Thank you, Colin Hume, for pointing out that Diamonds Are For Neffa is Becket. Note to Chris Page!
Lisa > On Apr 17, 2019, at 8:17 AM, Greenleaf <lal...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Here are the entries for the NEFFA 75th Contra Contest. Thanks again to all > of you who submitted dances. > > The dances are presented as written, mostly unedited. They are grouped by > author in order of submission, with the exception of the winning dance, which > is at the top. I do have all of this in a Word doc., so feel free to write me > off list for a copy as it may be easier to read. > > And a big thank you to Bob Isaacs for being a co-judge, as well as caller of > the winning dance at Neffa this past weekend. We had a blast working on this > together. > > Lisa Greenleaf > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > What Bob Isaacs and I said to announce the winner: > > The winner is Diamonds Are For Neffa, written by Chris Page. The judges feel > that his dance has good flow, is suitable for the NEFFA audience, and > includes very NEFFA-appropriate inter-set allemandes and a celebratory > diamond. Even the title is clever. We thank Chris for this wonderful > contribution to the NEFFA tradition. Congratulations! > > Diamonds Are For NEFFA Chris Page > Improper > A1 Shift left to new neighbors > Circle left ¾; > Neighbor swing > A2 Long lines forward and back; > Hands-across star right 7/8 (until Ladies are in the center of a > diamond, Gents are on the outside). > B1 Ladies (next Lady from the next star) allemande left 1; > Hands-across star right 3/4 (with original foursome); > Gents (with previous Gent from the next star) allemande left 1 > B2 Gents (in center of set, facing partner) walk forward to partner on side > Partner R Shoulder Round > Partner swing > > This is the base version of the dance. However, when there's multiple > lines and skilled dancers, point out that inactive dancers during the > B1 can allemande left once with a dancer from an adjacent contra line. > > If this is done, at the top of the A1, it's likely that your current > neighbors will be on the slight left diagonal, so you'll need to take > an extra step to the left to make sure you get to new neighbors. > > (as for the title, diamonds are 60th anniversary, but sometimes they > are 75th anniversary as well) > > Here's the one-line test video (times 14 through 17 of the dance, so > things had smoothed out): > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhrxUuVfRCY > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Diamond Jubilee Becket (reverse progression) Jim Hemphill > > A1 Balance in a ring and spin to a diamond (ladies in center facing up & > down, gents facing across) > > Balance the ring and petronella, gents form a long wave in the center > > A2 Balance the wave, turn by the right half way > > Swing a new neighbor > > B1 Slice on the left diagonal (to meet your partner), push straight back > > Ladies allemande right 1 1/2 > > B2 Partner balance and swing > > Notes: In A1 the 1st spin covers half the distance of a regular petronella. > The second spin gents turn an extra quarter to face across, take left hands > with current neighbor & right with the next. > > End effect: Put Lady on Left > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > NEFFA! Say NEFFA Again! Cary Ravitz > Becket > > A1 > (8) Right and left through across. > (8) Circle RIGHT 3/4. > A2 > (6) With partners, ladies lead a zig zag right and left to pass > neighbors. > (10) Look for a new neighbor to swing. > B1 > (8) Gents pass by the left to start a 1/2 hey. > (8) Gents allemande left 1+1/2. > B2 > (16) Partners balance and swing. > > Neffanella Cary Ravitz > indecent > > A1 > (16) Neighbors gypsy and swing. > A2 > (8) Right and left through across. > (8) Ladies allemande right 1+1/2. > B1 > (16) Partners balance and swing. > B2 > (8) Petronella balance and spin 1+1/2 places to a diamond. > (8) Petronella balance and spin 1+1/2 places to indecent progressed > position and turn to look for a new neighbor. > > > Neffarious Cary Ravitz > Becket, progresses right > > A1 > (7) Right and left through across. > (2) Partners trade places, gents behind ladies. > (7) Circle RIGHT 3/4. > A2 > (6) Neighbors allemande left once around. > (10) Look for a new neighbor to swing. > B1 > (8) Circle left 3/4. > (8) Ladies pass by the left to start a 1/2 hey. > B2 > (16) Partners balance and swing. > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Forty-Four Friends for 6 Bits (NEFFA Diamond Jubilee) > Barbara Renna DI > > 1. Two lines forward and back > > 2. Box the gnat with your partner > > 3. Right hand star with your group of four > > 4. Left hand star with the adjacent couple up or down the set > > 5. Right shoulders around with your original neighbor > > 6. Box the gnat with your neighbor (all have now progressed but are in > reversed positions) > > 7. Balance 2x with partner across the set > > 8. Swing partner (end with partner on original side of set, ready to begin > dance from start) > > About the title: The 44 is because NEFFA started in 1944, and because you > meet a lot of people at NEFFA, who > About the dance: Just as you meet and interact with many people at NEFFA, you > meet and interact with many people during this dance. > > > NEFFA Jubilee Jumble Barbara Renna (regular contra formation): > > 1. All circle to the left (end in original place) > > 2. Balance the ring 1x (and move one spot CCW around circle) > > 3. Right and Left through ¾ (W now back to original place, M are switched) > > 4. Left hand star with your own group of 4 > > 5. Right hand star with the adjacent couple from the next group up or down > the set (no one is in a group with their partner for this)(good to release > the left hand star when it’s about ⅞ of the way around!) > > 6. Balance the ring 1x with your original foursome (and move 1 spot CCW, > all are now progressed) > > 7. Left shoulder dosido with your neighbor along the line > > 8. Balance and swing your partner > > About the title: Sometimes things get a bit mixed up by accident during a > dance, but in this dance things get > About the dance: Everyone not only dances with everyone else, they even dance > outside of their foursome with someone other than their partner! > > > NEFFA 6.75 Barbara Renna (regular contra formation): > > 1. All circle to the left (all the way back to place) > > 2. Balance the ring 1x (advance 1 place CCW) > > 3. Right and Left through and back to place > > 4. Ladies chain ½ way > > 5. Men left hands around 1 ½ times (men are now progressed) > > 6. Balance and swing your partner along the side of the set > > 7. Ladies chain halfway (all are now progressed) > > 8. Dosido your partner across the set > > About the title: There are 6 states in New England and NEFFA has been > happening for 75 years. Also, 0.75 is ¾ and there are a lot of fractions in > contra dancing! (balance the ring + ladies chain = ¼ + ½ = ¾) > About the dance: I just put a lot of things I enjoy together in a way that I > thought was smooth and happy the way fractions and math and dancing all go > together and make me happy! > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Friendly New England Folks By Jane Ewing 11-2-18 Duple Improper > > A1 Neighbor Rt Hand Balance – pull by > > Partner Lf Hand pull by > > Neighbor Rt Hand Balance – pull by > > Partner Lf Hand pull by > > A2 Neighbor Balance & Swing > > B1 Circle Lf 3 Places > > Partner Swing > > B2 Long Lines Forward & Back > > Ladies Chain (face New Neighbor) > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Diamond Jubilee in Mansfield by Bob Green (duplex improper) > > A1 Balance the ring & spin to a diamond (Gent 1 top center, Gent 2 bottom > center) > Balance the ring, partners twirl to swap & reform the diamond > A2 Balance the ring & partner swing on the Gents current side > (Break the swing back in a diamond, Lady 1 bottom center, Lady 2 top > center) > B1 Balance the ring & spin to neighbor on the gents side > Neighbor swing > B2 Long lines forward & back > Pass through and twirl to swap with neighbor > > NOTE: The dance can be made slightly easier by replacing the balance and > twirl to swap in A1 with a balance and roll away with a half sashay. Also in > B1 it can be simplified with a balance the ring & swing on the Gents side. > > Here was a trial run with a mixed level of dancers: > http://youtu.be/IJNSwb7a-Ig > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > 75 Already? John Robert Becket > > A 1 : Slide left and circle left with a new couple, flatten into wave with > ladies In middle (8 > Balance r&l. neighboor allemande R Gents Allemande L to take hands with > partner and with other gent In the middle. > A 2 : Balance r&(4)l, partner allemande right(2), ladies allemande left (2), > swing neighboor(8) > B 1: Ladies Allemande left 1 1/2, pass partner right shoulder 1/2 hey > B 2 : Partner B&S > > 75th Stomp John Robert Becket > > A1: Left Diagonal Slide Foreward, fall back(8) Ladies Chain(8) > A2: Balance ring, spin right, petronella 2x > B1: Neighboor B&S > B2: Balance Ring, Ladies Draw partner Back For A Swing > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > NEFFA a Dull Moment by Jon Greene CCW Becket > > Suggested music: smooth jigs or reels, slow to moderate tempo > > A1: Circle left 3/4 and let go of partner’s hand to take hands in long lines > (with current and next neighbors), connecting the set at the ends to form a > giant oval (8) > Oval left (8) > > A2: Oval back right (8) > Drop next neighbor’s hand and retake partner’s hand to make a circle of > four and circle right exactly 1/2 (4) > Drop neighbors hand and give both hands to partner to start a CCW 1/2 > pousette (ladies initially backing up) around these same neighbors (~5) > > B1: CW 1/2 pousette (gents initially backing up) around next neighbors (~5) > Swing next neighbor (~10) > > B2: Two changes of a hey, gents pass left in the center, right with partner, > ladies push back (ricochet) (6) > Swing partner (10) > > Notes: Partners should drop hands a little before the end of the 3/4 circle > left in A1 to make it easier for the ladies in particular to flow into the > oval. Also, I’m hoping that dancers will naturally adjust the timing of the > circle to take a full 8 beats (instead of say 6 or 7) so that the oval left > starts right on beat 9. But the dance should still work even if the oval > starts a beat or two early as the eventual neighbor swing in B1 will > synchronize the dancers. > > During the transition in B1 from a pousette to a neighbor swing, partners > should stay connected until the last possible moment when the gents “catch” > the ladies almost blindly as they back into the swing. > > The push back hey in B2 has a similar dynamic as the gents catch their > partners as they back into the swing. > Couples waiting out are strongly encouraged to participate in the ovals. They > formally reenter the dance in B1 with the CW 1/2 pousette around new > neighbors. > > The title has two meanings for me. First, that NEFFA remains a vibrant and > exciting organization (even after 75 years) and second, that everyone is > always moving in the dance (i.e., there are no same gender allemandes, for > example). > > ————————————————————————————————————————————————————— > > Diamond Jubilee by Fred Wersan DI, Double Progression > > 1. Circle left all the way. (8) > 2. Swing neighbor. (8) > 3. Ones cast up the set and down the outside below the next neighbor. (8) > 4. Long lines forward and back. (8) > 5. Active couple turn contra neighbors: (16) > (First neighbor is to active dancers right, second is to the left.) > a. Active couple allemand right about 7/8 to > b. Allemand left first neighbor and back to center. > c. Active couple meet in center of set and ricochet to > d. Allemande left second neighbor. > 6. Active couple swing in the middle and end facing up. (8) > 7. Circle left with couple above half way and pass through to next neighbors. > (8) > > End effects – Could at the top will need to go below a neighbor at the cast. > Couple reaching the end will need to switch sides to get into the contra > neighbor figure. > > This might be a little challenging for what you want. You could alternate > between ones and twos by having the twos cast down the set and up the outside > to mirror what the ones do. However, I think that would be confusing for this > dance and given its duple minor, people will move up a reasonably size set > fairly quickly. > > ————————————————————————————————————————————————————— > > Diamonds for (N)EFFA Keith Wood November 2018 > Longways duple minor diamond, double progression 32 bar reels > > To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each > group of four circles ⅛(. place) to the left so ladies are in a line down the > middle of the set and men are on the side of the set. Diamond dances have a > double progression. > > > A1 Do-si-do neighbour > > Swing neighbour; finish facing your partner in the diamond, now with > Gents down the > middle and Ladies on the side of the set > > A2 R shoulder around partner > > Swing partner; finish diagonally opposite where you started, facing your > neighbour in the > diamond, once more with Ladies down the middle and Gents on the side of > the set > > B1 Star right once around > > Star left once around > > B2 Partners butterfly whirl half-way anti-clockwise to face out of your set > (4 beats) > > Still joined with your partner, Gents take left hand with the Gent from > the next set (where > possible) and Star promenade half-way into the next set, facing out (8 > beats); a couple > coming out at the top or bottom > > Swing partner (12 beats) > > In your new set, partners butterfly whirl half-way anti-clockwise to face new > neighbours in > the diamond (Ladies down the middle, Gents on the side) (4 beats) > > > NEFFA Enough Keith Wood November 2018 > Becket formation, clockwise progression 32 bar reels > > A1 Circle left . to a wavy line, Ladies join left hands, right to neighbour > > Balance the wave (forward and back) and walk forward to new neighbours > (progression) > > A2 Do-si-do neighbour > > Swing neighbor > > B1 Half hey, Gents pass L > > Mad Robin, clockwise with neighbour, Gents in to start > > B2 Slingshot: Neighbours butterfly whirl once around clockwise, Gents moving > forward, Ladies > backwards, and Gents cross the set passing right shoulder to partner > > Swing partner > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > This first one is inspired/along the lines of Linda Leslie's prior NEFFA > anniversary dances, e.g.: "Celebrating 60". I noted that hers had very easy > moves overall and featured long waves. This one honors that heritage and > other familiar contra themes while finishing with an unusual twist to reunite > partners. > > Celebrating 75 - Becket - Don Veino 20181216B > (or "Looking Back on 75", should Celebrating 75 not be available) > > A1 Gents to Center Wave, Balance > Gents Back Out WHILE Ladies to Center Wave, Balance > (Ladies note Gent on left diagonal) > > A2 Ladies Allemande Left 1/2x, Next Ladies Right 1/2x to > Neighbor Swing > > B1 Long Lines Forward to Partner and Back > (swing should finish straight across from partner but might be slightly > offset) > Circle Left 3/4x (to face Partner up/down) > With Neighbor, Couple Dosido 1/2x* around Partner, drop hands and look > back/right to... > > B2 Gypsy and Swing Partner > > * Technically, 3/8x. This seems to be the best way to describe the move to > dancers, but I'm open to others. I've tried "Zig Left and Right around > Partner" and "Sliding Doors" as well. I have them drop hands as they move > left and start turning over shoulder as they shift back right. It goes very > smoothly after a try or two. > > My second recognizes NEFFA's Diamond Jubilee in the title and plays on the > New England-based Friendly's Ice Cream classic dessert. It incorporates > several "modern" moves while honoring a little of our ECD/early contra > heritage in forming the diamond. > > Jubilee Roll - DI - Don Veino 20181105D > > A1 Long Lines Forward & GNT/LRK Roll LDY/RVN on way back > LDY/RVN Gate GNT/LRK CW 1+1/4x (to GNT/LRK facing up/down in center) > > A2 Diamond Balance, GNT/LRK Pass NBR Right**, LDY/RVN Pass Left > Half Hey, Pass PNR Right > (so feels like a 3/4x Hey overall, Lefts in center) > > B1 PNR Gypsy & Swing > > B2 Gents Allemande Left 1+1/2x, NBR Swing > > ** Having the Gents move to the outside first creates more room for the first > pass of the Ladies. > > My third entry is simply a fun dance inspired by the classic tune Joys of > Quebec - the title salutes that tune and the myriad ways NEFFA brings joy to > participants. > > The Joys of NEFFA - DI - Don Veino 20190129 > > A1 Long Lines Fwd & GNT/LRK Roll NBR Away Back, keep tension to... > (or alt., if you are concerned about difficulty: NBR RH Balance, Box the Gnat) > NBR Dosido 1+1/4x to a Wave/4 across (GNT/LRK by LH, RH to NBR) > > A2 Wave/4 Balance Rt & Lt, Slide/Twirl Right > Wave/4 Balance Lt & Rt, Slide/Twirl Left (GNT/LRK all the way across to PNR) > > B1 PNR Pull By Right into Half Hey, PNR Swing > > B2 Give & Take to GNT/LRK, NBR Swing > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Happy Diamond Jubilee, NEFFA! - a Down-the-Hallmark Greeting Card* > (2-9-2019) by Elizabeth Bloom Albert > Improper formation. > > {Dance starts in short wavy lines, [Ladies in center, L-hands joined]} > > A1 (4) Balance the wave R/L > (4) Slide or spin right; form a new wave (as in Rory O'More) > (4) Balance this wave L/R > (4) Slide or spin left (as in Rory) but end in diamond > > {Ladies in center of the set (#1 Lady facing down the hall); Gents on sides > facing in (standing to left of their partner)} > > A2 (4) Balance the diamond > (4) Spin one place to the Right (as in Petronella) > (4) Gents in center: R-hand {handshake-grip} Balance > (4) Gents Allemande-R 3/4 > > {Form a new wave: Gents in center, R-hands joined; Partner is in Left hand} > > B1 (4) Balance the wave LEFT/Right > (2) Slide* Left > (10) Swing Partner > > B2 (8) Star Left 3/4 > (4) Neighbors: L-hand Balance > (4) Pull-by L > > {Take R-hand with next Neighbor, Ladies join L-hands in center of new wave, > ready to re-start dance in A1} > > NOTES: > > B1: Dancers can “Rory” here if they like, however they will have more time > for the partner swing if they don’t. > > There is no "Down the Hall" in this dance! But please don’t accuse me of > false advertising; this dance has many of the **hallmarks** of a typical > (corny) greeting card: > The Diamond in A2 is the central image on the face of the card, as it should > be for a Diamond Jubilee, but the card is also adorned with stars (well one > anyway, in B2) and curly-cue confetti that mimic the trail of the Rory spins > in A1. > All the thumbs-up grips as dancers form waves in A1 & B1? That’s us in > Chicago, giving you the thumbs-up, that all-American way of saying, “Way to > go!" > When gents execute their right-hand balance in A2, they are shaking right > hands, saying, “Congratulations!” > And last but not least: > The Petronella spin in A2 gives dancers the opportunity to clap, thereby > applauding you. Keep up the good work, and give us many more years of dancing > and fellowship! > > The “Half We Had e-NEFFA Contra?” Dance* > Beckett formation; start one-quarter turn to RIGHT of Improper; this dance > progresses CCW. > > A1 (8) R/L thru X-set w/ courtesy turn > (2) Gents: Roll Partner with 1/2 sashay* > [w/ Neighbor:] > (6) [Ladies push] 1/2 Pousette > > A2 (4) Neighbor [inside hands] Balance > (4) Star thru** > (4) Partner [inside hands] Balance > (4) Star thru** > > B1 (8) Gents pass Left to start a 1/2 Hey > (8) Swing Partner > > B2 (8) Long lines F/B > (8) 1/2-Promenade X-set, with wide loop to right > [End promenade facing new neighbors X-set] > > NOTES: > > A1: Finishing a courtesy turn with a roll-away/half-sashay is unusual, but > should flow nicely once dancers get the hang of it. Basically, the courtesy > turn has both lady and gent rotating counter-clockwise; so when the gent uses > his left hand to (gently!) tug before letting go of their joined left hands, > she will continue (solo) her counter-clockwise spin until she is standing > side by side with her partner, but on his left. (Gent makes room for her by > shifting right.) > > A2: Star thru is a move more common in square dance. Dancers begin facing > each other, with the gent's right hand and the lady's left hand joined; > dancers raise joined hands, ladies walk under arch; dancers end facing same > direction. > > * Hopefully the answer to the question posed here is a resounding “No!” > My original title was The Can’t Get e-NEFFA Contra Dance, but then I looked > at all the halves I had incorporated (1/2 sashay, 1/2 pousette; 1/2 hey) and > **halving** a soft spot for puns, I came up with a way to use “half” in the > title… > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Time-y NEFFA Dancin' Dane Wallinga > progressed improper (or reverse progression indecent, depending on which > terminology you prefer) > > A1: Balance partner across the set (4) and star through (4) > Take hands in a ring and balance (4) and petronella (4) > > A2: Partner balance and swing (16) > > B1: Larks allemande left 3/4 to form a long wave along the center of the set > (4) and balance (4). At the end of this, ravens should be looking directly at > their neighbor's back. Larks are facing an empty space between two ravens > (their partner and their shadow), with their partner slightly to the left. > > Larks walk forward out of the center while ravens follow their neighbor > straight forward into the set. Ravens catch left hands, allemande left > halfway (4), then right halfway with a new neighbor raven while larks loop > over their right shoulder to face back in. > > B2: New neighbor balance and swing (16) > > End effects: > The progression happens improper, so couples can wait out as normal with the > lark on the left, and the raven on the right. > > > _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
