Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 12:16:42 -0400 From: Luke Donforth &lt;luke.donev(a)gmail.com&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils. As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation. But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile. I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to. Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing. Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver. Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares. As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of the neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's comments on timing? Tamlin's Cross (variation) 4x4 (lines or bent) A1 (4) All 8 go into the middle (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out (8) Corner Swing, square set A2 (8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x; ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy lines of 4) B1 (4) Balance the wavy lines of four (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right then turn away from corner you swung B2 (16) Partner Balance and Swing End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy couple That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or monotonous. <digression> I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers. A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super fond of the swing->ladies go in transition. It happens a lot in swing->chain, but I don't think it would add to the dance here. </digression> Thanks again for sharing your experience :-)