I'm curious - what is it about having the ladies in the center that makes it
work better?
Jacob
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
Original message From: Mac Mckeever via
Callers Date:06/10/2017 1:48 PM
(GMT-05:00) To: Frederick Park
,Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re:
[Callers] New Dance to Share
Since you mentioned circle mixers - one of my current favorites is a very
easy one that has been around for a while - but I only discovered it a couple
years ago. I messed with it a little to make it work for all experience levels.
The Wheel by Gene Huber - random circle mixer
Start in a circle with Ladies facing partner with their backs to center -
holding 2 hands with partner (I think the original had the gents in the center
- but I found it works better this way)
A1 - Into the center - all drop hands with partner take hands with the persons
on both sides of you - so you have a circle of gents facing in and a circle of
ladies facing out
walk back out so both circles are near their full size - there is lots of time
to get everything done in this part.
A2 - everyone circle left (this makes the circles turn in opposite directions
B1 - everyone balance and swing (or do-si-do and swing depending on the
experience level) who ever is in front of them at the time - lost and found is
in the center.
B2 Prominade with current partner - ladies on outside - roll ladies to the
inside to get ready for A1
Mac McKeever
From: Frederick Park via Callers
To: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2017 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] New Dance to Share
Dear Folks,
This little opening for discussion of unusual dances that are not contra or
square is delightful. Thank you all.
"Le Brandy" and the “Weevil" are both new to me and have great potential I
think.
Erik, I don’t have your “double becket" dance - will you send it my way?
The other dances are well known to me and I wish to offer a teaching element
I’ve used successfully in the Pat Shaw dance, K + E.
Once sets are established, 1s on the outside facing in, 2s standing back to
back in the center facing outside couples, the primary dance move that makes it
all work out is the partner relationship.
I ask all to practice once or twice “Change Hands” with Partners. Obviously,
those in the center, the 1s, when changing the direction they face at any time
places their own Partner on one side and then the other.
Simply suggesting that the call is “Change Hands” when practicing the move
makes it unique and clear and simple, all at once!
Having the sense of “double beckett” is not so very intuitive for dancers
simply because this dance is a one-of-a-kind dance. I can “see” it but I
wouldn’t mention it to dancers.
The 1s need to “bond”. As well those far across on the opposite side of the
set, the 2s, need to “bond” or recognize they are a unit…which is all the more
useful once any couples reach the end of the set.
To that end I ask the dancers to change places with couple they are initially
facing (each 1 changes places with their original 2) and the “Change Hands”
introduces them to their other half for any who are in the center four.
The only thing that pushes this dance into the realm of “intermediate to
advanced” is the final 8 bars of the dance, the progression.
Those on the outside are swinging their Partners and could and should “move up
the hall” every so slightly.
Meanwhile the center four have just met again (the “magic” includes meeting
their Partners!) and are with their “other half”, the 2s!
The 1s then “Circle Down - three quarters ‘round - and Change Hands”.
This call indicates the movement of Circle Left 3/4 WHILE moving down the hall
ever so slightly (to end with “Trade Hands in the Center”, face out and meet a
new Couple 2 to begin again . . .
I’ve found that the movement of Circle and move is akin the square dance chorus
figure of four dancers moving in a circle Left while dancing in Promenade
direction around the “other couple”.
So introducing such a chorus in a square dance one or two dances earlier allows
the whole dance hall to be a bit familiar with the similar pattern used in K+E!
Lastly, may I recommend that any of you may also find interest in Pat Shaw’s
“The American Husband”! It’s a sicillian circle for groups of three, very
unusual progression and includes a Shetland Hey (for three) with each couple
dancing as a single unit in a hey for three pattern! Let me know if you can’t
find it and I’ll post it here.
More dances? Yes, please! (especially circle mixers and sicillian circles) : )
Frederick Park
3377 Halls Chapel Road
Burnsville, NC 28714
828.335.5630
freder...@apalache.com
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