I wrote this one! I wanted a simple dance that followed the AABBCC format,
because all the others I'd found weren't very beginner-friendly. I based
this one on Don Flaherty's Heartbeat Contra, and just expanded a bit. If
anyone gets a chance to call it, please send me feedback! Thank you!
96 Heartbeats, by JJ Luxe.
Improper
A1: (16) Balance Ring & Petronella Twirl 2x.
A2: (16) Neighbor Balance & Swing.
B1: (8) Long Lines Fwd & Back.
(8) Robins Chain.
B2: (16) Hey for 4 [Robins start Right].
C1: (16) Partner Balance and Swing.
C2: (8) Circle Left ¾.
(8) Balance Ring and Partner California Twirl,
face new neighbors
On Tue, Aug 1, 2023, 22:29 J L Korr via Contra Callers <
[email protected]> wrote:
> I love the current discussion of AABBCC dances and will use this as an
> opportunity to encourage the dance composers out there to write more! I
> began writing them for two main reasons:
>
> (1) I adore the beautiful 48-bar reels and jigs that many bands can play
> if given the opportunity, but rarely get the chance.
>
> (2) There are choreographic storylines that just can't fit into 32 bars of
> choreography, but can fit nicely into a 48-bar "story."
>
> With those factors in mind, I wrote Utah Reel which Maia mentioned (turn
> all four contra corners plus a diagonal hey), Jabberwocky (a hey on the
> side with three neighbors, far outside the minor set), and Three-Day
> Weekend (grand right and left all the way through neighbor #5), all
> findable in Caller's Box. None of those figures would fit cleanly for me
> into a 32-bar dance, but they work with 48 bars and dancers at
> challenging/experienced dances can generally handle them. I'm happy to
> share tune recommendations and teaching tips with anyone who'd like them,
> for any of those dances. (Thanks to Chris Page for feedback during the
> composing process for all those dances.)
>
> It's true that, as Bill Olson wrote, dancers need extra prompting nudges
> to remember that 48-bar dances go for more than 32 bars. But to me, it's
> worth it to get to dance to Reel Beatrice, or Ragtime Annie, or Reel des
> Accordéonistes, or lots of other great 48-bar tunes, plus get to do some
> fun uncommon figure combinations. I'm sure there are other fun
> choreographic storylines just waiting for their chance to star in a 48-bar
> dance -- let me know if you write a new one!
>
> Jeremy Korr
> Claremont, Calif. / Woods Hole, Mass.
>
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