Hi all, I called this dance on Saturday night and offer the following comments. Overall, the dance flowed nicely and got good reviews from the dancers.
A1: There aren't quite enough moves for the music, especially as the circle 3/4 already has momentum going from the previous circle 3/8. As a result... A2: ...the partner swing started 2-3 beats early making for a very long swing. Several dancers suggested making the A2 a balance and swing. B1: No problems / comments B2: Had a little trouble in the walkthrough getting the women to orient themselves after the almd L 1/2. Part of it was me not using the correct words and part of it was the slightly different feel of the diamond, so there was no "muscle memory" as to where to face to make the diamond. I found that asking the women who left allemanded each other to turn to face each other coming out the allemand worked nicely. I also found that when I started stressing that the diamond was with new neighbors (the progression) that the dancers were more comfortable knowing they were in the right place. You will also have to keep reminding the gents to move right while the ladies are having their fun. Having said that about the teaching, once the dancers understood the move, it was a very satisfying moment to come out of the allemendes and being away from one's partner and have everyone reappear in the diamond. If you're teaching this to newer dancers, the diamond will need some explaining. Lots of nice comments from the dancers. I asked the band to start with a jig and move to a reel. The reel kicked a bunch of energy into the second half of the dance. Hope this helps. On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 8:15 AM, Will Loving < [email protected]> wrote: > Here's the dance as sent to me by Dan Pearl and confirmed by Ken: > > Flying Waffles (Becket) > By Ken Haltenhoff > > A1. Cir L 3/4; Bal; Men pass Rsh > A2. Sw pt > B1. W ch over and back > B2. W almd R 3/4; W almd L next W 1/2 while M move R; balance to diamond > with M facing across with partner on R; circle R 3/8 > > Alternate by Walter Lenk: > A1. Balance ring; Cir L 3/4; M pass Rsh > A2. Bal & Sw pt > > Comments from Ken on the dance and Walter Lenk's variation: > > "I like the way momentum builds with the circle right and then directly > into > the circle left in the transition from B2 to A1, a balance there interrupts > the flow, I think, and when you're moving toward your partner at the end of > A1, both of you in motion, who needs to balance, you just sweep into each > other's arms (oh god, could love ever be that simple!)! I envisioned a > twirl > as men pass R shoulders in A1, and men turning over their left shoulder as > they negotiate the set to their partners in B2. I do like this dance. There > is no perfect contradance but I like the ones where you keep moving all the > time, no hesitations and stutter steps, and a partner swing is an absolute > necessity." > > Ken and I also discussed an alternate B2 which he thought was an > interesting > possibility: > > Balance the ring and then Petronella twirl 3/8 to progressed positions > > However, I think this looses the connection with the name of the dance > which > always made me think of someone cocking their arm on direction (the Circle > Right 3/8) and then throwing the waffle the other direction with the Circle > Left. > > Will Loving > > on 9/23/09 11:02 PM, Dorcas Hand at [email protected] wrote: > > > With such a great title I can't wait to see the dance. :) > > Dorcas in Houston > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] > > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Will Loving > > Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:52 AM > > To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> > > Subject: [Callers] Flying Waffles by Ken Haltenhoff > > > > Does anyone have notation for Ken Haltenhoff's "Flying Waffles"? I've > > written Ken about it but he's not been calling for a while and doesn't > > have > > his dance cards handy. Ken used to call this in the DC area and at the > > Bluemont dance in the mid-80s... > > > > Will > > > > > -- > > William M. Loving > Dedication Technologies, Inc. > 7 Coach Lane > Amherst, MA 01002-3304 USA > [email protected] > Tel: +1 413 253-7223 (GMT 5) > Fax: +1 206 202-0476 > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > -- Mark Hillegonds Cell: 734-756-8441 Home: 734-747-7148 Email: [email protected] - NEW EMAIL!!!
