LOL, this is quickly becoming a game of "how would YOU do a dance like this?" I'm going to add my vision into the mix. I do a lot of family dances, and I envision this as a mixer for a family group who would be comfortable with a mixer (not all groups would be.)
And to satisfy the "every dance must have a name" crowd*, I'm calling it "Catch for Three" and it should be done to jigs. Promenade in threes Innie face an outie, Clap: together, right, together, left, quickly turn to other outie, clap: together, right, together, left, repeat Innie figure eight around outies (or just walk, run, skip around them, or whatever) Pick one of them, make a two hand arch while the other one becomes the new innie. New innies walk (reverse LOD) through arches. Catch one, all promenade. * I am concerned about the current cult of "every dance must have a name and an author." I've met a caller who proudly said "I've written a new dance. I call it Virginia No Reel." Every caller I know who does family dances does a Virginia No Reel when needed. This is not something that anyone can claim to have written, exactly. I know that callers are an egotistical bunch, but let's try to reign it in a bit. Actually, come to think of it, I'm less concerned about the "every dance must have a name" thing than I am about the naming of new dance MOVES. If you can't describe it with plain English, or it isn't traditional, don't use it. Certainly don't add a new name!!! Case in point (from the 1980's just in case you think I'm picking on new callers) The move "Fish hook" (introduced, I believe, in "Bees in the Shower.") I now simply call that as "pass through, loop to the right." It simply works better. The fancy name wasn't necessary; it did nothing to help the dancers. Soap box? What soap box? Beth Parkes -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Fischer Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 5:55 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] New Dance for Threes Great! Please report back if you try it out, Amy. Richard On Feb 12, 2012, at 4:47 PM, Amy Cann wrote: > I *love* this. > > On Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 4:31 PM, Dale Wilson <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi Richard, >> >> I took the liberty of "adapting" your dance a bit then called it last night >> at a dance in Elsah, Il. The crowd of about thirty dancers was a fairly >> even mix of experienced dancers and first or second timers with a >> wide range of ages (Teens to 80's). >> >> The revised instructions I used were: >> >> Make groups of three people--gender doesn't matter. If it doesn't come >> out even, make one or two groups of two people so everyone gets to dance. >> >> Make a big circle holding hands with the people in your group, then turn >> your group of three together to face right. Like spokes on a wheel. >> >> Notice who's closet to the middle of the big circle. That's the >> INSIDE person. >> >> Everybody walk forward (promenade holding hands). >> >> Make a circle of three and circle to the right. >> Circle left. End with the inside person facing both partners. [Note it >> doesn't matter which way the group as a whole is facing] >> >> Inside person with right hand partner: Clap (self); clap (self); Clap >> both hands with right hand partner; pause a beat. >> Inside person with left hand partner: Clap(self); clap(self) Clap >> both hands with left hand partner; pause a beat. >> Inside person with left hand partner: Allemande right (about 3/4ths) >> Inside person with right hand partner: Allemand left once. >> Repeat the allemand's until the caller says "Swing" then inside >> person swing (or two hand turn, or...) the one they are with.[*] >> Extra people go to the middle of the circle and mess around with each >> other (that got a laugh) Mingle; Improvise. >> When caller says "Promenade" the swinging couples make the spokes of >> the wheel again and extra people join in as the new inside person. >> >> [*] Last time through the caller says "As a group of three, Swing" to >> end the dance. >> >> There was mild confusion particularly at the transition from clapping >> to allemandeing. There was also a lot of laughing and smiling. I'd >> say it's a hit. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Dale >> >> >> >> On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 4:54 PM, Richard Fischer < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Actually I've just recently written a dance for threes. It meets >>> only >> some >>> of Rickey's criteria, and I haven't yet tried it out on my kids at >> school, >>> but I will soon. I'll paste it below, and if you give it a try, I'd >>> love >> to >>> hear how it went! >>> >>> Richard >>> >>> Mixer for Groups of Three >>> >>> Tentative Title "Near and Far" >>> >>> to the tune Beaumont Rag >>> >>> Richard Allen Fischer >>> >>> (numbers refer to beats) >>> >>> A1 (first time through) Promenade CCW in groups of three (16) >>> (Note who the inside-track person is.) >>> >>> A2 Circle left (8) and circle right (8) in groups of three End in a >>> spoke-like line with inside-track person facing out of the >> circle >>> to their partners, and their two partners facing in towards them >>> >>> B1 (Clapping pattern: clap, clap, clap, rest. First two claps with >> one's >>> own hands, last with a partner) >>> All clap own hands twice, then inside-track person with >> nearest >>> partner (4) >>> All clap own hands twice, then inside-track person with >> distant >>> partner (4) >>> All clap own hands twice, then inside-track person with >> nearest >>> partner (4) >>> Boogie/Clog/Improvise (4) >>> >>> B2 Caller says "Choose Near" or "Choose Far." Inside-track person >> swings >>> one partner, and the other partner goes to the center. Folks in the >> center >>> are encouraged to improvise on their own and with each other during >> B2. >>> >>> Dance begins again with (and proceeds with) >>> >>> A1 Promenade CCW with partner; folks in center join a couple as the >>> inside-track person. >>> >>> Dance ends with >>> >>> B2 Caller says "Choose Both!" Swing all three. >>> >>> Notes: Some playfulness/dodging/blocking expected with the >>> clapping in B1. Center dancers are discouraged from rejoining their >>> old group. In my school setting I would use the calls in B2 to avoid >>> awkwardness about choosing; in other setting calls might not be >>> needed. Again, in my school setting, swing can be a two-hand turn, >>> elbow turns, ballroom position swing, etc. >>> >>> >>> >> -- >> *So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix >> it?* _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >> > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
