Thanks for this thread! My group is tired of me bailing out to a small collection of trivial contras (Airpants, Midwest Folklore...).
How about the easiest dance *that experienced dancers don't mind dancing*? I have always disliked the "full washing machine" of circle left, circle right, star right, star left. Even a half-wash makes my shoulders sag, inwardly. Of course, I will try to do them with a smile and encourage both the new dancers and the caller. But, surely we can make it a little more interesting without losing the newbies. Airpants and Midwest Folklore do, though they involve swings. Elbow or crossed-hand swings are fine for this and don't need to be taught outside of a walkthrough. If I'm using these dances in a workshop, I do tell the experienced dancers not to teach the ballroom swing, we'll get to that in a minute. Otherwise, they all try. --jh-- On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 7:27 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Here are a couple more that I wrote, that I called the other night and > went very well. > (again, I haven't searched to see if they exist already) > > these all build on the skills we did in my "very simple contra" in the > sicilian formation, that I outlined in a previous message. > > 1. "Off they go" > > - Circle left > - Circle right > - LLFB > - (still holding hands) - walk 4 steps left then 4 steps right (or call it > a giant oval left then right if you prefer) > > - partner do si do > - neighbour left hand turn (allemande) > - partner 2 hand balance twice (I suggest the convention of veering > slightly to the left the first balance, and slightly to the right on the > second, for interest) > - holding inside hands with your partner facing the other couple, veer on > a forward right diagonal to pass the other couple, then on a forward left > diagonal to meet the next couple > > > 2. "first out of place dance" (at a brisk pace) > people found this very fun!! > > - circle left > - circle right > - partner do si do > - neighbour 2 hand balance once, and baby turn (ie switch places, by > circling while holding 2 hands in the same direction you would in a 2 hand > turn or swing - can also say - switch places with your neighbour, with the > ravens going on the inside) > > - LLFB > - LLF, balance partner by the right one time and pull by (to switch places > w partner) > - LLFB > - LLF, just pull by the right (no balance) - give a little nod and stomp > to your old group, turn to face the new > > 3. " first down the hall dance" > > -1's split the 2's and all walk down the hall in line of 4, turn alone > - come on back, bend line > - circle left > - circle right > > - partner left shoulder round > - neighbour right hand turn (allemande) > - all circle left again > - left hand star to new group > > > 4. "first swing (or 2 hand turn) dance" > > - N bal and 2 hand turn (or swing, depending on level of dancers), for 16 > - LLFB > - Partner left shoulder round > > - Neighbour right shoulder round > - circle left > - circle right > - balance the circle one time, 2 hand balance your partner one time, turn > to face new group > > There were 2 more dances in my sequence after this, but they wouldn't > qualify as super easy. (though probably still easier than most of you > call!! :) ) > > - Kat k > in Hfx, NS, CA > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >
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