I ask the dancers to do a do-si-do and observe the path their feet are taking. Then I ask them to follow the same path with their feet, but to face their partner across the set while they do it. Works wonderfully. --Katy Heine -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Rickey Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 9:50 AM To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin Hi all, I am looking for suggestions on how best to teach a "Mad Robin" to contra dancers who have not encountered it before. It is in "Joyride" after a Gypsy and I have tried suggesting that they just let their feet take them around on the same path as the Gypsy did while turning to face their partner, and I have tried describing how the women start going up and inside and the men down and outside - but there is still a bit too much confusion out there. I am planning on doing this in a venue where it may not be feasible to do a demo. Any additional ideas? Rickey _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Guided by the experienced hand of Ric Goldman, I wrote a dance last year that has a similar sequence of moves (from a neighbor do-si-do into a Mad Robin). I tell people their feet are traveling in the same exact path, and then quip, "however as happens sometimes in real life, in the Mad Robin you're keeping an eye on your partner while doing it with your neighbor." Gail's Making Copies Improper A1 Mad Robin neighbor (watch partner) Swing neighbor A2 long lines forward & back Ladies allem R 1 1/2 B1 Partner balance & swing B2 Circle L 3/4 pass through New neighbor do si do Stacy Rose Coos Bay, OR -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Rickey Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 6:50 AM To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin Hi all, I am looking for suggestions on how best to teach a "Mad Robin" to contra dancers who have not encountered it before. It is in "Joyride" after a Gypsy and I have tried suggesting that they just let their feet take them around on the same path as the Gypsy did while turning to face their partner, and I have tried describing how the women start going up and inside and the men down and outside - but there is still a bit too much confusion out there. I am planning on doing this in a venue where it may not be feasible to do a demo. Any additional ideas? Rickey _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Rickey wrote: I would not call joyride to people who've never done a mad robin if I wasn't going to be able to do a demo. The dance has pousettes, which are probably new to the same people, and a tricky transition into the hey. Without a demo I'm afraid it would need too much teaching time. The tricky sequence is: Gypsy N Mad Robin figure around N Half Pousette clockwise (Men walking backwards) Hey (men pass left) [1] Jeff [1] http://www.kluberg.com/eriksdances.html#Joyride

In my opinion, the most confusing part is why anyone calls this figure "Mad Robin." What does a mad robin do? Has anyone ever seen a mad robin? I use the term "Sashay round" which, by definition, is easier for most people to understand - Sashay: move sideways, and Around (do I have to explain that one?) (i.e., around your _____, while maintaining eye contact with your _____.). Looking forward... Linda S. Mrosko 7302 CR 2829 Mabank, Texas 75156 (903) 451-5535 (H) (903) 288-4401 (cell) lmrosko(a)hotmail.com www.towerwebsites.com/dancinglinda http://www.facebook.com/lmrosko "We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once." -- Friedrich Nietzsche _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:ON:…

I like that....it does define the move much better than Mad Robin! I've also seen the term "sliding doors" used to describe that figure. Sashay: move sideways, and Around (do I have to explain that one?) Well, you would think one wouldn't need to explain "around," but I've called dances where the direction "walk straight ahead in the direction you are facing" will cause certain people (the dyslexics?) to turn around and walk the other way. ~Barbara -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.791 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2771 - Release Date: 03/26/10 02:33:00