New subject: Carmen's Garments

2 Mar 2009

   I believe I can shed a bit more light on Carmen's Garments. There are 3
   versions:
   1. Original "Carmen's Hat" by Kathy Anderson composed sometime prior to
   June 1992. I do not think this dance was published.
   2. Variation by Paul Balliet "Carmen's Scarf" composed Nov. 1993 and
   published 1997. See below.
   3. Variation by Lisa Greenleaf  "Carmen's Dance."

   In June of 1992, I danced "Carmen's Hat" in Columbus Ohio. Kathy
   Anderson, who composed it, also called it. I enjoyed the "bumpsy daisy"
   swing, but wanted a dance with the swings on the side of the set. I
   composed "Carmen's Scarf," which was published in Twirling Dervish
   Returns (1997) with acknowledgment to Kathy Anderson's dance. I call it
   ocassionally. It works well to loosen up a hall, and generally would
   not run as long as other dances.

   Carmen's Scarf

   A1 Neighbor bumpsy daisy swing

   A2 Half promenade, ladies chain across set

   B1 Pass through across the set, and swing partner

   B2 Circle left three quarters, balance the circle, pass through up or
   down the set to progress.

   I do not have Kathy's original dance recorded, but I suspect that the
   below is correct.

   Regards, Paul Balliet

   Lisa Greenleaf [1]laleaf at verizon.net
   Wed Nov 19 23:48:00 EST 2008

   (portion omitted)...

   The original idea was Kathy Anderson's Carmen's Hat, and then I wrote
   Carmen's Contra.

   Lisa

   From: circleleft at uninets.net (John C. McIntire)

   Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:01:26 -0400

   Hi Folks,

      A dance titled Carmen's Hat, by Kathy Anderson, appeared in my dance
   collection as early as April 1997. I don't know where I collected it
   but I use it vary sparingly as the action is oriented up & down the
   line more than across. The figures go as follows:

   duple improper contra formation

   A1           Star Left 1X

                   Circle Right 3/4 (end facing Partner on Gent's home
   side)

   A2           Clap own hands 2x and with Neighbor bump 2x / Neighbor
   Swing (in center of set) End facing Partner up or down hall

   B1           Ladies Chain Along the line to Partner

                   Promenade along the line ( Gents pass left) to original
   place

   B2           Pass thru same Neighbors (up or down) to progressed places
   and Partner Swing in center of set. End Facing New Neighbors.

   The Lisa Greenleaf version which I have noted as "Carmen's Hat"
   {correctly identified as "Carmen's Contra" } showed up in my cards
   sometime by July, 2003. Again, I don't have a source noted. It is
   pretty much what has been discussed.

   duple improper contra formation

   A1           Lines F & B

                   Ladies Allmd Left 1 1/2

   A2           Partner B & S

   B1           Circle Left 3/4

                   Neighbor D.S.D. 1 1/4

   B2           Clap 2x Bump 2x with Neighbor & Swing Neighbor.

   Of course the whole thing could be turned into a Becket dance by
   starting at B1. Perhaps Lisa G. will pitch in her 2 cents worth. Thanks
   to Lisa for making the dance more accessible. It is a fun change of
   pace.

   Cheers,                   John

References

   1.
mailto:callers%40sharedweight.net?Subject=Re%3A%20%5BCallers%5D%20Carmen%27s%20Garments&In-Reply-To=%3C02F7F33D-45D9-406E-B8CA-2EEC212C0F93%40verizon.net%3E

Re: [Callers] Carmen's Garments