17 Nov
2024
17 Nov
'24
10:19 p.m.
Hi All,
I wrote this a week ago. It is a fairly simple dance, and checking Caller's
Box and ContraDB did not find it. However, given the simplicity of concept,
I am surprised it has not been previously created. Anyone else know of its
prior existence? Perhaps recut from A2 - A1?
Half Day's Work
Becket, cw/left progression, 1x
A1: Long Lines Forward and Back, Larks Allemande Left 1 1/2;
A2: Neighbors Balance and Swing;
B1: Long Lines Forward and Back, Next Robins (across the set and to left of
partner) Allemande Left 1 1/2 (to partner);
B2: Half Hey (PR, LL, NR, RL), Partners swing.
I called this twice and both times, the dancers automatically realigned for
the progression, which was my largest concern.
If it appeals, enjoy!
Greg
18 Nov
18 Nov
2:12 a.m.
On 2024-11-17 5:19 p.m., Gregory Frock via Contra Callers wrote:
The closest thing I could find was "Sooner Slice":
https://contralab.org/ContraDances/Becket.html#SoonerSlice
The net effect of A1 through the first half of B1 is Larks trade.
At that point, if the Robins look across and left, that's their original
neighbor Robin, not a new one.
Is there supposed to be a roll away after the B1 forward+back? That would
get the next Robin in the desired position.
-Michael
2:22 a.m.
Thanks for the transcription catch, Michael. Next Robin should be across
and *Right.* Corrected transcription is below:
Half Day's Work
Becket, ccw/right progression, 1x
A1: Long Lines Forward and Back, Larks Allemande Left 1 1/2;
A2: Neighbors Balance and Swing;
B1: Long Lines Forward and Back, Next Robins (across the set and to right
of partner) Allemande Left 1 1/2 (to partner);
B2: Half Hey (PR, LL, N2R, RL), Partners swing.
On Sun, Nov 17, 2024 at 9:12 PM Michael Dyck via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
7:42 p.m.
thanks Gregory for this dance!
My beginnerish group has switched from dancing in improper formation to clockwise Beckets
this season, (thanks again to whoever suggested that!!) and so far it's been going
really great.
We just reviewed Heys last month so i'd like to try your dance this month- seems the
perfect level for the "advanced" dancing we do at the end of the evening.
I'd like to stick with CW Beckets for now though - the formation is still very new to
everyone, so i'm working on cementing the learning.
So l tweaked Gregory's dance only slightly to see if it could work in the other
direction.
I think it does, but could someone review the below to ensure it works?
I also wrote in more details of positioning to ensure *I* understand the dance correctly,
pls confirm!
I will still credit this dance to Gregory! (could call it Half Night's Work? :) )
Becket, cw/left progression
A1 LLFB, robins allemande left 1.5 to neighbour
A2 N bal + swing
(you will end the swing facing across to your P)
B1
LLFB,
larks look across and to the left for the /next/ lark, and allemande left 1.5 with them,
end facing P
(robins are facing in to the centre, L's are in the centre and more-or-less back to
back with each other)
B2
half hey with NEW couple--
Partners pass right on the sides, ravens pass left in centre, new neighbours pass right,
larks pass left to meet partner on original home side
Partner swing.
(end swing facing across to new neighbours, the progression happened during the Lark
allemande...)
------
Half Day's Work
Gregory Frock
Becket, ccw/right progression, 1x
A1: Long Lines Forward and Back, Larks Allemande Left 1 1/2;
A2: Neighbors Balance and Swing;
B1: Long Lines Forward and Back, Next Robins (across the set and to right of partner)
Allemande Left 1 1/2 (to partner);
B2: Half Hey (PR, LL, N2R, RL), Partners swing.
8:17 p.m.
Hi Katherine,
When I put the dance together, I immediately thought of the mirror version,
as well. However, I had the allemandes in the mirror version as right
allemandes instead of left. My main concern is "straightening out" the
progression. You may find that the Larks left tends to keep the half hey a
little diagonal, so new neighbors are slightly to the left at the end of
the dance.
As I see it, the basics of the dance has 3 potential issues to deal with:
1: Direction of progression (clockwise vs. counterclockwise),
2: Realignment of progressed couples at the end of the dance (straight
across vs. askew), and
3: Partner approach at the end of the half hey (right vs. left shoulder).
For my part, I thought that #2 was most critical to make the dance 'work',
with #3 being 2nd, and #1 being least critical. Your version places the
highest premium on #1, which best matches your need. It may be that 2 and 3
are ultimately irrelevant as dancers may automatically adapt to these
requirements. Consider trying the dance out with reversed hand allemandes
some time to see what works best.
As for credit, feel free to retitle it as you wish. The authorship should
at least be shared, if not yours outright.
Regards,
Greg
On Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 2:43 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
136
days inactive
137
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
4 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
-
Gregory Frock -
Katherine Kitching -
Michael Dyck