1 Jul
2025
1 Jul
'25
10:07 p.m.
I’d like to find more easy-going contras for newcomers that still have
unimpeachable choreography and something of interest. By easy-going I mean:
-
Straightforward transitions
-
Stays in minor set (but OK to progress somewhere besides A1)
-
A catch-up point like a balance or long lines forward & back
Here are some I think fit the bill:
Black Bird in the Night
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=5> (rory
o’mohr)
Give the Scout a Hand
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1735> (half
hey with hands)
Harmony Hey
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=936> (half
hey with hands, star progression)
Kinematic Vorticity
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1537> (gate)
Rock Creek Reel
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=11685>
(larks/robins balance in central wave)
Simplicity Swing
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10732>
(star progression)
Spoot the Dog
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=168>
(balance+dosido+allemande)
I don’t count dances like The Baby Rose
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10273>
where you balance & swing both neighbor and partner. Those don’t seem
newcomer-friendly to me because there’s so much swinging.
What are some that you like?
Rick
8 Jul
8 Jul
12:43 a.m.
Lots of nice suggestions. I will add my own (cobbled out of other dances) Trip to
Victoria:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=15664
Regards,
Russell
On Jul 1, 2025, at 3:07 PM, Rick Mohr via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I’d like to find more easy-going contras for newcomers that still have unimpeachable
choreography and something of interest....
7 Jul
7 Jul
1:39 a.m.
Thanks very much Chris & Jonathan for your suggestions!
Rick
On Wed, Jul 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
This sounds a lot like Cascades, by Orace Johnson
On Tue, Jul 1, 2025, 6:50 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
A few that I like, that may, or may not, meet all
your requirements.
(YMMV)
Awesome Double Progression Dance by Donna Calhoun
Broken Sixpence by Don Armstrong (my go-to dance for beginners)
The Casbah Queens by David McMullen
Festival Jig by Ted Sannella
Heritage Reel by Tony Parks
Jed's Reel by Penn Fix
Losing Weight by Michael Barraclough
Midwest Folklore by Orace Johnson
Saturday Night Stroll by Mavis McGaugh
Summer Sunshine by Paul Balliet
Unruly Reunion by Robert Cromartie
One that I wrote not too long ago is:
Meat and Potatoes
Jonathan Sivier
duple improper; beginner
1 - Neighbor do-si-do
2 - Neighbor swing
3 - Circle left 3/4
4 - Partner swing (end facing down)
5 - Down the hall 4 in line, turn as couples
6 - Return, bend the line to a circle
7 - Circle left 3/4 (to original places)
8 - Balance the ring and pass through (pass neighbor by right shoulder)
Jonathan
On 7/1/2025 5:07 PM, Rick Mohr via Contra Callers wrote:
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I’d like to find more easy-going contras for
newcomers that still have
unimpeachable choreography and something of interest. By
easy-going I mean:
*
Straightforward transitions
*
Stays in minor set (but OK to progress somewhere besides A1)
*
A catch-up point like a balance or long lines forward & back
Here are some I think fit the bill:
Black Bird in the Night <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
o’mohr)
Give the Scout a Hand <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
hey with hands)
Harmony Hey <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
hey with hands, star progression)
Kinematic Vorticity <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
(gate)
Rock Creek Reel <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
balance in central wave)
Simplicity Swing <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
progression)
Spoot the Dog <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
(balance+dosido+allemande)
I don’t count dances like The Baby Rose <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
you balance & swing both neighbor and partner. Those don’t seem
newcomer-friendly to me because there’s so much swinging.
What are some that you like?
Rick
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2 Jul
2 Jul
2:15 p.m.
This sounds a lot like Cascades, by Orace Johnson
On Tue, Jul 1, 2025, 6:50 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
A few that I like, that may, or may not, meet all your
requirements. (YMMV)
Awesome Double Progression Dance by Donna Calhoun
Broken Sixpence by Don Armstrong (my go-to dance for beginners)
The Casbah Queens by David McMullen
Festival Jig by Ted Sannella
Heritage Reel by Tony Parks
Jed's Reel by Penn Fix
Losing Weight by Michael Barraclough
Midwest Folklore by Orace Johnson
Saturday Night Stroll by Mavis McGaugh
Summer Sunshine by Paul Balliet
Unruly Reunion by Robert Cromartie
One that I wrote not too long ago is:
Meat and Potatoes
Jonathan Sivier
duple improper; beginner
1 - Neighbor do-si-do
2 - Neighbor swing
3 - Circle left 3/4
4 - Partner swing (end facing down)
5 - Down the hall 4 in line, turn as couples
6 - Return, bend the line to a circle
7 - Circle left 3/4 (to original places)
8 - Balance the ring and pass through (pass neighbor by right shoulder)
Jonathan
On 7/1/2025 5:07 PM, Rick Mohr via Contra Callers wrote:
I’d like to find more easy-going contras for
newcomers that still have
unimpeachable choreography and something of interest. By
easy-going I mean:
*
Straightforward transitions
*
Stays in minor set (but OK to progress somewhere besides A1)
*
A catch-up point like a balance or long lines forward & back
Here are some I think fit the bill:
Black Bird in the Night <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
o’mohr)
Give the Scout a Hand <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
hey with hands)
Harmony Hey <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
hey with hands, star progression)
Kinematic Vorticity <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
(gate)
Rock Creek Reel <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
balance in central wave)
Simplicity Swing <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
progression)
Spoot the Dog <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
(balance+dosido+allemande)
I don’t count dances like The Baby Rose <
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersb…
you balance & swing both neighbor and partner. Those don’t seem
newcomer-friendly to me because there’s so much swinging.
What are some that you like?
Rick
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6:02 a.m.
Depends on your precise definition of "unimpeachable choreography"..
But here's some of my other go-tos in this situation:
"O'brien's Star" (star throughs)
"Mad, Mad World" (mad robins, though it does have a partner california twirl)
"To Turn a Phrase" (entire set circling)
"Salmonella Evening"/"Kitchen Stomp"/"Heartbeat
Contra"/"Power
Surge"/"Tica Tica Timing" (petronellas)
"Catch A Falling Star" (odd stuff with stars)
"Moody Street" (entire set promenade, though I've swapped the
promenade directions)
"Rollin' and Tumblin'" (roll aways)
"Trip to IHOP"/"Woven Waves" (facing star set up with long waves)
"Here and There" (down the hall)
"Leaving Home"/"Handsome Young Maids" (dublin bay down the hall)
"My Hungarian Gypsy Star" (double facing star)
"Trust" (poussette)
"Two Whos in the Middle" (phrase-shifted, variable waves)
Cheers,
-Chris Page
Los Angeles, CA
On Tue, Jul 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I’d like to find more easy-going contras for newcomers that still have unimpeachable
choreography and something of interest. By easy-going I mean:
Straightforward transitions
Stays in minor set (but OK to progress somewhere besides A1)
A catch-up point like a balance or long lines forward & back
Here are some I think fit the bill:
Black Bird in the Night (rory o’mohr)
Give the Scout a Hand (half hey with hands)
Harmony Hey (half hey with hands, star progression)
Kinematic Vorticity (gate)
Rock Creek Reel (larks/robins balance in central wave)
Simplicity Swing (star progression)
Spoot the Dog (balance+dosido+allemande)
I don’t count dances like The Baby Rose where you balance & swing both neighbor and
partner. Those don’t seem newcomer-friendly to me because there’s so much swinging.
What are some that you like?
Rick
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1 Jul
1 Jul
10:54 p.m.
You can find Losing Weight at https://michaelbarraclough.uk/losing-weight
Michael Barraclough
On 01/07/2025 23:50, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
A few that I like, that may, or may not, meet all your
requirements.
(YMMV)
Awesome Double Progression Dance by Donna Calhoun
Broken Sixpence by Don Armstrong (my go-to dance for beginners)
The Casbah Queens by David McMullen
Festival Jig by Ted Sannella
Heritage Reel by Tony Parks
Jed's Reel by Penn Fix
Losing Weight by Michael Barraclough
Midwest Folklore by Orace Johnson
Saturday Night Stroll by Mavis McGaugh
Summer Sunshine by Paul Balliet
Unruly Reunion by Robert Cromartie
One that I wrote not too long ago is:
Meat and Potatoes
Jonathan Sivier
duple improper; beginner
1 - Neighbor do-si-do
2 - Neighbor swing
3 - Circle left 3/4
4 - Partner swing (end facing down)
5 - Down the hall 4 in line, turn as couples
6 - Return, bend the line to a circle
7 - Circle left 3/4 (to original places)
8 - Balance the ring and pass through (pass neighbor by right shoulder)
Jonathan
On 7/1/2025 5:07 PM, Rick Mohr via Contra Callers wrote:
I’d like to find more easy-going contras for
newcomers that still
have unimpeachable choreography and something of interest. By
easy-going I mean:
*
Straightforward transitions
*
Stays in minor set (but OK to progress somewhere besides A1)
*
A catch-up point like a balance or long lines forward & back
Here are some I think fit the bill:
Black Bird in the Night
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=5__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vCV19WWK$>(rory
o’mohr)
Give the Scout a Hand
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1735__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vGRTvV_9$>(half
hey with hands)
Harmony Hey
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=936__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vLIC0BUT$>(half
hey with hands, star progression)
Kinematic Vorticity
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1537__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vAqDSZEC$>(gate)
Rock Creek Reel
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=11685__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vMlys7_F$>(larks/robins
balance in central wave)
Simplicity Swing
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10732__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vG7mNuxF$>(star
progression)
Spoot the Dog
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=168__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vFAb1gJK$>(balance+dosido+allemande)
I don’t count dances like The Baby Rose
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10273__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vMMoVhvY$>where
you balance & swing both neighbor and partner. Those don’t seem
newcomer-friendly to me because there’s so much swinging.
What are some that you like?
Rick
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10:50 p.m.
A few that I like, that may, or may not, meet all your requirements. (YMMV)
Awesome Double Progression Dance by Donna Calhoun
Broken Sixpence by Don Armstrong (my go-to dance for beginners)
The Casbah Queens by David McMullen
Festival Jig by Ted Sannella
Heritage Reel by Tony Parks
Jed's Reel by Penn Fix
Losing Weight by Michael Barraclough
Midwest Folklore by Orace Johnson
Saturday Night Stroll by Mavis McGaugh
Summer Sunshine by Paul Balliet
Unruly Reunion by Robert Cromartie
One that I wrote not too long ago is:
Meat and Potatoes
Jonathan Sivier
duple improper; beginner
1 - Neighbor do-si-do
2 - Neighbor swing
3 - Circle left 3/4
4 - Partner swing (end facing down)
5 - Down the hall 4 in line, turn as couples
6 - Return, bend the line to a circle
7 - Circle left 3/4 (to original places)
8 - Balance the ring and pass through (pass neighbor by right shoulder)
Jonathan
On 7/1/2025 5:07 PM, Rick Mohr via Contra Callers wrote:
I’d like to find more easy-going contras for newcomers
that still have unimpeachable choreography and something of interest. By easy-going I
mean:
*
Straightforward transitions
*
Stays in minor set (but OK to progress somewhere besides A1)
*
A catch-up point like a balance or long lines forward & back
Here are some I think fit the bill:
Black Bird in the Night
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=5__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vCV19WWK$>(rory
o’mohr)
Give the Scout a Hand
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1735__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vGRTvV_9$>(half
hey with hands)
Harmony Hey
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=936__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vLIC0BUT$>(half
hey with hands, star progression)
Kinematic Vorticity
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1537__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vAqDSZEC$>(gate)
Rock Creek Reel
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=11685__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vMlys7_F$>(larks/robins
balance in central wave)
Simplicity Swing
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10732__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vG7mNuxF$>(star
progression)
Spoot the Dog
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=168__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vFAb1gJK$>(balance+dosido+allemande)
I don’t count dances like The Baby Rose
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10273__;!!DZ3fjg!61ym2lO8iOwflAQGAo009UQ5NCx2_GcIJpcw-02LIWE1RB4ozq1hl6ZPJGtKMEZwzgsqD5Kcb-S_Nj6ubxLwbLA53OI1vMMoVhvY$>where
you balance & swing both neighbor and partner. Those don’t seem newcomer-friendly to
me because there’s so much swinging.
What are some that you like?
Rick
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6 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Chris Page -
Jonathan Sivier -
Julian Blechner -
Michael Barraclough -
Rick Mohr -
Russell Owen