Luke Donforth said "I'd like to flesh out options for that level of
crowd that aren't mixers and are swing forgiving".
For that crowd you can always challenge another sacred cow and don't
have swings! All these work well with beginner contra groups:
Family Contra (by Sherry Nevins)
Contra; Improper
A1: Balance the Ring x2; Circle Left
A2: Balance the Ring x2; Circle Right
B1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido
B2: As Couples Dosido 1 & 1/2 to a New Couple
Finding Your Balance (by John Sweeney)
Contra; Becket (CW)
A1/A2: Four Changes of Right & Left with Balances Forward & Back before
each one - Start Right with Partner
B1: Balance the Ring; Men Cross
Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross
B2: Half Promenade
Yearn on the Left Diagonal to New Neighbours
(Or First & Second Corners for the crossings if you want to avoid
gender)
Duck! (by John Sweeney)
Contra; Improper; Double Progression
A1: Neighbour Dosido
Neighbour Two Hand Turn - open into a circle
A2: Circle Left; Circle Right
B1: Men Dosido
Ladies Dosido
B2: Balance the Ring; #2s Arch, #1s Duck Through to New Circle
(Turn (as a couple) quickly if you have reached the end and join
in again straight away)
Balance the Ring; #2s Arch, #1s Duck Through to face New
Neighbours
(Or First & Second Corners for the Dosidos if you want to avoid gender)
(I had intended to alternate the arching - but having all the arches
come up the hall is easier for beginners.)
Jefferson & Liberty
Contra; Improper
A1: Circle Left
Circle Right
A2: Star Right
Star Left
B1: #1 Balance & Swing - finish facing down
B2: Down the Hall in Lines of Four; #1s Arch
#2s through the arch to face New Neighbours
(I think the original B1 was #1s Separate, go down the outside (8)
Come back up the outside and into the centre (8))
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
