Two other 5-couple set dances are Brief Encounter by Marj Hendy (1996) (any AABB reel) 5 couple longway set -- PROPER A1 On the right diagonal (if someome is there), pull by right. Face straight across and pull by left. Same again (like Beneficial Traditions). This leaves four ladies at the top, four men at the bottom, and a couple in the middle who are NOT each other's partners. A2 -- on the ENDS star right and then left -- MEANWHILE the couple in the middle has a "brief encounter" -- gypsy and swing?. B1 -- Original first woman (now in 2nd place on the men's side) and original fifth man (now in 4th place on the women's side) "unwind" their star, casting up and around the short end (for the women) and casting down and around the short end (for the men), and leading their same sex star buddies back into line -- the "brief encounter" couple split and tag on to their respective unwinding stars. Everyone's original partner should magically appear as the lines re-coalesce. B2 -- The original TOP couple (now at the bottom) leads up the center to the top, and casts back down (peel the banana) to invert the set. And the dance begins again with A1 -- pull by on the right diagonal. There is NO recovery time. Winter Solstice Wendy Crouch 1988 Square set of four couples, with a 5th couple in the middle facing couple 1. There's a traditional tune, but any square AABB will do. http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/ecd/ecd-modern/134-winter-solstice Contra dancers sometimes have trouble grasping the hey for 3 instead of hey for 4 -- remembering to tell them that their partner is NOT in the hey with them seems to help. Also, you can change the meanwhile "set and turn single" on the sides to a partner swing. Last December I called this one to Jingle Bells at the Baltimore contra. The part that the more analytically minded dancers really like is the last bit -- a grand square with a FIFTH couple in the mix. And the progression is lovely and smooth. April Blum