I have to agree with Tom about Beaumont Rag and other rags such as Levi Jackson and East Tennessee Blues -- they somehow inject a feeling of spontaneous fun, especially with figures that go down the hall.
Two notes I would add to Tom's notes on Balance the Star: Use a hands-across star (this is probably obvious) and make sure people point their elbows toward the floor when they balance the star. Good thread. Jerome
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:41:35 +0000 From: Tom Hinds <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Callers] Family Contra To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" That dance, Family Contra looks like a great one to use for beginners. A tune that would fit the dance well is Beaumont Rag. Years ago in the DC area we used to dance a Sicilian circle called Balance the Star to the Beaumont Rag. For those who are curious here is Balance the Star (perhaps not original but how we danced it in DC). The tune swings and therefore allows for improvisations and craziness from the dancers. A1 make a right hand star and balance twice. Star right 4 counts. Turn alone for 4 counts. A2 make a left hand star and balance twice. Star left 4 counts and turn alone. B1 do si do opposite. end the do si do facing away from partner. 'courtesy turn' neighbor. It's not a true courtesy turn. The dancers have to travel a bit more than in a courtesy turn so that the men end where they started and the women have traded places. B2 do si do orig. partner. end the do si do facing away from opposite. 'courtesy turn' original partner in the same manner as in the B1 plus couples pass each other (men pass left shoulder) in order to meet the next couple.
-- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
