Another question:
Might it be a little smoother if A2 in this version were instead:
A2 Gents Alle RIGHT 1 1/2
P Sw
Done this way, there is no, or less, change in direction of motion.
Rich Hart..
Linda Leslie remarked on 8/14/2011 12:20 PM:
I think this is an interesting question! In the same way that an improper
contra can start in short waves, and we don't give it a new formation name (or
long lines at the sides, etc.), the important piece is that you and your
neighbor are on the same side of the contra set. In this dance, you have your
partner in your right hand (women actually have left in the center, there is a
typo in what is written below), and the both of you are, more or less, on the
same side of the contra set, and so, the dance is Becket. Formations refer to a
dancer's position in relationship to partner, and neighbors, rather than the
first dance movement.
Also interesting is that if the dance were to start with a neighbor Balance and
Swing, then it would be improper formation:
A1 New N B&S
A2 Gents Alle L 1 1/2
P Sw
B1 Full hey (gents start left)
B2 (Form short waves ladies left, partner right)
Balance Wave, P Alle R 1/2; Gents Alle L 1/2, give RH to N
Balance Wave; N Alle R 3/4
Written as Becket formation, and indicated below, there is the assumption that the couple
that stands in the traditional/proper ladies' line is the number 2 couple, and those
couples in the traditional/proper gents' line are number 1s. When calling Becket
formation dances, I don't usually designate ones or twos; rather I give hints about how
each couple gets into starting position, and how they will progress to their next
neighbors. For this dance, once couples are in Becket formation, I might say something
such as: "women stand back to back in the center (since this is how it will feel
when they end the hey), give a right hand to your partner, and a left to the other woman
to form a wave". It may be that the choreographer designated the couples in this
way, because of the right progression......after one time through the dance, the couples
in the traditional ladies' line are out at the top; those in the traditional gents' line
are out at the bottom.
Linda
ps: I wrote this note before seeing Richard's post, and figured I would send it
anyway...
