Hi Tony, Rich, Richard, Alan, Mac, and others who have reached out. Thanks so so many suggestions for squares and 3X3 dances. Wow!!! Many of them look as though they will definitely do the trick. Now I really need to dig in and do my homework over the next few days to get a few of these dances ready to go.
Tony - I have heard rumours that you are working on a book for calling traditional squares. Is that in the works? Thank you all... ... I really appreciate all the help. :) Emily in Ottawa On Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 10:30 AM Tony Parkes <[email protected]> wrote: > Regarding squares: > > > > Every caller who uses squares should have Cumberland Square Eight in their > repertoire. It’s easy both to dance and to call. > > > > CUMBERLAND SQUARE EIGHT (trad. English) > > Music: My Love Is But a Lassie Yet (2/4) or Athol Highlanders (6/8) or > some of each > > A.1 Heads slide across in ballroom hold or “kayak” position (join two > hands, spread arms to side); gents pass back to back > > Return, ladies passing back to back > > A.2 Sides the same > > B.1 Heads right hands across (English star), left hands back > > B.2 Sides the same > > C.1 Heads basket > > C.2 Sides the same > > D.1 All circle left once around > > D.2 All promenade once around > > > > A polka or rant step is traditional for D.1 and D.2, but a dance-walk can > be used. > > With groups that don’t know the buzz step (i.e. at most one-nighters), I > replace the basket with a slipping circle of four (to the left only, about > twice around). > > It seems to be traditional to do the whole dance twice through – or is > that just because it neatly filled up half a record side in the days of 78s? > > > > Just about my favorite easy square is Kitchen Lancers. It does take a bit > more calling skill than Cumberland. > > > > KITCHEN LANCERS (one of several simplified versions of the 5th figure of > the Lancers Quadrille from 1817, collected at country dances in New England > and Quebec) > > Music: Quebecois reels (note that it’s a 48-measure figure, but you can > use 32-measure tunes and start the 2nd and 4th couples halfway through the > tune) > > A.1 Couple 1 promenade the inside, ending at home facing out; sides jump > in behind #1 to form a column all facing the music > > A.2 All forward and back; all slide to right and return to left > > B.1 Ladies/ravens parade in single file around partner’s line (four > around four, not each one around one) > > B.2 Gents/larks the same > > C.1 All face partner, back up three steps, forward three steps; swing > partner to original place in the square > > C.2 All join hands, forward and back twice > > Sequence: Once for each couple (when a side couple is active, the heads > will jump in at A.1) > > > > After the walkthrough, I mention that the whole contraption will face a > different wall for each active couple. Sometimes I walk A.1 and C.1 for > Couple 2 to illustrate this. > > > > Tony Parkes > > Billerica, MA, USA > > > > *From:* Emily Addison via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> > *Sent:* Saturday, November 23, 2019 2:19 PM > *To:* Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> > *Subject:* [Callers] Really fun 3X3 dances? And easy squares? > > > > Hi fellow callers! > > > > I remember seeing a video a few months back from the Portland Intown > contra. The dancers seemed to be having an absolute blast with a 3X3 > contra-like dance. > > > > Does anyone have any really fun 3X3 dances? > > I'm looking to add variety into the formations I'm calling at an upcoming > contra/square/barn dance. > > > > Also --> Any suggestions for super fun but easy to learn square figures? > > > > Thanks! > > Emily in Ottawa >
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