On 2016-03-05 1044, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
> I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am
> asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire
> recommendations.
>
> Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
>
> Thanks, Rich
> Stafford, CT

I too rarely touch L2/DM dances for such an occasion.

Thing is a 3 Face 3 Sicilian Circle dance is sometimes part of such a
program! Progression is of course about the only place something like
Dashing White Sgts or Mason's Apron falls apart - if/when I'm not clear
about the pass-through. Sigh

Seth Tepfer's "Jefferson and Lincoln" can work with some crowds
(in the file "No Brainers", contents titled "Surefire dances") at
http://www.dancerhapsody.com/Calling/Handouts.html

His "Family Contra in the Castle" is another fun, useful choice
http://www.dancerhapsody.com/Calling/Dances.html#FamilyCastle

My bomber/sure fire selection for such a progression is "Wherries Circle
Contra", which I discovered on Tomas Green's ceilidh/barn dance site.
It's a Becket, Sicilian Circle, from England, by Ron Coxall.

http://barndances.org.uk/dance-detail.php?danceNameParam=wherries-circle-contra

One is with one's partner throughout, and the circle means no one must
depart and re-enter the major set. The part I've seen folks really enjoy
is finding the current minor set you're in when circling back to it in
the big circles. It works fine with the sozzled, once the concept is
received. (I once had to run around, between the inner and outer
circles, to get across the dropping hands in small circles and take
hands in the large circles. Once done it was of the best ONS dance
experiences, ever. Okay, there have been a few. Nonetheless . . . it
sure was fun!)

I changed one thing, as presented on Tom's site, in that for B2 I
reversed the order of the stars/hands-across. I use Left, then Right. It
seems to give a better flow from the previous figure and into the next
figure. I've not seen the source directions. Only one person has
noticed/not approved (they've danced it, with Ron it appears.)

I think one takeaway from its success is that any Becket that is not
overly complex (leaving minor set, tough figures to hoist in, etc.)
might be moved into a circle formation. This was discussed a bit a few
years back on this or the Shared Weight Caller list.

Cheers, John
--
J.D. Erskine
Victoria, BC

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