
than square dance, perhaps even people who sit out squares when
they're called at the weekly dances.
When this has happened to me, I've ended up just trying to call
something, making it up as I go, which has worked ok, but not really
very well. I can generally keep them dancing and keep calling at the
right times, but the resulting dance isn't usually very interesting.
So I was thinking that the best solution would be to memorize a few
suitable square dances.
Thinking about what suitable means. Any standard contra figure is ok.
Nothing that I would have to walk through (simple is better than
boring). Nothing that is too picky about the music (singing squares).
Does anyone have suggestions?
Jeff
12 Dec
12 Dec
3:39 p.m.
Jeff,
If you have room for a square, you probably have room for a quadruplet or
triplet. Some four-on-four contras can be modified into a quadruplet, but
there are a number of good quads out there.
A fun triplet for experienced dancers is David Smukler's "David's Triplet
#5" which features a hey for six.
http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/DSS.html#trip5
For Quads I would suggest the dances below by Gary Roodman as well as those
in the back section of Larry Jenning's "Give and Take". Also see my list
posted here back in October of 20 dances for 5-10 dancers.
Will Loving
-----------------------------------------------------
Square Line Special
By Gary Roodman (From his book "Calculated Figures")
Type: Contra
Formation: Quadruplet
Music: ³Swinging on a Gate² or any 32-bar contra dance tune, 4 times
through.
A1 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Go forward again and pass through and turn alone
A2 -----------
(4) Take Right Hand with partner across, balance
(4) (in your group of four) pull partner by the Right, neighbor by the left
(8) Swing the next (partner on the ends, neighbor for the centers)
(End the swing forming a square)
B1 -----------
(8) Head couples Right & Left through
(8) Head couples ladies Chain
B2 -----------
(8) Head couples lead to the right, circle left once
(8) Sides arch, heads duck under, separate, around one
(form lines to start the dance again, your original partner will be across
from you)
-----------------------------------------------------
Rise and Run
By Gary Roodman
Type: Contra
Formation: Quadruplet Becket
Music: ³My Wife¹s a Wanton Wee Thing² (or any 32-bar contra dance tune - 4X
through)
A1 -----------
(8) Star Right 1X (both sets of four)
(8) Middle four Star Left 1X
A2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing
B1 -----------
(8) ³1st couples² Right and left through on the Right diagonal, courtesy
turn
(4) ³2nd couples² Right and left through on Left diagonal, and immediately
turn as a couple to the right and (4) progress cw 1 position around the set
B2 -----------
(8) Women Chain
(8) Women Chain
(for a mixer, substitute N Swing for second chain, or R&L for first chain)
Notes: How about 4X through with same partner and then make a change which
will cause you to change partners for 4X more? e.g. B2 could have women
chain across to swing N, or R&L and then women chain
on 12/12/08 9:15 AM, Jeff Kaufman at cbr(a)sccs.swarthmore.edu wrote:
I'm wondering if anyone has any squares that work
well for house
parties?
Background: I've called contras a good bit, primarily at swarthmore
college, and sometimes find myself in a situation where there are
people who want to dance, good music, and space for a square but not a
contra. Generally the dancers are more familiar with contra dance
than square dance, perhaps even people who sit out squares when
they're called at the weekly dances.
When this has happened to me, I've ended up just trying to call
something, making it up as I go, which has worked ok, but not really
very well. I can generally keep them dancing and keep calling at the
right times, but the resulting dance isn't usually very interesting.
So I was thinking that the best solution would be to memorize a few
suitable square dances.
Thinking about what suitable means. Any standard contra figure is ok.
Nothing that I would have to walk through (simple is better than
boring). Nothing that is too picky about the music (singing squares).
Does anyone have suggestions?
Jeff
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