This one I use fairly frequently at ONS and those small town dances where
you get the big slug of family dancers who need to be sensed out/eased into
an evening of conventional contras.
Clap Happy – Gender Free Longways or Circle – Don Veino
A1
(8 @ 1 beat/move) Clap two hands over (own! 🙂 ) left leg, under left, over
right leg, under right, in front at waist, behind back at waist, in front
again and then two handed “high five” with Partner
(8) Repeat pattern
[Encourage adjustments for mobility issues as required – can clap high/low
instead of over/under leg, etc.]
A2
Partner Right Elbow turn 1x, Left Elbow turn 1x
B1
Facing Circles or Big Oval to your own personal RIGHT (opposite direction
from Partner) and back left
[as a keeper, left is return to Partner – as mixer, go one person past
Partner to next]
B2
(keep or new) Partner Balance & Swing (two-hand, whatever – end in place,
facing P)
Alternative set-ups detail: http://veino.com/blog/?p=2037
On Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM, Rick Mohr via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in
> many ways.
>
> We always do a few barn dances -- great fun, and a nice break from
> worrying about progressing the wrong way and ending swings on the wrong
> side. But the kids are smart and game, so most of the family dances in my
> box are too easy.
>
> Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add?
>
> Bottoms Up - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up
> Country Bumpkin - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Country_
> Bumpkin
> Falling Masonry - http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?id=33
> Firehose Reel
> Intersection Reel
> Roll the Arches
> Sashay the Donut
> Waves of Tory
>
> Dances that can include everybody are best (longways, circles) rather than
> fixed-size sets (squares, triplets) where some people have to sit out.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rick
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
>
Hi Rick,
On the "longways dances" front, I've written a couple that I use regularly,
and few that I wrote, but seem too challenging for the regular longways
crowds of weddings and fall festivals. Possibly these would suit your
teens. If you do give them a try, please let me know how they go and what
you think.
Longways I've used a fair bit:
*Charge and Drag*
Luke Donforth
Type: Longways
Formation: Other
Level: Beginner
A1 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Partner Do-si-do
A2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing (or two hand turn), end facing up the set
and separate
B1 -----------
(16) Top & Bottom couple make arches
Top couple go down over left line; Bottom couple go up over right line
B2 -----------
(8) bottom & top couples charge (sashay) the middle of the set, meet in the
middle
(8) couple below drag couple above to bottom of the set
Notes: In B1, both couples are going over the line that’s on their left as
they face the set. It’s the caller’s left for the folks at the top, and the
callers right for the folks on the bottom
*Green Mountain Ski Wedding*
by Luke Donforth
Longways/Proper/Beginner
(this almost never stays square to the tune)
A1 -----------
Whole Group Oval Left until across from partner again
Partner Do-si-do
A2 -----------
Bottom (was top) couple slalom (weave) back and forth up the set
B1 -----------
Whole group oval right until across from partner again
B2 -----------
Partner allemande Left
Partner allemande Right
*Revive the High Five*
by Luke Donforth
Longways/Proper
A1 -----------
(4) Long lines slide left
(4) long lines slide right
8) Partner allemande Left 1x
A2 -----------
(4) Long lines slide right
(4) long lines slide left
(8) Partner allemande Right 1x
B1 -----------
(8) Partner Do-si-do
(8) Partner swing
B2 -----------
(16) Shuffle the set
(Promenade randomly around the room, then come back to a different place to
reform the long set; if you have more than one set, they can set jump)
More challenging longways dances (I've tried these at house-parties with
experienced dancers, but not really in the field):
*The Fountain*
Type: Longways
Progression 1,2,3,4,5 -> 2,3,4,5,1
Top couple makes an arch and goes over the other two lines
The rest move up, and when the reach the top, they make an arch and go down
over the rest of the line
When the bottom couple reaches the top, they separate (peel the banana
style) and lead their line down the outside (no hands). Everyone except the
original top couple (now at the bottom) follows.
(note, leading to the bottom, not coming back up through)
The couple at the bottom swings, and as other folks get back to line; they
can swing their partner.
Long lines forward and back
(optional:
Allemande your partner
Other hand Allemande your partner
)
*Long Corners*
Type: Longways
Progression: 1 2 3 4 5 => 5 1 2 3 4
top in left line trade with bottom in right line, giving a high five with
the left hand in the middle
then next trade and high five, and the next, until both lines have swapped
and you're across from partner again
the pair at the top of the line (was bottom couple) stays put and swings
each other around, while two lines go around the mountain - giving your
partner a high five with your right when you pass
head of each line leads back down to bottom of their original side of the
set and stays there. Everyone else follows in their line
DSD partner straight across
long lines forward and back
Notes:
go around the mountain is a cross trail through: up, over, and back down
*Mirror Match*
Longways/Other
Progression: 1 2 3 4 5 => 2 3 4 5 1
Head couple goes down the hall
One of the head couple comes back up the hall, interacting with three
people on the way (DSD, allemande, swing, etc). Head person picks the
people, they pick the move
Long lines, forward and back
Partner Do-si-do
Other head person comes up the hall, and has to interact with the partner
of the ones their partner picked, and do the same move.
IF the set agrees that the head couple matched, they can walk down the
middle,
ELSE the set takes hands with partner, and the head couple separates and
goes down outside
(optional:
Allemande your partner
Other hand Allemande your partner
)
Have fun!
On Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM Rick Mohr via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in
> many ways.
>
> We always do a few barn dances -- great fun, and a nice break from
> worrying about progressing the wrong way and ending swings on the wrong
> side. But the kids are smart and game, so most of the family dances in my
> box are too easy.
>
> Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add?
>
> Bottoms Up - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up
> Country Bumpkin -
> https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Country_Bumpkin
> Falling Masonry - http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?id=33
> Firehose Reel
> Intersection Reel
> Roll the Arches
> Sashay the Donut
> Waves of Tory
>
> Dances that can include everybody are best (longways, circles) rather than
> fixed-size sets (squares, triplets) where some people have to sit out.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rick
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
Following up on Rick's request for dances for a monthly group of teenagers,
I was trying to put a basket swing in a becket dance; and I'd appreciate
folks thoughts and suggestions on flow and timing.
Basket swings are not something I'd run in a regular dance, but this sounds
like the same group of teens getting together regularly, and I was
intrigued on what you might be able to do in a class where all the students
know each other.
Couple of options:
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1
Long lines yearn to the RIGHT
Left Hands Across Star
A2
Right Hands Across Star
Gents Do Si Do 1x
B1
Ladies Two Hand turn 1x
Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies
ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents
Basket Swing (crosses over into B2)
B2
Basket swing continues,
on home side, partner swing
This seems a little odd to me in that it breaks up the two stars into
different musical phrases, whereas often (in beginner dances) those occupy
once section of the tune together.
It could be that you make it a long lines yearn left, and then make the
stars right and left, and the gents sea saw; not sure it's worth it.
Alternatively, make it only one star, get the basket swing nominally
contained to B1, and leave all of B2 for partner swing; for a clearer split
with the tune.
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1
Long lines yearn to the LEFT
Right Hands Across Star
A2
Gents Do Si Do 1x
Ladies Two Hand turn 1x
B1
Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies
ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents
Basket Swing
B2
on home side, partner swing
That's probably ~24+ beats of cw swinging between the basket->partner,
which seems excessive. Trying to cut that a little shorter, possibly moving
the basket and partner swing to just B2, leads to something like
B1
(4) Gents take two hands, balance,
(4) Gents lift hands over ladies heads and behind backs
(4) Ladies take two hands, balance
(4) Ladies lift hands over gents heads and behind backs
B2
(8) Basket Swing
(8) On home side with partner, swing
Where you could put the A1&A2 of either of the previous versions on top of
it.
Anyway, if you have thoughts or experiences, I'd like to hear them.
Happy Dancing.
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
There are a couple x2 contras, where it's basically the same dance twice
through. Those tend to have two swings, so may be less pertinent, but (the
similar) "Will you marry me" by Seth Tepher, or "Midwestern Folklore" by
Oracle Johnson may be pertinent.
Staying in the Becket theme is one I wrote for the wedding of friends
called Frog Stars; and for the couples that insist on having "contra!" at
their weddings instead of just circle and longways dances, I tweaked Family
Contra to Wedding Becket (proper/improper/whatever, role doesn't matter).
Becket can be really friendly for beginners, and if you use circles L&R,
Stars R&L, that fills up to half the dance; use a yearn progression (easy
double progression, so no one is out in a short even set), and fill it out
with whatever else you want them to do. For instance "Pluck It"
These don't have chase figures or basket swing, etc. Most of my "around
two, fall through" dances I'd consider more complex. If you've got time to
work with them it could certainly happen though. But I'll toss the scatter
mixer Basket of Frogs out there. (Written in honor of Fiddling Frog dance
weekend in S. California) It's got a lot of swing time; so I'll propose a
becket version that keeps your partner, but I'll start a separate thread
for that one because I want to get the hive-minds opinion on timing.
~~~~~~Beginner Beckets~~~~~~
Will You Marry Me
by Seth Tepfer
Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner
A1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
ooze into a short wavy line with Women in the middle with L
(4) Balance the short Wavy line
(4) Ladies allemande Left 1
A2 -----------
(16) Neighbor balance and swing
B1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
ooze into a short wavy line with Women in the middle with L
(4) Balance the short Wavy line
(4) Ladies allemande Left 1
B2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing
slide left
Midwestern Folklore
by Oracle Johnson
Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner
A1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do
A2 -----------
(16) Neighbor balance and swing
B1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
(8) Partner Do-si-do
B2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing
slide left to next
Frog Stars
by Luke Donforth
Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner-Easy
A1 -----------
(8) Left hand Star
(8) Right hand Star
A2 -----------
(8) Partner Do-si-do
(8) Partner swing
B1 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
(8) Neighbor swing
B2 -----------
(8) Ladies Chain across
(8) Long lines, yearn to the left
Wedding Becket
by Luke Donforth
Contra/Becket-CW/Dbl-Prog/Beginner
A1 -----------
(4) Balance Ring
(4) Balance Ring
(8) Circle Left 1X
A2 -----------
(4) Balance Ring
(4) Balance Ring
(8) Circle Right 1X
B1 -----------
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do, straight across
(8) Partner Do-si-do
B2 -----------
(8) Two hand turn with partner
(8) Long lines, back and forward, shift left, looking at new new couple
Pluck It
by Luke Donforth
Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner
A1 -----------
(8) Circle Left
(8) Circle Right
A2 -----------
(8) Right hand Star
(8) Left hand Star
B1 -----------
(8) Partner Do-si-do
(8) Partner swing
B2 -----------
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do
(8) Long lines, yearn left
~~~Basket Dances~~~
Basket of Frogs
by Luke Donforth
Scatter Mixer/Improper
A1 -----------
(16) Promenade around the room, find another couple
A2 -----------
(8) Gents Do-si-do 1x
(8) Ladies two-hand turn 1.5x, keep holding hands
B1 -----------
(2) Gents take two hands over women’s, lift over heads and behind back of
women
(2) Ladies lift hands over and behind backs of men
(12) Basket Swing
B2 -----------
(16) Neighbor swing
New partner
On Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM Rick Mohr via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in
> many ways.
>
> My easiest “regular evening” contras are a good challenge for the group,
> so I’m looking for some varied easy contras to lead up to those. (Also
> interesting barn dances -- asking about those in a separate thread.)
>
> The teens are fine with swings but aren’t hooked on them like most contra
> dancers. So contras with no partner swing, no neighbor swing, or no swings
> at all are just fine, and good for variety. And our lines are fairly short,
> so unequal dances are OK.
>
> Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add? The group is all
> about having fun, so it’s fine to have chases, basket swings, sashaying,
> and other goofiness.
>
> Family Contra (Sherry Nevins)
> A1: Bal ring x2, circle R
> A2: Bal ring x2, circle L
> B1: Dosido P, dosido N
> B2: Dosido as couples 1.5
>
> Andy White's (Amy Cann)
> A1: Circle L, dosido P
> A2: As couples dosido Ns, 2 hand turn N
> B1: Clap both/R/both/L with P, same with N; repeat all
> B2: 2s arch, 1s duck; 1s arch, 2s duck BACK; 2s arch, 1s duck
>
> Jefferson & Liberty
> A1: Circle L/R
> A2: Star R/L
> B1: 1s balance & swing
> B2: Down center, 1's arch, 2's duck; return (1s backing up)
>
> Monterey Detour (Bob Dalsemer)
> A1: Down center (turn alone) & back
> A2: Circle R/L
> B1: Dosido N, sw N
> B2: F&b, 1s sw
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rick
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
Rick -
Lots of good barn dance material on my "other" website, http://barndances.org.uk/
You might even introduce them to Playford with "Black Nag"!
Colin Hume
I've gotten good mileage out of "Up the Sides and Down the Middle" (which has its own tune that changes meters in the B part, but works just fine to bouncy jigs, polkas, etc.)
UP THE SIDES AND DOWN THE MIDDLE (CDM, own tune or any bright jig)
Long set for four to six couples. (Seven is doable but makes the timing tight).
A1: Step-swing balance in lines twice; cross over with polka step.
A2: Repeat to places
B1: (Reel time) 1s down the middle (walking, 8 bars) while 2s lead a single
cast (polka step) down, then up through the 1s moving arch.
[I can never get the dances to actually do B1 as described. The 1s zoom down the middle, they get there before the 2s (and everybody else) get to the bottom, so the trip takes longer than eight bars. I make B2 "swing when you get there if there's time". ]
B2: Swing partners.
(Repeat until 1s at top again).
-- Alan Winston
On 9/19/2018 1:55 PM, Rick Mohr via Callers wrote:
I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in many ways.
We always do a few barn dances -- great fun, and a nice break from worrying about progressing the wrong way and ending swings on the wrong side. But the kids are smart and game, so most of the family dances in my box are too easy.
Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add?
Bottoms Up - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up
Country Bumpkin - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Country_Bumpkin
Falling Masonry - http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?id=33
Firehose Reel
Intersection Reel
Roll the Arches
Sashay the Donut
Waves of Tory
Dances that can include everybody are best (longways, circles) rather than fixed-size sets (squares, triplets) where some people have to sit out.
Thanks!
Rick
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in many
ways.
We always do a few barn dances -- great fun, and a nice break from worrying
about progressing the wrong way and ending swings on the wrong side. But
the kids are smart and game, so most of the family dances in my box are too
easy.
Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add?
Bottoms Up - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up
Country Bumpkin -
https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Country_Bumpkin
Falling Masonry - http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?id=33
Firehose Reel
Intersection Reel
Roll the Arches
Sashay the Donut
Waves of Tory
Dances that can include everybody are best (longways, circles) rather than
fixed-size sets (squares, triplets) where some people have to sit out.
Thanks!
Rick
I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in many
ways.
My easiest “regular evening” contras are a good challenge for the group, so
I’m looking for some varied easy contras to lead up to those. (Also
interesting barn dances -- asking about those in a separate thread.)
The teens are fine with swings but aren’t hooked on them like most contra
dancers. So contras with no partner swing, no neighbor swing, or no swings
at all are just fine, and good for variety. And our lines are fairly short,
so unequal dances are OK.
Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add? The group is all
about having fun, so it’s fine to have chases, basket swings, sashaying,
and other goofiness.
Family Contra (Sherry Nevins)
A1: Bal ring x2, circle R
A2: Bal ring x2, circle L
B1: Dosido P, dosido N
B2: Dosido as couples 1.5
Andy White's (Amy Cann)
A1: Circle L, dosido P
A2: As couples dosido Ns, 2 hand turn N
B1: Clap both/R/both/L with P, same with N; repeat all
B2: 2s arch, 1s duck; 1s arch, 2s duck BACK; 2s arch, 1s duck
Jefferson & Liberty
A1: Circle L/R
A2: Star R/L
B1: 1s balance & swing
B2: Down center, 1's arch, 2's duck; return (1s backing up)
Monterey Detour (Bob Dalsemer)
A1: Down center (turn alone) & back
A2: Circle R/L
B1: Dosido N, sw N
B2: F&b, 1s sw
Thanks!
Rick
In 2019 I'll be touring North America from around Thursday May 30 to Wednesday June 19. If you'd like to book me to call English
or American please see http://colinhume.com/tour for more information.
Colin Hume
