https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter
On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > Hello all, > > Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways set > dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an evening. > But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking to grow > their familiarity with the dance form. > > I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor > swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways > in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a > while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option: > > Pluck It > Contra/Becket-CW > > A1 ----------- > (8) Circle Left > (8) Circle Right > A2 ----------- > (8) Left hand Star > (8) Right hand Star > B1 ----------- > (8) Partner Do-si-do > (8) Partner swing > B2 ----------- > (8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set > (8) Long lines, yearn left > > This is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter Shot > but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, which > in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I wouldn't > use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think it's > accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and if > folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't > really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over improper > for this type of dance; different position on the side is less disorienting > than different side of the set). > > What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No larks > allemande or robins chain, etc. > > On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one (which > may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community dance I > was at: > > A Pillar of Weathersfield > Contra/Becket-CW > > A1 ----------- > (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) > (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) > A2 ----------- > (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall > B1 ----------- > (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) > (8) Return and face across > B2 ----------- > (8) Long lines, forward and back > (8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress > (Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and the > new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple) > > I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level contras > when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper dances with > neighbor swings. > > Thanks! > Luke Donforth > Burlington, VT > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
_______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
