Rich Sbardella wrote:

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Yankee Reel (Ted Sannella)

Duple improper

A.1 Star right, star left

A.2 Ones down center, up outside to place

B.1 Ones swing partner (8 counts), then neighbor (8 counts)

B.2 Half promenade, right and left through

 

I use this a lot with mixed floors (i.e. high percentage of first- or second-timers, but not ONS). I’ve found that the B.2 combination makes it relatively easy to get the concept of RLT across: I get them to do the half promenade, then explain that RLT is almost the same traffic pattern except that instead of couples staying together, the lady is going to go between the opposite two. It’s the best luck I’ve had teaching RLT, which for my money is the hardest move in contra/NE square dancing because it’s a compound move: you go straight and then you turn, and you turn in a way you weren’t expecting. The most common error is for people, especially in the lady’s role, to turn solo right after the pass through. The analogy with half promenade seems to forestall this.

 

(If you’re in an area where people give right hands in RLT, there’s another common error: they hold on too long and get pulled around to face back the way they came. You need to emphasize dropping hands and waiting for the courtesy turn before they change facing direction.)

 

Tony Parkes

Billerica, Mass.