Hi Rich, I'm not sure what part you need explained, but to me, the dance appears to be 64 steps, normal contra length. Unfortunately, I can't read ABC notation, and the tune Jim sent is coming up garbled when I put it through a converter, so I don't know how the tune works. I'll try to explain all of the dance moves, since I'm not sure which part wasn't clear:
The dance is proper, and starts with the number one couples crossing to the other side of the set to do a hey for 3 with those on that side (so number 1 gent with numbers 2 and 3 ladies, number 1 lady with numbers 2 and 3 gents). At the end of that hey, the 1s cross over again and cast into second place, with the 2s moving up to accommodate them. Next, the 1s and 2s do a full right and left through (over and back again). That part is a little bit unclear to me as well but I'm guessing it's a right and left through and not four changes of rights and lefts. Then, the number 1 couples (who are in second place) set to their contra corners-- number 1 gent will set to lady 3 first, then lady 2 (in first place), number 1 lady will set to gent 2 (in first place) first, then to gent 3. The dance finishes with the number one couples turning their backs on their partners and leading out (and presumably falling back in). Since the notation says just the 1s lead out, perhaps that means they don't take the line of three with them, but I'm not sure about that part. The dance should then end, with the 1s having switched places with the 2s, and thus it's progressed like a triple minor (with new 2s at the bottom of the set). Hope this helps! And if somebody who knows abc notation well can send a pdf of the tune, that would be interesting to those of us who aren't abc-literate. -Dave On Tue, Mar 18, 2014 at 1:53 PM, rich sbardella <richsbarde...@snet.net>wrote: > > > Can someone explain the dance below? Also, is this dance 128 steps and 64 > bars? > Rich > > > ________________________________ > From: Jonathan Sivier <jsiv...@illinois.edu> > To: Caller's discussion list <call...@sharedweight.net> > Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 12:10 PM > Subject: Re: [Callers] 1820s-1830s Dances > > > On 3/17/2014 10:11 PM, rich sbardella wrote: > > I am looking for some period dances that might have been danced in small > New England towns in 1820-1830. Should be easy enough for children. > > Any suggestions? > > Authentic dances of the period and ones easy enough for children may be > two different things. In a small New England town they might have been > doing contra dances. Check Cracking Chestnuts by David Smukler and David > Millstone. The popular dances of that period would have been quadrilles. > The waltz was also being done as a couple dance, but was consider > scandalous until the polka became popular in the mid-1840's. The Gallop > came into popularity around 1829 so I suppose Galopede (or other similar > dances) might be considered authentic for this period. > > > Also, does any know the steps to "Barrel of Sugar"? Recommended music? > > It's in A Choice Selection of American Country Dances of the > Revolutionary Era 1775-1795 by Kate Van Winkle Keller and Ralph Sweet. > > Barrel of Sugar > triple proper > > AA 1's hey on opposite sides, 1's cross back and cast to 2nd place at the > end of the hey > BB 1's and 2's rights and lefts > AA 1's set to contrary corners > BB 1's lead out at the sides > > Jonathan > ----- > Jonathan Sivier > Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances > jsivier AT illinois DOT edu > Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html > ----- > Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? > A: It depends on what dance you call! > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > -- David Casserly (cell) 781 258-2761
