New subject: Shoofly Swing

30 Apr 2008

Yes, this is a visiting big circle dance, as was done in the Southeast (I believe).  There
is an initial lead couple that starts the shoofly swing, which is the allemande turning
figure that progresses from couple to couple.  After the lead couple has passed about 3 or
4 couples, the next couple starts dancing the move and it travels around the circle.  The
man follows along the inside of the circle and turns his partner as she returns to him.

If I were to call this, I would start with a big circle, possible circle left and right,
into the center and back, swing partner and promenade, grand right and left, and then when
that's all done, get the lead couple started with the shoofly swing.  At the end (when
you have decided that it has gone on long enough), you can do a similar ending with the
whole circle.  I probably wouldn't do this at a "contra dance" but there are
many one night stands, parties, and square dances where this would be totally appropriate
and fun.

Suzanne

-----Original Message-----
...
 From: Jack Mitchell &lt;jamitch3(a)mindspring.com&gt;
Sent: Apr 30, 2008 10:19 AM
To: Suzanne Girardot &lt;suzanneg(a)wolfenet.com&gt;om>, Caller's discussion list
&lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt;
Subject: Re: [Callers] Shoofly Swing

Ok.  Having a little trouble picturing this.

a) Is the whole dance the shoefly swing?
b) If the women are visiting, does her partner 
just follow her along the circle on the inside of the circle?

Thanks,

Jack

At 01:02 PM 4/30/2008, you wrote:
 Gretchen, I have seen this dance called by Phil 
Jamison.  In a big circle, this dance goes on 
for a while, but many people can be dancing at 
one time.  Once the women have danced all the 
way around, the women can turn the men and the 
men can do the visiting.  This would indeed be a 
long dance, but back in the day, this would have 
been extremely fun and not at all boring. What I 
enjoy about this dance is the chance to turn 
smoothly with your partner, and then turn the 
next person in the circle with the left, 
smoothly going around into the allemande with 
your partner again.  It can be really rhythmic 
and did I mention smooth?  You can get a nice 
groove going with it.  It would be a fun dance 
for newer dancers, especially with a driving 
old-time band. It sounds as though you have the 
entire dance.  Once you get the dancers going 
("Turn your partner with a shoofly swing") there 
is no more calling necessary until you want to 
bring that part of the dance to a close and 
perhaps finish with a big circle or grand right 
and left. Suzanne Girardot Seattle, WA 
-----Original Message----- >From: Gretchen 
Caldwell &lt;gretchendance(a)yahoo.com&gt; >Sent: Apr 
29, 2008 12:12 PM >To: 
callers(a)sharedweight.net >Subject: [Callers] 
Shoofly Swing > >I'm looking for a circle dance 
called, I believe, "Shoofly Swing".Â  Cubby 
Whitehead used to end every evening with it in 
Bradenton Florida in the late 1980s.Â  It 
involves one couple starting with an allemande 
right, lady then allemandes next gent by left, 
then partner by right, next gent by left, and so 
on.Â  After the allemanding partners have passed 
you by, you and your partner join until the 
whole circle is peeling off in one amazing mass 
of allemandes. >Anyone have it? >I've just 
joined the list, have been calling for two 
years, and appreciate the support of the 
community.Â  I plan to try Microchasmic soon for 
our weeklyÂ Monday night dance, where the level 
of dancing is, surprise surprise, improving as 
we three local callers try more challenging 
dances.Â  Not a lot of contracorners going 
on.Â  This triplet might be just the 
thing. >Gretchen Caldwell >Charlotte 
NC >_____________________________________________ 
__ >Callers mailing 
list &gt;Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.shared 
weight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers 
_______________________________________________ 
Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net 
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers 