David and All:
Thanks for sharing A Quarter More, as I was not aware it was the dance that
introduced the yearn. I thought both slice and yearn referred to the same
single progression move, and it was a matter of regional taste as to which was
used. I did not invent the term slice, and do not know who did. But I like
the move and use it in my dances a fair amount. It is an easy and efficient
progression in 8 beats, which means there's plenty of time for other ideas.
And yes, Lisa, it has worked in medleys when I know the audience well - even if
dancers don't know it, they can easily fake it/figure it out on the fly.
So back in 2006 when a bunch of us wrote Slice of Pinewoods, we thought we were
creating a new move, the double slice, but really were just rediscovering
George Walker's yearn. Even so, I prefer the terms slice and double slice, as
they indicate the number of progressions (in addition to the yearn/urine
issue). It's also been my experience the double slice is better in long lines
rather than going two by two - more connectedness means less possible confusion
over which couple to finish across from.
BTW, there's another variant here:
Half a Slice Becket-L / BI
A1. 8 Half a slice L to a line/4 (1)
8 Down hall in line/4 – turn alone
A2. 8 Up hall and bend line
8 Ladies allemande L 1½
B1. 4,12 Neighbor balance, swing
B2. 6 Circle L ¾
10 Partner swing – face on L diagonal
(1) – As in a normal slice, go forward towards each other on the L diagonal.
But here the top two dancers (1L and 2G) keep hands joined and the bottom two
push off (1G’s L hand and 2L’s R hand) so all face down. This is an efficient
way to get everyone progressed and facing down in 8 beats, so there is time for
creative or dramatic push-offs.
Bob
> Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:04:02 -0400
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Callers] Yearn / Slice?
>
> I'd appreciate some clarification about several relatively new terms in the
> contra
> dance world.
>
> In her description of Fruit Punch, Joy wrote:
>
> A1 With couple on L diagonal, Yearn to new Neighbors and fall straight back
> (8)
>
> My understanding was that "yearn" means moving on the left diagonal toward
> one
> set of dancers, and then back from there on the left diagonal so that a
> couple
> has moved two places. If I understand Fruit Punch, the couple has only moved
> one
> place, forward on the left diagonal and then straight back. I've heard Bob
> Isaacs
> and others refer to that move as "slice" left but I don't know if that's
> common
> usage.
>
> "Yearn" was created by Seattle choreographer George Walker in his dance "A
> Quarter
> More/"
>
> http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_121.html
>
> David Millstone
> Lebanon, NH
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