Hi, See answers in line below. BTW, thanks for the compliment in the other recent thread - I did notice. 😉 -Don On Wed, Apr 23, 2025, 8:39 AM Angela DeCarlis &lt;aedecarlis(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: The lines/4 and waves/4 set the dimensions in a practical sense, across and up/down respectively. I would definitely not try this in a packed hall but it fit in a relatively normal amount of space. At the Scout House we had two lines of 4F4 with (I'm guessing) 5-6 minor sets in each and there was plenty of room left. One thing I definitely cautioned people against was joining with adjacent minor sets in the waves/4, both due to the confusion opportunity and the space concerns. Definitely not for a tight crowd. That's a new term to me but if I get the gist, it is an unusual 4F4. For instance, when I was refreshing people on the basic properties of a 4F4 and mentioning how trail buddies work, I said in this dance you might think of them as more "trail acquaintances" than buddies, as they were someone you would hang around but really not interact with much. ...or did it work fine just the way it is? Functionally and spatially it worked fine. It's just really challenging, as any misstep by anyone can break it for the others and your place in the hey alternates (automatically) between facing in and out with each cycle. I hope someday to get to dance it myself! 😁 > Ang > On Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 8:39 PM Don Veino via Contra Callers < > contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: >> Hi, >>> I've been holding off sharing dances I've not yet called but I've written >> a boatload of 4F4s. So here's a few of differing difficulty and status: >>> PokéCon (Gotta Swing ‘em All) DRAFT - 4F4 - Don Veino 20181206 >>> A1 G&T to Opp GNT/LRK, Opp Swing (face center) >>> A2 GNT/LRK LHStar 1/2x, TB Swing (look Up/DN to Neighbor) >>> B1 G&T to Neighbor GNT/LRK [ALT: LDY/RBN Allemande Right 1+1/2x or Cir. >> LT 3/4x], Neighbor Swing >>> B2 LDY/RBN RHStar 1/2x, Partner Swing, face progression >>>> This should be a not very hard yet swing happy dance! Walked through with >> friends but not yet called IIRC (hence "DRAFT" status). >>>> *Hey, Let's Take a Cruise - 4F4 - Don Veino 20250324* >>> A1 G&T to OPP GNT/LRK, Opposite SWING >> A2 PASS THE OCEAN up/down, WAVE/4 BAL; GNT/LRK ORBIT the Oval 2PL *WHILE* >> LDY/RBN facing in PASS RT for a same role 1/2 HEY across >> B1 RH to same OPP in WAVE/4 BAL, SWING THRU (Opp RT 1/2x, GNT/LRK LT >> 1/2x); LDY/RBN ORBIT the Oval 2PL >> *WHILE* GNT/LRK facing in PASS RT for a same role 1/2 HEY across (and as >> you approach your PNR...) >> B2 PASS PNR RT to WEAVE the RING of 8 1/2x; PNR SWING, face next >>> I penned several 4F4s in 2016 with a single role doing a hey for 4 in the >> center while others orbit the major set (oval/racetrack circulate) theme, >> but recently hit on how to give everyone the chance to hey and orbit in a >> single/ non-alternating 32 bar sequence as here. Called it for the first >> time at the April 2025 Concord Scout House challenging benefit dance. Works >> fine but blew some minds! It was great to hear folks laughing and cheering >> once they got it. Where some seemed to go wrong was when they were in the >> center hey group but the person facing out at the start of the move (if >> they looped right instead of left...?). There's no forgiveness for recovery >> anywhere - I prepped folks to bail to their diagonally opposite end spot to >> try again next round. Sadly, no video of this one. >>> There's a variation of this where everyone simply circulates on the >> outside or inside tracks (vs. the inside heys). I prefer the hey approach >> as it handles the timing difference between the inside and outside >> circulate track distances, but concede it's "harder". >>> One more, well proven, in the lineage of all the "Pie" dances: "All the >> Pies" >> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=18611 >>> -Don >>>> On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < >> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: >>>> What it says on the tin—I want more four-face-fours in my collection >>> (not least because I’m calling a session of them at NEFFA 😅), drop your >>> favorites here! Accepting recommendations of any difficulty level. >>>>> Thanks all! >>> - Maia (Brooklyn, NY) >>>>> -- >>> Maia McCormick (she/her) >>> 917.279.8194 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>>> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >

Hi, I've been holding off sharing dances I've not yet called but I've written a boatload of 4F4s. So here's a few of differing difficulty and status: PokéCon (Gotta Swing ‘em All) DRAFT - 4F4 - Don Veino 20181206 A1 G&T to Opp GNT/LRK, Opp Swing (face center) A2 GNT/LRK LHStar 1/2x, TB Swing (look Up/DN to Neighbor) B1 G&T to Neighbor GNT/LRK [ALT: LDY/RBN Allemande Right 1+1/2x or Cir. LT 3/4x], Neighbor Swing B2 LDY/RBN RHStar 1/2x, Partner Swing, face progression This should be a not very hard yet swing happy dance! Walked through with friends but not yet called IIRC (hence "DRAFT" status). *Hey, Let's Take a Cruise - 4F4 - Don Veino 20250324* A1 G&T to OPP GNT/LRK, Opposite SWING A2 PASS THE OCEAN up/down, WAVE/4 BAL; GNT/LRK ORBIT the Oval 2PL *WHILE* LDY/RBN facing in PASS RT for a same role 1/2 HEY across B1 RH to same OPP in WAVE/4 BAL, SWING THRU (Opp RT 1/2x, GNT/LRK LT 1/2x); LDY/RBN ORBIT the Oval 2PL *WHILE* GNT/LRK facing in PASS RT for a same role 1/2 HEY across (and as you approach your PNR...) B2 PASS PNR RT to WEAVE the RING of 8 1/2x; PNR SWING, face next I penned several 4F4s in 2016 with a single role doing a hey for 4 in the center while others orbit the major set (oval/racetrack circulate) theme, but recently hit on how to give everyone the chance to hey and orbit in a single/ non-alternating 32 bar sequence as here. Called it for the first time at the April 2025 Concord Scout House challenging benefit dance. Works fine but blew some minds! It was great to hear folks laughing and cheering once they got it. Where some seemed to go wrong was when they were in the center hey group but the person facing out at the start of the move (if they looped right instead of left...?). There's no forgiveness for recovery anywhere - I prepped folks to bail to their diagonally opposite end spot to try again next round. Sadly, no video of this one. There's a variation of this where everyone simply circulates on the outside or inside tracks (vs. the inside heys). I prefer the hey approach as it handles the timing difference between the inside and outside circulate track distances, but concede it's "harder". One more, well proven, in the lineage of all the "Pie" dances: "All the Pies" https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=18611 -Don On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

Hey Jonathan, Finally getting around to these recs, and unfortunately I can't find the figures for "Power of the Turn" anywhere, would you mind sharing them? Thanks! Maia -- Maia McCormick (she/her) 917.279.8194 On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

This is one of my favorites with butterfly whirls & weave the ring. Weave Well Enough Alone 4 facing 4 A1 Gents star left 2 places and swing the gal over yonder (diagonal neighbor) A2 Ladies star Right half way, scoop you partner, star promenade 2 places back home and butterfly whirl B1 Corner allemande left once around Partner pass by right and weave the ring, til you meet again B2 Partner balance and swing (end swing facing new neighbors) Thanks Bob Green for the title. On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 6:19 PM Beth Mast via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

I also love "WarmUp" by https://www.miscdances.ravitz.us/#wu WarmUp Jerry Blum, Patti Gutwein, John Lenarduzz, Kathryn C. Millis, Josh Moses, Dave Notman, Bill Olson, Kate Power, Cary Ravitz at Winter WarmUp, Columbus OH 12-2010 Double improper contra A1 - Lines of four go forward and back (8). - Up and down in sets of four, ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8). - Each couple turn slightly to face the diagonally opposite couple. A2 - In the set of eight, ladies star right 1/2 (6). - First neighbors swing and end facing across (10). B1 - Across in sets of four, men allemande left 1+1/2 (8). - Second neighbors swing and end facing up and down (8). B2 - Up and down in sets of four, circle left 3/4 (8). - Partners swing and end facing your original direction (8). Alternate A1 A1 - Lines of four go forward and back and the two couples with the men on the outside roll away with a half sashay so that men are in the middle (8). - Up and down in sets of four, dancers on the right (lady who did not roll away, man who did a half sashay) pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8). The alternate A1 puts the lady who did a roll away into a better position to start the star right. This is obviously harder to teach, but maybe more interesting to dance. Alternate A1,A2 by Seth Tepfer. A1 - Lines of four go forward and back (8). - Each couple turn slightly to face the diagonally opposite couple. - In the set of eight, ladies star right 1/2 to a courtesy turn (grand chain) (8). A2 - Up and down in sets of four, ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8). - First neighbors swing and end facing across (8). And to toot my own horn, I love Two for Tea<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=17923…23>: a bouncy dance with column circulate Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his) Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center [cid:ffde0565-10e9-44ec-92f6-5a1a28e59fa6]<https://outlook.office.com/boo… Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.n… ________________________________ From: Steve Pike via Contra Callers &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; Sent: Monday, March 31, 2025 11:12 PM To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Favorite 4x4s? Devil's Backbone by William Watson Lovely Lane Chain by Bob Dalsemer are two favorites that haven't been mentioned yet. Steve Pike Milwaukee, WI _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

I second Steve's support for Devil's Backbone by William Watson (composed on the drive to Florida Rhapsody!) and Mac's vote for Major Hey by Erik Hoffman. I like Bob Isaacs reworking of his own dance: Title: Recirculate 8 Author: Bob Isaacs Formation: 4-4 A1: short lines forward and back; Robins allemande right 1.5 to neighbor in short wavy lines A2: Balance, all 8 circulate; balance, all 8 circulate B1: Neighbor balance and swing B2: in rings of 4, circle left 3 places Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his) Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center [cid:48c864cc-bd13-4998-9963-79009352d157]<https://outlook.office.com/boo… Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.n… ________________________________ From: Steve Pike via Contra Callers &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; Sent: Monday, March 31, 2025 11:12 PM To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Favorite 4x4s? Devil's Backbone by William Watson Lovely Lane Chain by Bob Dalsemer are two favorites that haven't been mentioned yet. Steve Pike Milwaukee, WI _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

I call the nominal figure, but the dancers execute the actual figure, and frankly they lumber through that. Also, I never use decimals, only fractions, thus: 3 3/4 x 3 3/4. Jerome Grisanti On Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 7:53 PM Gary Shapiro via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

Richfield Stomp is my favorite 4x4. Love this dance! I always set it up by teaching something with a square-through earlier in the evening, though. Kalia On 03/22/25 6˸37 AM, Jerome Grisanti via Contra Callers wrote:

Coconut Cream Pie is my go-to because it doesn't have a grand R&L. I also like Fast Living <https://web.archive.org/web/20080705160110/http://www.hamline.edu/personal/dkirchner01/personal/compositions/fastliving.html> with the hey across. On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 1:07 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

I second Coconut Cream Pie - Greg beat me to it. Michael On 22/03/2025 16:00, Maia McCormick via Contra Callers wrote:

Hi Maia, Looking forward to your NEFFA session! I did one like this with Chris Riccioti a few years back. For my faves, I will break these down into 3 categories: Crowd favorites (often called, suitable for all at NEFFA): Dance All Night - Rick Mohr Coconut Cream Pie - Lynn Ackerson My favorites to call - (suitable at NEFFA, although some are more challenging): Petrozilla - Marty Fager Blackberry Cobbler Quadrille - Seth Tepfer Fast Living - David Kirchner My personal favorites to dance (generally pretty challenging) The Danish Loom - Linda Leslie Constellation - Yoyo Zhou Circulate 8 - Bob Isaacs And finally, for something a little different: Polyamity [Note: "Line buddies" are defined as persons of the opposite role who is part of one's line of four] A1: Lines of 4 forward and back, opposite larks (up and down the set) allemande Left 1 1/2; A2: Opposites balance and swing, all face center; B1: Robins grand chain to line buddy, courtesy turn to face across (everyone will be facing their partner across), pass the ocean to waves of four (robins in center taking left hands, line buddies taking right hands at the outside), balance the wave forward and back; B2: Robins allemande left, line buddies (new partners) swing. Only the larks will swap places with each progression. To make it a more standard 4x4 progression, have the robins allemande left 1 1/2 in B2. Greg On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

My idea of a classic 4 facing 4 is Becky Hill's Richfield Stomp. (Includes square thru 4 and grand right & left). There are so many others, but I'll let others suggest them. Jerome Grisanti On Sat, Mar 22, 2025, 8:00 AM Mac Mckeever via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: