I've found that, even if they are never called, writing dances has really helped me understand how dances actually work! So, please contact me and absolutely let me know what happens if you try them out on the dance floor!!
Walk Before Me - Gen. 17:1 2/22/11 A1 8 Ones cast off one place as twos step up (essentially switching places with neighbor) 8 Ladies start 1/2 hey A2 8,8 Neighbor gypsy, swing B1 8 Ladies allemande R 1 1/2 8 Partner swing B2 8 Star L 8 Circle L 3/4
Where Have You Come From and Where Are You Going? - Gen. 16:8 2/17/11 Contra, improper A1 8 Shadow allemande L (shadow is next to you) 8 Neighbor swing A2 8 (new) ladies allemande L (look to your right to find this new lady! Men need to take a step to their left for...) 8 Partner swing B1 8 Long lines Forward and Back 8 Right and Left through (with these new neighbors) B2 8 Men start 1/2 hey, Ladies ricochet (men pass by L, ladies touch hands and push off to ricochet back to place) 8 Circle Left all the way, pass through to shadow
Number the Stars April 16, 2011 - Genesis 15:5 Contra, becket (to find shadow, look away from partner up or down the set)
A1 8 Star Right 8 Shadow Allemande L A2 8 Star Right with original neighbors 8 Circle Right all the way B1 8 Partner do-si-do 8 Partner Swing B2 8 Right and Left through 8 Partner promenade quickly across the set, face neighbors, then slide Left to face new neighbors while putting R hand out for star.
Into the City and Back Written on 9/24/10 after figuring out how to get from Crestmont to Chelten on Regional Rail... Contra, becket
A1 8 On left diagonal, go forward to new couple then straight back (first time is simply long lines forward and back) 8 Ladies chain to Neighbor A2 8 Ladies start 1/2 hey 8 Neighbor swing B1 8 Promenade w/ neighbor across the set 8 Ladies allemande R B2 4,10 Partner balance, swing
**Bread and Wine (REMIXED!) May 7, 2010 - Genesis 14:18-20 (See "Swingonella" by Paul Rosen or "Cure for the Clap" by Bob Isaacs) A1 8,8 Balance, petronella turn, partner swing A2 8,8 Balance, petronella turn, neighbor swing B1 8 Ladies start half hey 8 Balance the ring, pass through
May 7, 2010 - Genesis 14:18-20 **THIS DANCE TOO SIMILAR TO PAUL ROSEN'S "SWINGONELLA"!! SEE MY REMIXED VERSION ABOVE! A1 8 balance, petronella turn A2 8 balance, petronella turn B1 8 Ladies chain across to partner 8 Balance the ring, partner california twirl
May 2, 2010 - Genesis 13:16 A1 8 On left diagonal, go forward to new couple, then straight back (for walkthrough, simply go forward and back with your original neighbors) A2 8 Balance ring, spin one place to R B2 8 Gents allemande L 1 1/2
May 1, 2010 - Genesis 12:6 A2 8 Ladies allemande L 1 1/2 8 Partner pass by R to start half hey B2 8 Hands 4, circle L 3 places 8 Everyone swing partner in middle of set, end facing up/down to new neighbors.... April 30, 2010 - Genesis 11:1-9 A1 8 Hands in a circle, into the middle and back 8 Into the middle and back A2 8 Corner pull by R, #2 pull by L, #3 allemande R all the way 8 #2 swing, end in promenade position looking counter clockwise B1 8 promenade, ladies cast off 8 Everyone keep on walking forward (gents continue counterclockwise in an inside circle, ladies walking clockwise in outer circle) B2 4,12 Balance and swing ANY person (if you don't find anyone, run into the middle, find someone, swing, join the circle anywhere!)
April 26, 2010 - Genesis 10:8-9 A1 8 Gents allemande R once A2 8 Long lines forward and back 8 Gents pull by Left, partner allemande R once around about 3/4 8 Ladies drop out, gents keep L hands, turn once around, put out R hand to new gent and
The Bow* is in the Clouds April 21, 2010 - Genesis 9:16
Contra, improper, start in a line of 4 facing down the hall, ones in the middle
A1 8 Line of 4 go down the hall, turn alone
8 Up the hall, bend the line
A2 8 Circle L all the way
B1 8 ladies chain to partner
8 Ladies chain back to neighbor
B2 8 Long lines forward and back
8 Ones swing in the center, end facing down the hall in line of 4 with a new couple April 17, 2010 - Genesis 8:1 A1 2,2,4 sort of a hey along the set: Neighbor #1 pass by R, Neighbor #2 pass by L, Neighbor #3 pass by R, turn over R shoulder to face back way you came 8 Neighbor #2 swing (progressed!!) A2 8 Ladies chain across to partner
B2 8 Ladies chain to neighbor
8 Take inside hands with partner across set, balance, California twirl to face same neighbor, and the dance begins again Springs of the Great Deep April 14, 2010 - Genesis 7:11 A1 4,12 Neighbor balance, swing B1 8 Ladies Allemande R 1 1/2 B2 8 Long lines forward and back April 13, 2010 - Genesis 6:18-22 A1 4,12 Neighbor Balance, Swing A2 8 With neighbor, promenade across the set 8 Partner promenade across the set B2 8 Balance the ring, petronella turn
8 Balance the ring, pass through
April 12, 2010 - Genesis 5:24 I'm not thrilled with the progression.... thoughts? A1 8 Long lines forward w/ same neighbors. When going back, give and take to gent's side A2 8 Long lines forward. Give and take to lady's side B2 8 Ladies chain back to partner 8 Forward and back on L diagonal to new neighbors. Carrots, Salmon, Marmalade and Sour CreamWanted to practice writing a dance with a different kind of mood. Was struck by the weird grocery list I had on 4/9/10, decided to make it the title! Not sure how it'll go! A1 8 On left diagonal, forward to new couple, straight back (when dancing first time, just go forward and back with your starting neighbors) 8 Ladies chain across to neighbor A2 8 Circle L all the way B1 8 Ladies chain back to partner 8 Take R hands with neighbor across set, balance, pull by, let go, turn a bit over R shoulder to face back in, take hands in a ring B2 4,12 Circle 1/2, partner swing, look on L diagonal and dance begins again!
I was cleaning out my spring purse today (4/9/10) when I found a small notebook with this dance written in it. I'm not sure WHEN I wrote it, but it was probably during one of my husband's softball games. I think I need to redo the progression, but here it is so far!A1 4,12 Neighbor balance, swing A2 8 Long lines, forward and back B1 8 Men let go, Ladies by the L one more time, gents orbit half way to other side 8 Circle L 3/4, pass thru to new neighbor
A Thousand Steps at SundownWritten at 8:16 pm on 12/30/09 in honor of our stay at Simsbury, CT, and skiing in New Hartford. The name of the ski resort was called Ski Sundown, and "Thousand Steps" was a technique taught to me by an instructor there first to remind me to relax and second to remind me that I have two feet! First called at the New Haven Contra Dance. A1 8 Neighbor #1 Allemande R 1 ½ 8 Neighbor #2 Allemande L 1 A2 4,12 Neighbor #1 gypsy, swing B1 8 Ladies allemande R 1 ½ 8 Neighbor #1 do-si-do 1 ½, walk forward to new neighbor (formerlyN#2) Just called recently at the Glenside dance. Went well, but reconsidering the do-si-do at the end, which takes a bit more time than the dancers have. Here's a possible solution: B2 circle L 3/4, neighbor allemande L 1 1/2
| November 17, 2008 - Genesis 4:12 |
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A1 4,12 Neighbor balance, swing A2 8 Ladies chain on L diagonal 8 Chain back to original neighbor 8 Circle L ¾, pass through
November 17, 2008
The title was inspired by the musical sight-reading practice called solfegge: "do si do"
represents the musical interval of a minor 6th (or an augmented 5th, if you're really fancy, but the Minor 6th is a bit easier to say!). This dance has not been called yet. |
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A2 8 Long lines forward and back 8 Ladies chain to neighbor
By the Sweat of Your Brow
| November 09, 2008 - Genesis 3:17-19 |
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A1 4,12 Neighbor balance and swing 8 Ladies chain back to neighbor B1 4,4 Long lines, give and take to gent's side (to partner) 8 Same neighbor do-si-do 1 ½, look for new neighbor?.
| October 27, 2008 - Genesis 1:9-13 |
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2,2 Neighbor #1 Pass through, Neighbor #2 pull by L 4 Neighbor #3 Allemande R all the way A2 2 Neighbor #2 pull by L B1 8 Ladies Chain to your Partner 8 Ladies Chain to your Neighbor
*Note: this dance has not been called yet! Feedback is appreciated! I'm particularly interested in two things: 1) making sure that couples are progressing in the right direction and 2) that the timing on the Gypsy is ok...
Why Not Try Putting It In Park?This dance starts in a wavy line of four. Ladies should walk into the center and take L hands, give R hands to your neighbor. Avoid a fast tempo, particularly because dancers must shift directions from the circle lefts to the petronellas to the right.
My first complete dance!! I wrote this dance at midnight following the Glenside contradance on 10/23. I left the dance a bit early, got in my car, turned my key, and nothing happened! I went back in to the building, met Jim Kitch who agreed to help me, and he fixed the problem in about 10 seconds. When I asked what he did, he told me he just put it in park! So there ya go, my inspiration! The balances remind me of the many times I tried to turn the key in the ignition! Contra, improper, begin in a wave of 4, ladies in the middle A1 4,4 Balance the wave, Neighbor allemande R 1/2 4,4 Balance the wave, Gents allemande L 1/2 A2 4,12 Partner balance and swing 4,4 Balance the ring, petronella turn (spin one place to the R) B2 4,4 Balance the ring, petronella turn 4,4 Balance the ring, pass through to new neighbors, form new wave
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