Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:41:35 +0000 From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Family Contra To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Message-ID: <455F7DFE.1F917BE3(a)earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" That dance, Family Contra looks like a great one to use for beginners. A tune that would fit the dance well is Beaumont Rag. Years ago in the DC area we used to dance a Sicilian circle called Balance the Star to the Beaumont Rag. For those who are curious here is Balance the Star (perhaps not original but how we danced it in DC). The tune swings and therefore allows for improvisations and craziness from the dancers. A1 make a right hand star and balance twice. Star right 4 counts. Turn alone for 4 counts. A2 make a left hand star and balance twice. Star left 4 counts and turn alone. B1 do si do opposite. end the do si do facing away from partner. 'courtesy turn' neighbor. It's not a true courtesy turn. The dancers have to travel a bit more than in a courtesy turn so that the men end where they started and the women have traded places. B2 do si do orig. partner. end the do si do facing away from opposite. 'courtesy turn' original partner in the same manner as in the B1 plus couples pass each other (men pass left shoulder) in order to meet the next couple.