Gang --
Merry Christmas. Some holiday stuff that I hope may be useful to you.
Christmas Mixer is on my website at http://k-1.us This is a mixer we've
been using for years as part of the Winter Solabration (now in its 30th!
year). The first part of this is similar to Gay Gordons. It is designed
to use a medley of march-like Christmas tunes — Hark the Herald Angels
Sing, Here We Come a-Wassailing, and Joy to the World.
There is a video as well, along with a pdf of the sheet music you can
download. If you also lead English Dance, and need an easy Christmas
dance, you might want to look at I Saw Three Ships.
--Chris Kermiet
PS -- More about the Winter Solabration at http://wsolstice.org
Re: Stray contras needing identification:
My answer seems to have gotten buried in the response, so just in case,
here's the run-down again:
Were you in Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2014? These all happen to be in the
program I called that night with Steam Shovel.
#1) You Can't Get There from Here by Carol Ormand
#2) Sugar Hill Stomp, by Ron Buchanan
#3) Serenity Knoll Stroll, by Charley Harvey -- see notes below
#4) Dog Leaf Reel, by Lisa Greenleaf. Adaptation of Dog Branch Reel by
Bob Dalsemer
note: #3 is Serenity Knoll Stroll, by Charley Harvey, but as Jerome
transcribed it, it has been tweaked, with the A & B parts
switched.Charley's original version goes like this:
Improper contra (not Becket)
A1) Whole set promenade ccw; turn as a couple and return single, file,
women in the lead.
A2)Women Al. Rt. 1&1/2 (with the woman in front of your partner)
Partner swing
B1) Right Diagonal R&L thru; across the set R&L thru
B2) New women gypsy right 1&1/2
New Neighbor swing.
The version that Jerome transcribed is an adaptation to which I confess
credit or blame. I was calling a Jonesborough event and I wanted to
include this dance to honor David Wiley, since Charley wrote it for the
opening of the fabulous dance pavilion at his idyllic place in
Jonesborough. But it was a little too complex for the crowd, so by
switching the A&B parts, the progression seemed a little easier. Also, I
changed the R&Ls to 1/2 heys because the floor was crowded. Charleys
note for the original says: /This should feel as if the ladies are
taking off with another guy after getting a look at him during the
womens gypsy.She returns alone for the allemande and resolves it in the
Partner swing./I think this original storyline makes for a nice
advanced dance!Apologies to Charley for messing with his dance.
Happy Dancing,
--Diane Silver
Country Dances from Sussex
Continuing upon the theme of country dances from Sussex - these were written up in one Heathfield gentleman's diary: Sylvan Harmer.
The instructions are brief - likely mere aide-de memoires. No tunes are given. They likely date to post Regency. However bearing in mind that country dancing was one of the Prince Regent's favourite past-times in Brighton, they may well date from that time.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n9tyqykuuhpz9ka/AAB7HHkaaqUE6hB2xeW7Mwy4a?dl=0
Download the scans or the PDF file.
More Sussex dances to come.
Chris B.
On 12/1/2015 5:06 AM, trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
>
> Mon Nov 30, 2015 9:51 pm (PST) . Posted by:
>
>
> "Jerome Grisanti" jerome_grisanti
> <mailto:jerome.grisanti@gmail.com?subject=Re%3A%20Stray%20Contras%20needing%20identification>
>
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can provide title and author information for the
> following stray dances that I recently transcribed from postie notes
> written in my wife's handwriting. I'm sure I downloaded these from my
> memory while I was driving and she took dictation, but I'm not sure how
> long ago, or where we'd been dancing, or who might have been calling.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jerome
>
> ------------
> Were you in Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2014? These all happen to be in the
> program I called that night with Steam Shovel. Scroll through for the
> info:
>
> Stray Dance #1 By Author ? --
>
> You Can't Get There from Here, by Carol Ormand
>
> Improper Contra, start in Wave of four, ladies in center
>
> A1)Balance the wave, allemande Right 3/4 (to long wave)
> Balance the wave, allemande Right 3/4 (to new short waves)
>
> A2)Neighbor Balance & Swing
>
> B1)Circle Left 3/4,
> Partner Swing
>
> B2)Circle Left 3/4,
> Neighbor Do-si-do 1 1/2 (& step into new wave)
> -----------------------
>
> Stray Dance #2 By Ron Buchanan? --
>
> Sugar Hill Stomp, by Ron Buchanan
>
> Becket Contra
>
> A1)Balance, Petronella
> Balance, CA Twirl with Partner
>
> A2)In New Ring Balance, Petronella
> Balance, Partner Roll Away
>
> B1)Men pull by the Right,
> Neighbor Swat the Flea & Swing
>
> B2)Men pull by the Left,
> Partner Box the Gnat and Swing
>
> ----------------------
>
> Stray Dance #3 By Author ?
>
> Serenity Knoll Stroll, by Charley Harvey, but see notes below
>
> Becket Contra
> A1) Half hey across set,
> On right diagonal, half hey.
>
> A2) Women weave back on right diagonal & swing that guy.
>
> B1) Whole set promenade counterclockwise,
> turn & come back single file, lady in the lead.
>
> B2) Ladies allemande Right 1 1/2,
> Partner swing
>
> This is Serenity Knoll Stroll, by Charley Harvey, but as Jerome
> transcribed it, it has been tweaked, with the A & B parts
> switched.Charley's original version goes like this:
>
> Improper contra (not Becket)
> A1) Whole set promenade ccw; turn as a couple and return single, file,
> women in the lead.
> A2)Women Al. Rt. 1&1/2 (with the woman in front of your partner)
> Partner swing
> B1) Right Diagonal R&L thru; across the set R&L thru
> B2) New women gypsy right 1&1/2
> New Neighbor swing.
>
> The version that Jerome transcribed is an adaptation to which I (Diane
> Silver) confess credit or blame. I was calling a Jonesborough event
> and I wanted to include this dance to honor David Wiley, since Charley
> wrote it for the opening of the fabulous dance pavilion at his idyllic
> place in Jonesborough. But it was a little too complex for the crowd,
> so by switching the A&B parts, the progression seemed a little easier.
> Also, I changed the R&Ls to 1/2 heys because the floor was crowded.
> Charleys note for the original says: /This should feel as if the
> ladies are taking off with another guy after getting a look at him
> during the womens gypsy.She returns alone for the allemande and
> resolves it in the Partner swing./I think this original storyline
> makes for a nice advanced dance!Apologies to Charley for messing with
> his dance.
>
> -----------------
>
> Stray Dance #4 By Author ?
> Dog Leaf Reel, by Lisa Greenleaf
> Adaptation of Dog Branch Reel by Bob Dalsemer
>
> Improper Contra
>
> A1)Circle Left 1x;Ones swing
>
> A2)Down the hall, ones in center,
> Turn alone, come back
>
> B1)Neighbors Balance & Swing
>
> B2) Long lines Forward & Back,
> Twos swing, end facing up.
>
>
Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone can provide title and author information for the
following stray dances that I recently transcribed from postie notes
written in my wife's handwriting. I'm sure I downloaded these from my
memory while I was driving and she took dictation, but I'm not sure how
long ago, or where we'd been dancing, or who might have been calling.
The formatting is from tables in Microsoft Word -- I didn't bother to
un-format for this post.
Thanks!
Jerome
Stray Dance #1 By Author ?
Improper Contra, start in Wave of four, ladies in center
A1
Balance the wave, allemande Right 3/4 (to long wave)
Balance the wave, allemande Right 3/4 (to new short waves)
A2
Neighbor Balance & Swing
B1
Circle Left 3/4,
Partner Swing
B2
Circle Left 3/4,
Neighbor Do-si-do 1 1/2 (& step into new wave)
Stray Dance #2 By Ron Buchanan?
Becket Contra
A1
Balance, Petronella
Balance, CA Twirl with Partner
A2
In New Ring Balance, Petronella
Balance, Partner Roll Away
B1
Men pull by the Right,
Neighbor Swat the Flea & Swing
B2
Men pull by the Left,
Partner Box the Gnat and Swing
Stray Dance #3 By Author ?
Becket Contra
A1
Half hey across set,
On right diagonal, half hey.
A2
Women weave back on right diagonal & swing that guy.
B1
Whole set promenade counterclockwise,
turn & come back single file, lady in the lead.
B2
Ladies allemande Right 1 1/2,
Partner swing
Stray Dance #4 By Author ?
Improper Contra
A1
Circle Left 1X,
Ones swing
A2
Down the hall, ones in center,
Turn alone, come back
B1
Neighbors Balance & Swing
B2
Long lines Forward & Back,
Twos swing, end facing up.
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
"There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no
point being unhappy about things you can."
