I would add to this that you might want to not even use the word
"promenade" for the two measures of promenade followed by California twirl.
Get them facing the right direction, have then take inside hands, and
walk four steps. I've called it several times (once as a deliberate
plan before calling "Joyride" so that people would have an idea about
connection and pushing in pousssettes) and I've found that if you say
"promenade" experienced dancers will automatically go into various
both-hands-held positions and/or start twirling, and then be surprised
that they've only got four steps instead of the more common eight.
Spare yourself the hassle. "Take inside hands and walk four steps."
-- Alan
On 2/19/2014 6:15 PM, Karin N wrote:
I love this dance and have called it with delightful success for a mostly
experienced group of contra dancers. It's a tricky to teach because of switches
in orientation and new neighbors, and can be tricky to dance if come of the
dancers become disoriented by those quick changes.
That little bit of distance at the end of A2/beginning of B1might best be
described as 'arms length for both you and your partner' because you want to be
able to generate some 'weight' or 'springiness' to begin pulling together for
the first box the gnat, then successfully complete the next three moves in B1
in a timely way. [Think of the old Jitterbug dancing.]
Karin Neils
On Feb 19, 2014, at 3:47 PM, Michael Dyck wrote:
"Disturbed by Insects" is published in Inga Morton's book "Square Dance
Century", where it's accompanied by this note:
After each of the movements in B1, move
a little away from the other person.
This suggests to me that there's supposed to be a bit of a gap between the
inner and outer circles after each movement in B1. So each 4 count phrase
in B1 is supposed to be enough time to close the gap, do the box/swat, and
reopen the gap. From that point of view, it makes sense that B1 would
*start* with a bit of a gap too.
(Mind you, my guess is that, in practice, (at least in North America)
dancers wouldn't leave much of an inter-circle gap after each movement in
B1, so having a gap at the start of B1 is harder to justify on symmetry
grounds.)
In any event, I think the intended gap at the start of B1 is smaller that
you're imagining. I.e., A2's second push back isn't very far. Maybe you
could add texture by saying that A2's first push-back + return should be
big steps, and then the second should be small steps.
-Michael
On 14-02-19 10:48 AM, Jonathan Sivier wrote:
I'm planning to call the circle mixer Disturbed By Insects on Friday
(in part in honor of the 31st annual Insect Fear Film Festival being held
this weekend here in Champaign-Urbana) and I've got a question about one of
the instructions. The instructions I have are
Disturbed by Insects
Inga Morton
mixer
Formation: circle of couples, all facing counterclockwise
A1 Promenade (with inside hands joined)
California twirl
Promenade back
California twirl (then join both hands)
A2 Ladies, push your partner to the center
Gents, push your partner back
Ladies, push your partner to the center
Ladies, go back
B1 With your partner box the gnat
With your opposite to the left swat the flea
With your opposite to the right box the gnat
With your opposite to the left swat the flea
B2 With your opposite to the right balance and swing
This all makes sense except at the end of A2. If the ladies go back,
and the gents stay put, then they will be separated by a gap and won't be
able to reach their partner for the "box the gnat" at the beginning of B2.
So it seems to me that it should say either "Ladies, go back and the gents
follow" or "Gents, push your partner back again" or something similar.
Does anyone have any advice on this? Thanks.
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