I love La Bastrigne - because the band can play any 32 bar tune.    the dance is easy to teach and folks quickly get the pattern down ---   couples in a big circle facing in  - Mixer  A1)   forward & back         forward & back A2)   circle left  and  back to the right B1)  ALL turn to corner and  SWING   B2   w corner (new partner)  Promenade      FAMILY Contra  by Sherry Nevins  ---  Sicilian Circle         No swings   ---  and fun  and folks get into the pattern quickly A1)  Balance Ring 2x          circle  Left A2)  Balance Ring 2x          Circle Right B1)  Neighbor d-s-d          Partner  d-s-d B2  as couples         D-s-d  1 1/2  any version of a virginia reel dance -  is always popular  -  especially if the top couple  get to do the   Reel the Set figure [also known as Strip the willow]  Le Brandy      proper longways      10-12 couples A1)    lines forward & back             w/ Partner seesaw A2)   lines forward & back               w/ Partner d-s-d  1 and 1/2 to end back to back  B1)    ALL count in french  - [1,2,3]      then once dance is going I will yell in  German or Japanese or Spanish  or  Russian  -  and see how many are able to count       and then shout Poussez  -  PUSH ---   they bump 'behinds' with each other turn around and SWING  B2)  ONLY  Top couple sashays down to the bottom   while everyone else claps   and all then move 2 steps  up the hall     --  Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) ________________________________ From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:50 AM Subject: [Callers] Family dances I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate with the band on music for specific dances. What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. Thanks! Chris _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Chris - do you have any idea how old the kids in the family are?  I have some other things I do at ONS that may be appropriate.  If you need to know details of the dances I gave before send a PM.  I'll be around for the next 2 hours.   Laurie

if you have a number of kids  under the age of ten (especially boys)  --   I use this one anytime I have youngsters    Can't Jump  Josie -    it is a big circle dance No Partners   --    I never have the band play anything  --   I tell the dancers  -  you better learn this song  quickly - or you will have to listen to me sing!   they always pick it up quickly  ---        you identify   1 young person to stand in the  center of the circle  --  everyone else  walks **single file  CW   singing  (or  they join hands and circle left )   We're floating down the river  We're floating down below  We're floating down the river Down the old Saint Jo      ( have also heard it done saying   O H I O)    then all in outer circle  face in  - and point to the person in the middle  [who NOW begins jumping up and down ] and they sing    :1 in the middle and he can't jump Josie 1 in the middle and he can't jump Josie 1 in the middle and he can''t jump Josie     Oh Susie Brown  :   Repeat   while all are singing OH SUZIE BROWN   the 2nd time  - the person  in middle  grabs someone from the outer circle and now there are two in the middle   those in outer circle face CW walking &  singing   or Circle Left     We're floating down the river We're floating down below We're floating down the river Down the  old Saint Joe    ALL face to center and point at the 2 in the middle  who commence jumping  while others point and sing   :  2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie   2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie   2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie    OH SUZIE BROWN :  Repeat     last time  I just say  ALL in the middle ......      ** I usually tell the folks in the outer circle  -  they need to face left and step  onto  their raft - so they can float down the river  - so we have our arms outstretched  and we kind of rock from side to side as we move over the water     the dance and tune are in the    PEEL the BANANA  dance book  also in the book  DOWN IN THE VALLEY  also in the book  STEP LIVELY   (Red Cover)     Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) ________________________________ From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:50 AM Subject: [Callers] Family dances I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate with the band on music for specific dances. What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. Thanks! Chris _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers