I have been trying to work out how Orace Johnson's becket contra works. I have the dance from the year 2000 syllabus of the New England Dance Legacy Weekend, in other years also called the Ralph Page Legacy Weekend.
*Du Quoin Races *by Orace Johnson (1991) As called by: Laura Johannes Formation: Contra, Becket formation Reels: *Gravel Walk/Molly Rankin's/Sarah's New Tune *(Sarah Hydorn) A1- Balance ring, pass through to an ocean wave And balance again, allemande right 3/4 to form long waves (men facing out, women in) A2- Balance, women cross set to where partner is standing as men turn into the place of the woman on their right. Form new long waves with the women facing out and the men in. Balance, “rotate” again (men walking across set, women looping around to the right) B1- Swing partner on the side (the same side you started on) Circle left halfway, roll away with a half sashay to trade places with neighbors (across set) B2- Circle left halfway, roll away with a half sashay to trade places with partners (along set) Circle left halfway, and shift left along the set to face new neighbors To “pass through to an ocean wave," begin to pass through across the set. Ladies catch each other's left hand and turn just 1/4 as the gents cross all the way, turn right, and take partners’ right hands to form wavy lines-of-4 across.** I don't seem to get far as after A1 I have partners beside each other in the long wavy lines. In A2 the ladies should cross to their partners place. I'm sure David Smukler hasn't made a mistake in his record of the dance, but I cant find my mistake. Can anyone help me? John Tuck
