Dance Compositions

Andromeda's Chains, duple improper

by Connie Carringer

I revised this dance on September 7th, 2013, though I don't remember when I wrote the original. I was hoping to create an easy, but slightly more interesting dance that featured a ladies chain and chain back that would be beginner friendly.

A1: Neighbor Gypsy and Swing

A2: Ladies Chain, Chain Back

B1: Ladies cross the set passing Right shoulders

Partner Gypsy and Swing

B2: Circle Left 3/4

Neighbor DSD 1 1/2 to a New Neighbor

Invisible Lady, becket

by Connie Carringer

I wrote this dance on November 12th, 2013 for the weekly Tuesday night dance in Clemmons, NC just half an hour before the dance and quickly walked it through with George, Mark, myself and an invisible lady to make sure it would work.

A1: Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl

Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl

A2: Partner Balance and Swing

B1: Circle Left 3/4

Neighbor Swing

B2: Ladies Chain*

Circle Left 1/2, Slide Left

*I've decided I really hate this transition from Ladies Chain to Circle left! I'm working on a better solution, but nothing so far - let me know if you have any ideas!

Traveler's Twirls, becket

by Connie Carringer

This dance was written on March 5th, 2013 for a dance at Salem College with the band Black Irish (Rhiannon Giddons, Mike Laffan, and Matt Olwell).

A1: Circle Left 1x*

Gents Gypsy 1 1/2

A2: Neighbor Allemande Left 1 1/2

Ladies Chain

B1: Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl

Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl

B2: Partner Balance and Swing

Slide left along the side of the set to a new neighbor.

*It's really important that the ladies get back to their home side.

Fall Festival Mixer, circle of couples facing the middle

by Connie Carringer

This dance was written for the dance during Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School in October of 2012.

A1: Circle Left, Circle Right

A2: Into the middle forward and back

Partner Do Si Do

B1: Partner pull by Right into grand chain (pull by rights and left 4 times, swing 5th - I use "A, E, I, O, U")

New Partner Swing

B2: Promenade

Livin' it up at the Hotel Charlotte, duple improper

by Connie Carringer

This dance was written on July 14, 2012 (Bastille Day!) at Charlotte Crittenden's house. Charlotte was kind enough to let me stay with her for a whole week while taking a dance music class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Charlotte, also a dance caller, asked if I had any easy dances with a star promenade, which I did not, so I wrote one!

A1: Circle Left 1x

Left Hand Star (ladies drop out at home)

A2: Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2

Star Promenade across the set (scoop up partner, while still in Allemande Left with other gent, ladies cross set with partner)

B1: Ladies Allemande Right 1x

Partner Swing

B2: Circle Left 3/4

Balance the ring, pass through

Beetle in the Bed Sheets, duple improper

by Connie Carringer

This dance was written on April 20, 2012 after a delightful nap was interrupted by a Beetle crawling on my leg, which caused me to roll out of bed rather abruptly.

A1: Balance the ring, ladies roll away with a half sashay (to swap places with Neighbor on the side of the set)

Half Hey (ladies start passing right shoulders)

A2: Neighbor Allemande Left 1 1/2

Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2

B1: Partner Balance and Swing

B2: Circle Left 3/4 (to neighbor's place at beginning of dance)

Balance the Ring, California Twirl

Rabbits of Cheese, Becket

by Connie Carringer

This dance was written in June 2016 during a phase when we had to find an alternate term for our daughter's favorite snack (Cheddar Bunnies) because she would have a snack meltdown if she heard us talk about them.

A1: Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2

1/2 Hey (Ladies start passing Neighbor by Left)

A2: Neighbor Balance and Swing

B1: Long Lines Forward and Back

Left Hand Start 3/4

B2: Gents turn out over right shoulder

Partner Gypsy and Swing

Slide Left (new ladies Allemande Right)

Bubbles in the Sandbox, Becket

This is a variation of the dance above, but with a different B.

A1: Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2

1/2 Hey (Ladies start passing Neighbor by Left)

A2: Neighbor Balance and Swing

B1: Balance the Ring, Ladies Roll away with Neighbor (along the side)

Balance Right, twirl one place to the right

B2: Partner Balance and Swing

Slide Left (new ladies Allemande Right)