Thank you to everyone who chimed in; fun to hear about all the versions and
folks preferences.
I, personally, am glad my (digital) box is big enough for all of the
variations. I can see instances where I'd use any of them. With
predominately new dancers on the first duple improper of the evening, I
think the ladies on their own for an allemande would fare better than the
"help" gents can give on the courtesy turn of a chain. I agree with Jack
that chain->face new neighbor can be a tough transition. But Troxler's is
straightforward enough that you could use it to focus on teaching a chain
to new dancers; with a forgiving squishy entry into the DSD. And I haven't
broken a hundred times yet with Nice Combination, but I'm sure I will.
Thanks again. This discussion has even got me thinking about another thing
I'd like to discuss on shared weight.
On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 4:56 AM, Bob Isaacs <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi All:
While I appreciate Jack's comments about the chain/B&S progression, that
is more of a teaching issue than a choreographic one. More important is
how much assistance those in the ladies role can get from their partner in
B2b. In a chain they can get that from the joined hands in the long
lines. But for the allemande L they need to let go from their partner and
are on their own. That help would occur if Luke's dance finished with a
ladies allemande R 1 1/2, but that would not flow as well into the next
neighbor dosido. So I'll stick with Nice Combo/Troxler's on the
Loose/Forgotten Treasure -
Bob
------------------------------
*From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of
Jack Mitchell via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Sunday, August 21, 2016 10:27 PM
*To:* Linda Leslie; Luke Donforth
*Cc:* Callers(a)Lists.Sharedweight.net
*Subject:* Re: [Callers] Surely this already exists?
Though I know that there are lots of traditional dances with a ladies
chain (turn away) new N...., I am really not crazy about them. Ok....I'll
admit it, I actively dislike them. Particularly for new dancers, and
particularly going to a discrete move like a balance. It requires the lady
to extricate themselves from a previous neighbor (who *should certainly
not* twirl and forget, but frequently does), and requires the (polite)
gent to turn away from their direction of progression to get new ladies
pointed in the right direction at the end of the courtesy turn before the
gent can progress (and for that matter, requires the courtesy turn to be
either done more quickly, or otherwise to be cut short to get everyone
going in the right direction. (don't even get me started on dances that
have a butterfly whirl -> turn away to a new neighbor). (There are dances
-- like Punctuated Raindrops -- that have that progression, that I will
still call a) because they're great dances other than that and b) because
the timing of the progression isn't discrete -- if you're late to start the
allemande L, it's ok, the timing will work out in the wash.) </rant>
The ladies allemande L progression, 1) puts the ladies in a bit more
control, 2) allows the caller to point out where they're going, and who
they're going to and 3) leaves a free hand available to reach out to the
new neighbor. Even with similarities in the rest of the dance, I think
that is really enough to make it a distinct (and a more accessible) dance
from the ones mentioned.
Jack
On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 9:53 PM Linda Leslie via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
This dance is virtually the same as Troxler’s on
the Loose, by Chris
Ricciotti. The only difference in Chris’ dance is that the final move is a
ladies chain.
Beth Parkes also wrote a dance that is mostly the same: Forgotten
treasure. She begins the dance with a N B&S, and ends it with a chain as
well.
Linda
On Aug 21, 2016, at 9:10 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hello all,
I was trying to find an easy and accessible dance, a real glossary
basic contra.
I feel like this must already exist, but I'm not finding it in my
notes.
Someone got a prior?
Type: Contra
Formation: Duple-Improper
A1 -----------
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do
(8) Neighbor swing, end facing down the hall
A2 -----------
(8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples)
(8) Return and Bend the line
B1 -----------
(6) Circle Left 3/4
(10) Partner swing
B2 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2
The B2 could be W DSD 1.5, although I like the allemande for the
connection for
brand new dancers. I specifically chose the left hand to
leave the women facing towards their new neighbor.
I know it's really close to a bunch of other stuff. B2 could be C L
3/4,
balance and pass through; or chain to left hand star à la The Nice
Combination; etc.
Barring it already having been named by someone else, I'm going to call
it
"Having Fun with PAM" to keep track of it in my box; since I just got
back from the fabulous PAMFest (Peacham Acoustic Music Festival).
Thanks.
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--
Jack Mitchell
Durham, NC
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>