Chris Kermiet has a fun dance called "Becket's Crossing" that is a 'grid contra', eg, you PROgress up and down the hall and you TRANSgress across the hall. I've called this dance for years and enjoyed it. (Dance included at bottom).
However, for years I have yearned to have a dance that did this in someway other than simply 'pass through two' which felt choreographically cheap. Perhaps I am a snob. More likely, I just wanted to have my own 'grid contra'. I have tried many times over the years, never fully successfully. I came the closest with this latest version: Title: Transgression Author: Seth Tepfer Formation: becket, grid contra (numerous lines, mostly equal length) A1: Balance the ring, spin one place to the right and turn a little more to face a new line; balance the ring, pass through A2: Gents allemande right 1.5; neighbor swing B1: Gents pass left for half a hey, ladies allemande left (break the hey) and partner swing B2: Long lines forward and back; circle left 3/4, pass through up and down Notes: Notes: *When the initial spin puts you facing a wall, do a CA twirl to face back in. *When hitting a wall, just like when being out at the top or bottom, you will change direction. *Yah, this has a pass through also. I feel choreographically cheap. Folks said that this dance worked for the ones in the middle. The folks in the top and bottom said they kept getting spit out. So, with 5 lines, we had 10 couples who were in, then out, then in, then out. No fun for them. I have parsed this and used coins, and cannot see how this is happening. I must be missing something obvious. However, I received this feedback from multiple couples, so I suspect it is true. The obvious fix for this would be to make it double progression (while single transgression). One simple solution would be: B2: Long lines forward and back; with the couple on the left diagonal, circle left 3/4, pass through up and down However, since I can't see the problem, I'm worried this isn't fixing it. I'm hoping the many brilliant minds on this list will have some insights Thoughts, comments, suggestions, smart remarks? Title: Becket's Crossing Author: Chris Kermiet Formation: becket, numerous lines, mostly equal length A1: Left diagonal, right and left through, straight across right and left through A2: Ladies Chain over and back B1: Shadow* allemande left, partner swing B2: straight across, pass through two (lines); long lines forward and back Notes: * Shadow is person on gents left, ladies right (or, at ends, across from you). It may not be the same person every time. **When doing this dance, most everyone will travel all over the set. There are two eddies: the top right corner and bottom left corner. Folks there will get stuck, and everyone else will come visit them. That is as it should be. To correct this, change the "Left diagonal" to "Right diagonal" which will swap the eddies to the top left and bottom right. Alternatively, abandon the 64-bar form, and change up the 'pass through two' with 'pass through 4' or even 'pass through six'. ***Note that I may not have gotten the order exactly right. It might actually start with A2, I don't right remember, exactly. ________________________________ This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments).
