On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 10:18 PM, Liz and Bill <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > I'd like your advice on the timing and teaching of "flutter wheel > with a butterfly whirl." > > Lots of dances use the following in a 16 beat section: > Gents Allemand Left 1 1/2, scoop up Partner star Promenade, Butterfly whirl > or > Ladies Allemand Right 1 1/2 scoop up Neighbor for star Promenade 1/2, > Butterfly whirl > > In Butterflies by Cary Ravitz, A2 is > > A2 Men allemand left 1/2 . Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star > promenade across, and butterfly whirl 1/2 to put the ladies in the middle. > Ladies allemand right 1/2 Ladies keep right hands, pick up your > neighbor, star promenade across, and butterfly whirl 1/2 (men go forward, > ladies go backward) to put the men in the middle > > so allemande left 1/2, star promenade, butterfly whirl is done in a 8 beat > phrase.
Notice the butterfly whirl here is 180 degrees rather than the 450 degrees rotation of the more standard cases. Hence it take less time. > > However in American Gothic by Nathaniel Jack which starts > A1 (around Neighbor) Mad Robin Ladies Allemand Left 1 1/2 (Scoop up > Partner) > A2 Star Promenade 1/2 (Ladies in the center) w/ whirl Gents start 1/2 > hey by Right > > Allemand Left 1 1/2 is done in a 8 beat phrase, and star promenade, > butterfly whirl is done in a 8 beat phrase. This is typical timing. > > > I tried this dance earlier this year with experienced contra dancers > and many were having trouble > getting through A2 in time. > > A1 Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing > A2 Promenade across, Ladies Allemand Right 1/2, scoop up Neighbor for > star promenade 1/2, butterfly whirl > B1 Pass Thru across (right shoulder), Neighbor Swing (face down four in > line) > B2 down the hall four in line, Turn alone, come back four in line, 2's > in the middle make an arch and pop the 1's Thru to the next couple. Dancers would have to cut about 3 beats off the promenade here to finish the A2 on time. Timing's about (5) Promenade (tight) (3) Women allemande right 1/2 (4) Star promenade to the other side (4) Butterfly whirl For dancers used to doing a promenade in 8 beats, this is going to be very counterintuitive. Chances are dancers will be late for the B1, and it'll result in a shorter neighbor swing. > > How do you help people with the timing? I've tried to suggest that those > getting scooped up need to be ready. > > Thanks. > Cheers, Bill > PS - in MWSD, right hand dancer allemand right 1/2, pick up person across, > star promenade back, is called Flutter Wheel > and left hand dancer allemand left 1/2 , pick up person across, star > promenade back is called Reverse Flutter Wheel. Both are > meant to take 8 beats. I have square dancers in my regular contra group and > need to get them used to > contra dance timing. There's other differences. The connection in a star promenade is much stronger in a star promenade (arms on each other's back) than a flutterwheel (holding nearest hand with the other person, but only one hand.) The flutterwheel doesn't have time for the extra 360 degree rotation of the butterfly whirl. -Chris Page San Diego
