Whipped Butter
by Luke Donforth
Contra/Becket-CW

A1 -----------
(8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2
(8) Neighbor allemande Right 1-1/2
A2 -----------
(8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2
(2) Women scoop partner for short star promenade
(6) Gents immediately hook right elbow with new gent (ladies let go), promenade 1/4 and butterfly whirl with partner (on home side, progressed)
B1 -----------
(16) Hey, women passing left shoulders
B2 -----------
(16) Partner gypsy and swing

The odd thing that's (to me) evocative of the previous name debate is the butterfly whirl. If the woman is on the left of her partner, but still moving forward, is it a butterfly whirl? Or some other species of lepidoptera?

I'll admit, I tend to use butterfly whirl for any instance of side-by-side, facing same direction, both folks' close arm around around other's back, one person moving forward one person backing up couples turn in place but change facing. But possibly I'm short-changing the extensive taxonomy of Insecta. Think of all the variants we could come up with if we branched into beetles!

Joking aside, I hope folks find the dance programatically useful and enjoyable. I think contra dancing and calling is an organic process, and some variation in naming, calling, and styles is healthy and fun. I don't have different names for heys depending on larks or ravens start, or by which shoulder they start, but do use swat the flea to differentiate from box the gnat. But in either case I teach what I want to happen in the move.

Take care,

--