I am going through some old English Dance & Song magazines and found this from December 1964:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = East Meets West This dance has been in vogue for many years now and in response to repeated requests, we reprint it here. It was composed, we understand, by Ralph Page after a visit to the west coast of the U.S.A. and called " East Meets West ' as the dance incorporates certain west coast square dance movements within the framework of a New England style contra. Formation: duple improper. Music: 32 bar reels (see note below) although some prefer jigs. A.1. Lines of four move down the room (holding hands, ones between the twos), turn towards contrary and return, bringing twos in front of ones (progression). A.2. Circle four, left and right. B.1. Western style do-paso, i.e. men turn contrary lady with left hand, cross and turn partner with right hand, cross again and turn contrary lady with left hand straight into ... B.2. Half promenade across, and half right and left back. NOTE: if the tune " Little Old Log Cabin " (Swing Partners, p. 7) is used, the following singing call might be found useful : Oh go down in fours together, turn round and come back home, To that little old log cabin in the lane, Then you circle to the left and then you circle back again To that little old log cabin in the lane. Allemande left your corner; allemande right your own And give left hand to that corner girl again. Then you promenade across the set and right and left back home, To your little old log cabin in the lane = = = = = = = = = = = = = But Zesty Contras (1983) says: = = = = = = = = = = = = = East Meets West (by Herbie Gaudreau) Contra; Improper A1 Neighbour Allemande Left 1/2; Ladies' Chain; Ladies' Chain back A2 Circle Left; Circle Right B1 Neighbour Allemande Left; Partner Allemande Right; Neighbour Allemande Left B2 Half Promenade; R & L Through Only a decade ago this was a very innovative dance = = = = = = = = = = = = = The reference to a "decade ago" seems to imply that Herbie wrote the dance around 1973. But the version at the top claims to be old in 1964. They are obviously the same dance since they have the same name and only differ in the A1 (and I can understand why the A1 was changed as the transition from R&L Thru into Lines of Four doesn't appear to be particularly smooth!). Does anyone know any more about the history of this dance and its various versions? Thanks. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
