While preparing to teach the beginners' session for tonight's dance in Olympia, WA, I jotted down several figures I could teach that would be simple enough, flow reasonably well and get them dancing. I looked at my list and said, "Huh! This looks like an actual dance." I was missing one figure to complete it. Today, while waiting for our caucus to begin, I decided on the final figure. My caller/musician friend, Valerie Cohen, who was sitting next to us, said I should call it the Caucus Shuffle. I said I was planning to call it "Feelin' the Bern," to which she responded, "Then it should progress left." You're welcome.
I think the dance works whether one starts at A1 or A2. Starting at A2 would end with a partner swing, which is always nice at the end of the evening. At any rate, here's the dance. My questions are, 1) does this already exist? and 2) do you see any major problems with it? Feelin' the Bern Becket, improper contra A1 Partner swing (16) A2 Long lines forward and back (8) Mad robin (ladies go in front) (8) B1 Circle right 3 places (~8) New neighbors star right (8) B2 Neighbor allemande right (8) Half hey (gents pass left), ladies ricochet (8) -Amy P.S. I'm going to call it tonight, but not for the beginner session. I'll start by having everyone shuffle, single-file, around the oval of the set, until they return to where they started.