I'd guess that on a normal night at my home dance there aren't four dancers who have ever danced Petronella - in other words even if they are experienced dancers, they wouldn't know how to start Petronella. BUT - your suggestion made me realize that I could take four of them aside before the dance and teach them that part so they COULD demonstrate it at the beginning of the dance. Thanks. -cynthia -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Warren Pollans Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:49 AM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Petronella spins Just ask an experienced group of four to demonstrate it :-) Cynthia Phinney wrote: very begins specifically _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Yes - you are correct about the version I had in mind. And in my experience it is the getting into that diamond position that, when described only by words, I have never seen work in a crowd that wasn't at least 90% experienced dancers who have also danced that dance before - a situation that rarely exists at most of the dances where I call. Thanks for the nice description of all three versions. I was not aware of the "simplified" version, only the other two. Love, -cynthia -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Robert Golder Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:30 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Petronella spins If left to their own devices, the members of the group of four will have to agree whether they will demonstrate the version of Petronella in which only the active couple twirls and balances, or the version in which all dancers twirl and balance, or the updated version in which the dancers balance first and then twirl, or the simplified version in which the dancing begins in a ring rather than the "diamond" formation. But as Cynthia says, she can arrange in advance for a demonstration group, and this might be helpful. To me it sounds like Cynthia wants to know about the second of the four Petronella options outlined above. I'd make sure that the dancers remained proper and that they understood who the active (ones) and inactive (twos) couples were. The active dancers begin by turning, as individuals, clockwise to their right (the gent traveling a somewhat further distance than the lady) to positions facing each other in the center of the set, the gent facing up the hall and the lady facing down. As the active dancers move, the inactives or twos adjust their positions slightly, as individuals, so that all four dancers may take hands in a "diamond." All four dancers balance the diamond with hands joined. This is the first half of the A1. The dancers drop hands and now all four dancers turn clockwise, as individuals, into the place of the dancer on the right (the twos are now in the center of the set, gent facing up, lady down). All take hands and balance. This is the second half of the A1. A2) All four twirl and balance. / All four twirl and balance (ones arrive at their original positions. Twos are in the middle of the set and must twirl out to the sides at the start of the B1). B1) Actives down center as couples, turn alone / Return, cast off to proper, progressed places. B2) Right and left through, over / Right and left through, back. Robert Jon Golder 164 Maxfield St New Bedford, MA 02740 USA 508-999-2486 _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers