Thanks all. I continue to turn this one over in my head, and I think I've got a new one (borrowing heavily from Bob Isaac's *To Turn a Phrase* and the star-to-star transition of Mick Richardson's *Star Trek*)
Star Trek Phraser by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CCW A1 ----------- (8) Left hand Star (8) Whole set oval right A2 ----------- (8) whole set oval Left (8) Groups of 4 Circle Left 1X B1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Left hand Star 1x, walk on to next star On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 7:55 PM <[email protected]> wrote: > https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter > > On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways set >> dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an evening. >> But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking to grow >> their familiarity with the dance form. >> >> I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor >> swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways >> in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a >> while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option: >> >> Pluck It >> Contra/Becket-CW >> >> A1 ----------- >> (8) Circle Left >> (8) Circle Right >> A2 ----------- >> (8) Left hand Star >> (8) Right hand Star >> B1 ----------- >> (8) Partner Do-si-do >> (8) Partner swing >> B2 ----------- >> (8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set >> (8) Long lines, yearn left >> >> This is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter >> Shot but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, >> which in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I >> wouldn't use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think it's >> accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and if >> folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't >> really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over improper >> for this type of dance; different position on the side is less disorienting >> than different side of the set). >> >> What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No larks >> allemande or robins chain, etc. >> >> On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one (which >> may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community dance I >> was at: >> >> A Pillar of Weathersfield >> Contra/Becket-CW >> >> A1 ----------- >> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >> A2 ----------- >> (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall >> B1 ----------- >> (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) >> (8) Return and face across >> B2 ----------- >> (8) Long lines, forward and back >> (8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress >> (Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and the >> new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple) >> >> I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level contras >> when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper dances with >> neighbor swings. >> >> Thanks! >> Luke Donforth >> Burlington, VT >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> > -- Luke Donforth [email protected] <[email protected]>
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