Hi Bill, Just get them to line up in contra lines and say, "Hands six from the top; hold hands in a circle of six; spread out and find some space then make two lines of three facing three." Then you just have to sort out any odd couples at the bottom. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Bill Olson via Callers Sent: 11 July 2019 16:26 To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Corners Dance I agree about not wanting people coming from both sides. For just plain teaching the contra corners figure, I like Chorus Jig done as a triplet.. (B2 = actives swing to end of set 3's move up). I have done this dance with total beginner groups with no problem. The down side of doing a triplet, I guess, is the "herding cats" aspect of setting up many short sets.. Bill

Here is another CC dance from Linda Leslie. *Friendly Sandwich Corners* A1 Full CL, Mirror (R/L) Shoulder Round A2 Actives Down the Center, T/Cpls Return & Cast around One B1 Turn Contra Corners B2 Actives Only B&S Sandwich is a town on the cape where Linda Leslie and Amy Larkin organized a monthly contra dance. When I began calling contras, I showed up there one night and Linda allowed me to call a few dances. The dance was indeed friendly. Peace, Rich Stafford, CT On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 12:15 PM Bill Olson via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

Okay, here's a dance I wrote. This wouldn't be useful for introducing the standard contra corners figure, as I have a modified version of the figure in the dance. But it does show that you can have a contra corners figure where no one is standing around and waiting. I've called it a couple of times and it worked well for mixed experience levels. Chorus Reel Sicilian Circle Richard Allen Fischer Formation: Duple Improper Circle. Ones facing CCW, Twos facing CW. Dance begins with Ones joining near hands while Twos stand normal distance apart. A1) Everyone walks forward, Ones passing between Twos, two steps per pass, passing Neighbors 1 & 2; Swing Neighbor 3. End swing facing across to Partner A2) In current group of four, Ladies dosido, Gents dosido [Use dosidos to adjust spacing.] B1) All turn modified contra corners (in which everyone is moving). Allemande R with Partner 3/4, allemande Same-Sex Neighbor by L 1x, allemande Partner by R 1/2, allemande the other Same-Sex Neighbor by L 1x. B2) All balance and swing Partner. End facing new neighbors in direction of progression, Ones with near hands joined, Twos separating a bit from partner. Suggested tune: Chorus Jig! I did emphasize that the Gents have to finish their dosido on time, and that everyone has to begin B1 together and dance it in a coordinated way. The dancers made that happen. Richard Fischer Princeton, NJ

I like "Down by the Riverside" too. Usually suggest that the most experienced dancer in each threesome start in the middle to demo and they alternate, deciding who's next while in the basket swing. Works great in a mixed crowd or with beginners, lots of laughter and easily pick up on who's your corner. Keith On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 12:56 PM jim saxe via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

I also came up with a version called "Walpole Condo", which retained the original double-contra-corners figure. Despite the double figure, it's actually very forgiving. The beauty is that no matter what happens during the 4 corners, as long as the middles get home, it all works (and even if they don't). Here's the instructions and a simple vid at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLQoKOQCIo0. Walpole Condo - Ric Goldman, Sicilian 3x3 (based on the ECD "Walpole Cottage" by Pat Shaw) A1 1-4 Lines-of-3 go fwd & back 5-8 Opposites do-si-do A2+B1 1-16 Middles turn double contra corners * (Middle R, 1st crnr L, middles R, 2nd crnr L, middles R, 3rd crnr L, middles R 4th crnr L) (all end home) B2 1-4 All Circle 6 L half-way 5-8 Original 3s basket swing or circle L, end facing original direction for new neighbors. (the swing can end with anyone as the new middle - or keep the same person - the chaos is part of the fun). the "4 corners of the apocalypse" for each middle are: 1) R diagonal opposite, 2) L diagonal opposite, 3) immediate L in line, 4) immediate R in line (basically working CCW around the set). Cheers, Ric Goldman letsdance(a)rgoldman.org 650-906-8707 -----Original Message----- From: Callers &lt;callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; On Behalf Of Erik Hoffman via Callers Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2019 1:25 PM To: Caller's discussion list &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Corners Dance Strangely enough, I forgot about Wallpole Dollhouse. Thanks, Jim for reminding me of it. It can, of course, be a contra line or a Sicilian circle. Melanie's dance is a little simpler, better to use on newish dancers. I like them both, and, they are more forgiving--as a progressive dance--than any of the others mentioned so far. ~Erik Hoffman -----Original Message----- From: Callers &lt;callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; On Behalf Of jim saxe via Callers Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2019 9:18 AM To: Rich Sbardella &lt;richsbardella(a)gmail.com&gt;om>; Caller's discussion list &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Corners Dance A nice easy dance for introducing Contra Corners is "Down by the Riverside" by Melanie Axel-Lute: http://www.maxellute.net/down.html The dance is a progressive 3-face-3, ending with a basket swing in B2 after which dancer open out with anyone in the middle, facing a new threesome. Like Erik Hoffman's "Walpole Dollhouse", http://lists.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers-sharedweight.net/2013-May/00 6143.html you can think of it as a much simplified version of Pat Shaw's "Walpole Cottage". On account of the progression, dancers get to lead the contra corners figure with a succession of different opposite active (center) dancers. Thus, dancers who don't quite understand the figure are likely eventually to run into counterparts who can send guide them in the correct direction. By contrast in a triplet, triple-minor, or duple-minor setting, a confused dancer may be asked to lead contra corners with the same equally-confused partner time after time. --Jim _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/