Indeed, the dance with the box the gnat in place of the mini-dip is written - Becky's Brouhaha by Rhiannon Giddens.

On Mon, Apr 3, 2017 at 3:34 PM Luke Donforth via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hello folks,

There was a recent call for new dances, but I can't find the thread, so here's a fresh post.

Continuing what I think of as a long-standing tradition of contra dance choreography stealing moves from other dances; I've written a few with the mini-dip, a move from swing dancing. (Despite the name, it's not really a dip)

I was recently on a small tour with Chimney Swift, and premiered one at the BIDA dance in Boston.

You can check out a video of it here:

https://goo.gl/photos/qaeUuuSKt9PKBY3v8

For an explanation of what swing dancers consider a mini dip:

https://youtu.be/nGI9IfhSCQE?t=6

https://youtu.be/LiElJr7YSQA?t=99

There's different opinions in swing if it's a 6 count or 8 count move, but I put it in 8 counts. The break down:

1-2: moving forward on balance

3-4: moving backwards on balance

5: pull past each other

6: clap (while low and moving)

7: catch hands

8: style pause

Functionally, it's like a box the gnat; but folks let go and have an opportunity to clap and add style.

The entire dance in that video is ~75% Bob Isaacs' "United We Dance"; replacing long wavy Rory O'More's in the A1 with the mini-dip sequence, so it's called "United We Mini-Dip". 

Improper

A1

(8) Right hand to neighbor, balance, and mini-dip; catch right hands

(2) Pull by right with current neighbor to previous neighbor

(6) Previous neighbor allemande Left 1x, back to current neighbor

A2

(16) Current neighbor balance and swing

B1

(6) Circle left 3/4

(10) Partner swing

B2

(8) Ladies Chain to neighbor

(8) Left Hand Star 1x

I know NB&S, CL PSwg, Chain Star, overlaps other dances as well. You could do the whole thing with a box the gnat instead of a mini dip in the A1 (that may already exist as a choreographed and called dance); but I like the clap opportunity the mini-dip provides, especially if the band matches it well to a tune (as Chimney Swift did). 

Enjoy if you're so inclined.

--

Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth@gmail.com

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Jack Mitchell

Durham, NC