Thanks for the comments, everyone. Very helpful, especially the tip about
promenading into the proper formation.
I noticed no one has responded yet to the question about whether a large number
of contra dances could be run as Sicilian circles. I'd be curious to hear what
others say, but my instinct is that it would maybe be problematic. The
curvature of the format would seem to make heys and other figures more
challenging to execute - the spacing between minor sets might also be impacted
in that formation. So, for instance, when doing a sequence like "alle right N1
1/2x along the side then alle left next N 1x", the distance between N #1 and
N#2 might easily be greater than in a regular contra. Anyway, this is just an
initial gut reaction - let's see what the hive mind thinks.
As for "barnburner" dances, that's a broad term, and there are so many to
choose from. How about, as a starting bid, "From Here to Infinity" by Bob
Isaacs...
Chuck
________________________________
From: Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 4, 2023 11:18 PM
To: New Contra Callers List <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Sicilian Circle question
It appears that in that book the dance formation is given as a longways,
duple, improper set. Not the circle of couple facing couple that we typically
connect to the Sicilian circle formation. The dance just before it is the
Spanish Dance and gives as the formation, "The first couple at the head of the
room, with their backs to the wall; the next couple facing the first; the third
couple with their backs to the second; the fourth couple facing the third; and
all the rest are formed in the same manner, every two couples facing each
other, without regard to numbers."
Then it says, "As each couple arrives at the end of the room, they must
turn round and wait for the next couple to meet them, the gentlemen being
careful to have their ladies always on the right hand.
This seems to be describing a longways dance instead of a circle. Under
Sicilian Circle it says, "This dance is formed precisely the same as the
Spanish Dance," so that would seem to be a longways dance as well.
I think I have read that Spanish Dance was also used in the 19th century as
the generic name for the circle of couples facing each other. So were these
dances described somewhere with the circle formation, or was that just
something that someone did at one point and it stuck?
Jonathan
On 2/4/2023 4:52 PM, David Harding via Contra Callers wrote:
> There is a specific old dance bearing the name "Sicilian Circle". You can
> find it in, for instance, this 1857 instruction book from the Library of
> Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/musdi.094/ The name has come to imply
> the formation and general pattern.
>
> On 2/4/2023 3:49 PM, Joe Harrington via Contra Callers wrote:
>> Newbie question: Why is it called a "Sicilian" circle?
>>
>> While certain dances came from long ago with that label, wouldn't many/most
>> contras work, as long as the circle isn't too small and the 1s and 2s are
>> comparably active?
>>
>> --jh--
>>
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