Hi Luke, I like the theme. I've been playing a lot with 4F4 which include similar types of action myself. If I'm not mistaken, this power turn will only work for the couples starting on the left end of the line/4. The others will be facing the wrong way (out) if they power turn (interpreted as a courtesy turn 1+1/4). -Don On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 10:01 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

On Jan 7, 2017, at 8:03 PM, Don Veino via Callers &lt;callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: Below is one of mine from a similar series - the one of those I've called so far. I'm going to test the other [B1 variation] shown here next time I get a chance. On your other questions, Lynne Ackerson's Coconut Cream Pie is a fave as it's interesting yet bulletproof with mixed crowds (and I use it so much, I wrote another dance leveraged from it to have some variation - Boston Cream Pie). I also share your fondness for Rick's dance so I swapped bits of Up All Night to generate one to pair for an alternating dance - Insomniac's Delight (Gents Left Star, Grand L & R, See Saw). Oceans 4 (DRAFT) - 4 Face 4 - Don Veino 20161204 Note this dance never converts to a square formation. Tune suggestion: Thomas Shrug's March. A1 Give & Take (Up/Down), Gent take Neighbor Lady back and Swing A2 (4,4) Pass the Ocean (Up/Down), Wave Balance Fwd/Back [NOTE all Gents are on outside oval facing clockwise, Ladies are inside facing CCW] (8) Simultaneously: Ladies in center (across) Half Hey (Ladies facing center start passing Right) *WHILE* Gents Circulate 2 Places (wrap around ends) [I TEACH/CALL THIS AS AN ORBIT 1/2 to stay with more typical contra language for dancers] [Form similar Ocean Waves aligned up/down with Right Hand to same G&T Neighbor] B1 Wave Balance Right (toward N) & Left, Neighbor Box the Gnat [Not yet tested variation: Balance Fwd/Back, N Allemande Rt 1/2x] Gents Allemande Left 1+1/2 (to P) B2 Partner Balance & Swing, end facing progression First called at the Monday Contras dance in Concord, MA on Dec. 19, 2016 _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

Hello all. It's been a while since I've had enough folks at a house party to really walk through a 4x4 dance, so I'm sending this out for comment: I'm trying to increase my repertoire of accessible and entertaining 4x4s (my double reverse progression 4x4, etc, not qualifying) This one is in the "Midwestern Folklore" and "Will You Mary Me?" tradition of being two nearly identical halves. Plow and Cross Stitch by Luke Donforth Contra/Four Facing Four A1 ----------- (8) Lines of four, forward and back (8) Women's Chain up & down to facing neighbor A2 ----------- (8) 1/2 Hey up & down, women passing right shoulders (8) Neighbor swing (end facing partner, Women's line of direction; men opposite initial facing.) B1 ----------- (8) Women's Chain up and down to partner, power turn to face trail buddy couple (8) 1/2 Hey across, women passing right shoulders B2 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing It could go lines of four again in B1, then the chain and power turn, with B2 being half hey and just a swing; but I figured try for the partner balance and longer swing. I'd appreciate hearing folks thoughts (too repetitive? too disorienting? basically X's dance Y), as well as your own favorite 4x4s; and why. My personal favorite is Rick Mohr's "Dance All Night", because you get a grand right and left in a contra. Take care, -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com &lt;Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com&gt;

[snip] On your other questions, Lynne Ackerson's Coconut Cream Pie is a fave as it's interesting yet bulletproof with mixed crowds (and I use it so much, I wrote another dance leveraged from it to have some variation - Boston Cream Pie). [/snip]