I have written a number of dances over the last few years, in a number of different styles.
These dances are Contra or in a Contra-style.
"My Favourite Things" series
| A1 | Balance the wave (forward and back), women swing through |
| Balance the wave, partner allemande left 3/4 |
| A2 | Hey for four, women pass right shoulder to start |
| B1 | Irish chain: women cross the set passing right shoulders (4 beats), neighbours allemande left 1 1/2 (8 beats), women change places diagonally passing right shoulder (4 beats) |
| B2 | Swing partner |
| Pass neighbour by the left shoulder, men staying near the centre of the set, all turn left, and walk forward to a wavy line with the next couple |
I wanted to use a ladies chain move from an Irish set dance in a Contra. This lead to the name of the dance, which then had to have some waves in it.
Start in a wavy line, men joining right hands, left with neighbour.
| A1 | Men left allemande 1 1/2 |
| Swing neighbour |
| A2 | Ricochet half-hey: men ricochet back to the same side and cast right, women cast and cross passing left shoulders |
| Hey for four half-way, starting men passing left shoulders |
| B1 | Star right three places (6 beats) |
| With the next couple star left half-way (4 beats) |
| With the next couple start right three places (6 beats) |
| B2 | Gypsy and swing partner |
The path of the progression for one couple reminded me of the Greek sigma (capital),which is used in mathematics to denote summing. In January, it's summer in Australia. So, All Summer.
The couple coming out at the top after the first right star waits in place during the half left star, and rejoins in the second right star again. A couple coming out at the bottom should stay where they arrive (i.e. improper) and rejoin in the next left star.
| A1 | Lines advance, as lines retire men roll away as women sashay left |
| Circle left 3/4 |
| A2 | Swing neighbour |
| Ladies chain to partner |
| B1 | Star left 3/4 |
| Star right 3/4 with new neighbours |
| B2 | Circle left once around |
| Swing partner |
A smaller snake-like progression than All Summer. An asp is a small snake.
End effects: when emerging at the top wait out proper, at the bottom wait improper.
| A1 | All forward to the centre and back |
| Do-si-do partner |
| A2 | Balance partner (4 beats) |
| Pull past, right hand (4 beats) |
| Gypsy new partner and finish facing them |
| B1 | Hey for four along the line: pass new partner by the right, gypsy the next by the left to face new partner again |
| Pass new partner by the right, gypsy the next by the left (original partner) to return to new partner |
| B2 | Swing new partner, finish facing the centre |
A circle Contra. The hey around the circle is the main feature of the dance, leading into the final swing.
| A1 | Allemande neighbour right once around |
| Women cross passing left shoulder (as if in a hey), men move into the woman's place (4 beats) |
| Gypsy partner half-way (4 beats) |
| A2 | Swing partner |
| Men cross passing left shoulder (as if in a hey), women move into the man's place (4 beats) |
| Gypsy neighbour half-way (4 beats) |
| B1 | Swing neighbour |
| Right and left through, starting with partner |
| B2 | Do-si-do partner across the set by the left shoulder |
| With next neighbours (to the woman's right), women allemande left once around (elbow grip) (4 beats) |
| All women (including those standing out at the ends) cast to next position anti-clockwise around the entire set (second progression) (4 beats) |
I've seen mixer Contras before, but these are all in a circle. I wanted to see whether I could create one in a normal duple-minor set. Couples progress as normal, but then the women progress again on their own.
The name comes from the fact that you lose your partner in this dance and that I'd run a session of Contra dances recently that all had food names.
| A1 | Opposites allemande left once around |
| Partners allemande right once around |
| A2 | Hey for four, men start passing left shoulder |
| B1 | Swing partner |
| B2 | Circle left 3/4 and pass through |
| Star left 3/4 with new opposites |
The fourth introductory dance (see One Fish) - featuring Becket formation and the hey.
Teach the hey using hands: men cross using left hands, then give right hands to the women and pass them by, turning to follow. The women then cross using left hands, and give right hands to the men to pass them before turning to follow them. Repeat to get back to your original place.
| A1 | Allemande right partner |
| Do-si-do partner |
| A2 | Circle left 3/4 |
| Swing partner |
| B1 | Do-si-do neighbour (across the set) |
| Circle left 3/4 |
| B2 | Swing neighbour |
| 1s cast down; while 2s cross up (4 beats) |
| All turn single (men anti-clockwise, women clockwise) (4 beats) |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
Unfortunately copper kettles didn't suggest any moves, just something older or more traditional instead. Hence I wrote a dance in proper formation. Most of the moves are done with your partner and then repeated with your neighbour. Finally there's the traditional progression of a cast into the new position.
| A1 | All join inside hand with partner, 2s form an arch and 1s go under, all moving forwards; then 1s form an arch and 2s go under, all moving backwards |
| Chain all around starting right hand with neighbour, two beats (one bar) on each side |
| A2 | All join inside hand with partner, 1s form an arch and 2s go under, all moving forwards; then 2s form an arch and 1s go under, all moving backwards |
| Chain all around starting right hand with neighbour, two beats (one bar) on each side |
| B1 | Allemande right half-way with neighbour (4 beats) |
| Men allemande left 1 1/4 to face neighbour on the diagonal (4 beats) |
| Half hey for four on the diagonal, right shoulder start |
| B2 | Women start to circle left, men complete the half hey and join the circle behind their neighbour, circle 3/4 back to original positions |
| Balance the ring (4 beats) |
| 1s form an arch and 2s go under to progress (4 beats) |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
The Danish dance Den Halve Kæde inspired this Contra dance by providing the opening moves. The arches and chains reminded me of wrapping parcels, while the hey ties off the string.
| A1 | Men allemande right once around |
| Do-si-do neighbour |
| A2 | Women allemande right once around |
| Do-si-do partner |
| B1 | Face partner; slide sideways past the other couple, women on the inside (men to their left behind women, women to their right in front of men) (4 beats) |
| Partners box the gnat (4 beats) |
| Repeat slide and box the gnat back to place |
| B2 | Circle left once around |
| Swing neighbour |
I was dancing Pat Shaw's Waterfall Waltz and thought that these movements would work well in a Contra dance. There were some minor modifications to suit the new style. The name indicates that it is a little more lively. With apologies to Pat Shaw.
| A1 | Do-si-do neighbour |
| Swing neighbour, finish in half-ballroom hold facing clockwise around the large set |
| A2 | Catherine wheel: Promenade neighbour clockwise around the large set to come into line with the next couple (4 beats) |
| Star promenade with that couple half-way (4 beats) |
| Promenade neighbour clockwise around the large set to come into line with your partner and other neighbour (4 beats) |
| Star promenade with that couple half-way (4 beats) |
| B1 | Women allemande right half-way (4 beats) |
| Swing partner (12 beats) |
| B2 | Right and left through |
| Circle right 3/4 and pass through by the left shoulder |
You swing and end in a line of four facing down. But what would happen if each couple ended up facing the opposite direction?
The star promenades reminded me of circling fireworks, hence the name.
| A1 | Men and middle half hey for three, middle passing right shoulder with 2nd man to start; women turn out clockwise |
| Women and middle half hey for three, middle passing right shoulder with 2nd woman to start; men turn out anti-clockwise |
| A2 | 1s and 2s half rights-and-lefts around the middle, starting with partner |
| 1s do-si-do; while 2s cross giving right hand and move to the end of a line of five facing down; middle steps back into the middle of the line on the last bar |
| B1 | Line of five down the hall (6 beats), ends (2s) turn alone, while middles turn man's side high, woman's side low (still holding hands, make an arch on the left and guide the person on the right through the arch to invert the line of three) (4 beats), back up the hall and bend the line (6 beats) |
| B2 | Circle left half-way and balance the ring |
| Middle and 1s arch down over 2s, all moving forwards (4 beats) |
| Middle takes nearer hands with new 2s below and draws them back between the 1s, 1s and 2s moving forwards (4 beats) (second progression) |
For Jeanette "Nette" Pembroke's 60th birthday.
The middle person in each set doesn't progress, but the couples they dance with do! Hence they are caught in the net at that spot.
Make sure that both 1s and 2s keep moving forward in the last four bars to complete the double progression. The temptation is for them to stop after two bars.
| A1 | Men cross diagonally passing right shoulder, finishing facing out to form long wavy lines (4 beats) |
| Balance the lines (4 beats) |
| Women allemande right 3/4 into their partner's current position; men cast to the right into their partner's current position, re-forming long wavy lines (4 beats) |
| Balance the lines (4 beats) |
| A2 | Swing partner |
| B1 | Box circulate: men cross the set, women cast to their right forming long wavy lines (4 beats) |
| Balance the lines (4 beats) |
| Women allemande right 3/4 into their neighbour's current position; men cast to the right into their neighbour's current position re-forming long wavy lines (4 beats) |
| Balance the lines (4 beats) |
| B2 | Swing neighbour |
A variation on the box circulate movement.
| A1 | Balance the ring and Petronella turn one position to the right (anti-clockwise); any spare couples at the ends balance and roll across |
| Allemande left neighbour across the set once around; any spare couples at the ends allemande left their partner |
| A2 | With new neighbours from the next set; women cross passing left shoulder (4 beats), any spare couples at the ends continue allemande left once around (8 beats) |
| Men cross passing right shoulder (4 beats) |
| Do-si-do your shadow (the new neighbour along the lines in this new set) by the right shoulder; any spare couples at the ends do-si-do neighbour across the set |
| B1 | Swing that same neighbour (spare couples at the ends finish across the set with woman on the man's right); at the end of this swing everyone is back with their original set |
| Allemande right neighbour across the set once around; any spare couples at the ends allemande right their partner |
| B2 | Swing partner (spare couples at the ends finish across the set with woman on the man's right) |
| Circle 3/4 left and pass through; spare couples at the ends wait in position |
I had just read Cary Ravitz's Web page on writing Contra dances and he mentioned a type of dance he termed "lose and find your partner", wherein partners are separated and then returned together unexpectedly. I thought this was a great idea and went on to write this dance.
Each couple is paired with their neighbour and then sent off to dance with people from the next minor set. Because of these interactions between sets, any spare couples at the ends get to dance most of the dance too. The name comes from the circuitous route that partners take to be reunited.
You will dance with the same shadow throughout the dance for the back-to-back and following swing. For those in the "men's" line their shadow is the person two down from their partner in the opposite line. For those in the "women's" line their shadow is the person two up from their partner in the opposite line. If there is no-one two up or down, then your shadow is the person next to you at the end of the lines.
| A1 | Circle left 3/4 |
| Swing partner |
| A2 | Men cross passing left shoulder (as if in a hey), women move to the man's place on the side (4 beats) |
| Gypsy neighbour half-way (4 beats) |
| Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Long lines forward and back |
| Star right half-way (4 beats) |
| Star left half-way with the next couple (4 beats) |
| B2 | Hey for four with this couple, women start passing left shoulder, men start turning out to the right into the woman's position |
This dance has a reverse progression! The 1s progress up the set, while the 2s progress down.
One of Bill Olson's dances (David's Dilemma) had a reverse progression in a normal longways set. What a great idea!
End effects: when a couple arrives at the end after the first half star, they swap sides (normal duple improper positions) and rejoin the next second half star.
| A1 | Circle right once around |
| Do-si-do by the left shoulder with neighbour |
| A2 | Circle left once around |
| Do-si-do by the right shoulder with neighbour |
| B1 | Gypsy neighbour by the right shoulder |
| Swing neighbour |
| B2 | Ladies chain across and back |
As I was writing Serenity, I kept thinking that the opening moves would be great in a Contra – and this is the result. The dancers' motions reminded me of wheels and gears turning, and governors twirling around, hence the name – plus it started with "contra". I later rewrote the opening moves as they were too slow for a Contra dance.
| A | Men allemande left once around, while women orbit clockwise half-way |
| Swing neighbour |
| B | Women, on the right diagonal, right allemande 1 1/2 |
| With shadow gypsy left once around |
| C | Right hand star once around with partner and opposites |
| Swing partner |
The song by Queen inspired this dance.
| A1 | Circle left 3/4 and pass through; people left at the ends don't cross |
| Do-si-do new neighbour; couples left out at the end previously rejoin |
| A2 | Women allemande left 1 1/2 to swap positions |
| Men allemande right 1 1/2 to swap positions |
| B1 | Women allemande left once around while men orbit half-way clockwise |
| Swing partner |
| B2 | With partner gallop across the set, men passing back-to-back; people already at the ends don't cross (4 beats) |
| Turn away from your partner to meet your shadow (original neighbour) from the next set (or end couples that have been standing out) (4 beats) |
| With shadow gallop back across the set; people left at the ends cross back sideways, woman in front of man (4 beats) |
| Turn away from your shadow to meet your partner again (4 beats) |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
Ponies certainly suggested a gallop move. I then had the insight that there are four gaits for a horse and four sections to a Contra round, so I tried to match them up: walk, trot, canter, and gallop.
| A1 | Double figure of eight: 1s cross down to 2nd position; while 2s cast up to 1st position (4 beats) |
| 2s cross down; while 1s cast up (4 beats) |
| Repeat crosses and casts |
| A2 | Pot hooks: Women do-si-do by the right (wide) but come back to their neighbour's position; while men do-si-do by the left, starting slightly after the women, passing between them, and come back to their neighbour's position |
| Ladies chain across |
| B1 | Hey for four with women passing left shoulders to start |
| B2 | Swing partner |
| Ladies chain across |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
Thinking of apple strudels reminded me of the woven pastry wrapping the strudel. Hence this dance incorporates several weaving movements. In particular is a seldom seen movement that I've only encountered in Saint Martin's – corners do-si-do but retire to their neighbour's place. One dance Web site called this movement Pot Hooks. The repetition of the ladies chain formed a nice link between the two halves of the dance.
| A1 | Cross right with opposite, turn right, and single file clockwise back to your original side, but now the men are on the right of the women (facing across) |
| Do-si-do opposite by the right shoulder |
| A2 | Star right once around |
| Swing partner |
| B1 | Cross left with opposite, turn left, and single file anti-clockwise along opposite side (around the whole set) to face new opposites (progression); spare couples join back in, having been waiting as they came out (with man on the right, woman on the left, facing in at the ends of the set) |
| Do-si-do new opposite by the left shoulder |
| B2 | Half hey for four, women passing left shoulder to start |
| Swing partner |
I'd seen a dance recently that had a cross over and file around movement that I thought would work in a Contra. This is the result.
| A1 | 1 and 2, 3 and 4 do-si-do, starting right shoulder |
| The same swing (crossed hands) |
| A2 | 5 faces right and hey for three across the set with 2 and 4, starting right shoulders, while 1 and 3 orbit anti-clockwise all the way around the set |
| B1 | 5 faces up and hey for three up and down the set with 1 and 3, starting left shoulders, while 2 and 4 orbit clockwise all the way around the set |
| B2 | 1 and 5 two-hand turn 1 1/2 to change places |
| Balance the ring around the new 5 and Petronella turn to next position to the right (anti-clockwise) |
People are numbered clockwise from the top 1 through 4, with 5 in the middle.
Repeat five times to return to original positions.
At the Bundanoon DanceFest Don Richmond presented a session on Dancing with Fives (people or couples). I wanted to add to his repertoire with this five person dance being the result. The progression had to be different from other dances in this formation that I had encountered and I settled on a swap for the centre and first person, followed by the Petronella turn to move everyone else along. The name derives from the formation.
For less experienced dancers omit the orbits around the heys.
Dance it five times through to return everyone to their initial positions.
| A1 | Balance the ring and Petronella turn once place anti-clockwise |
| Swing partner |
| A2 | Circle left 3/4 |
| Ferris wheel: as a couple promenade clockwise around the large set to pass your neighbours and come up beside the next couple, then turn clockwise as a couple back into the set to face that couple, finishing one place behind where you started facing your original position |
| B1 | Do-si-do neighbour 1 1/4 to a wavy line |
| Balance the wave and walk forward |
| B2 | Swing original neighbour |
| Long lines forward and back |
For Denis Roche's 70th birthday. A "device" is also a fancy (cf. maggot).
| A1 | Broken half hey: men right allemande 3/4 and cast to place, women half hey |
| Swing opposite |
| A2 | Men roll away in front of opposite, women sashay left (4 beats) |
| Circle left 1/4 (4 beats) |
| Pass the ocean (4 beats) |
| Balance the wave (4 beats) |
| B1 | Walk to shadow and right allemande 1/4 to long waves (4 beats) |
| Balance the waves (4 beats) |
| Box circulate: men cross, women cast right (4 beats) |
| Balance the waves (4 beats) |
| B2 | On the left diagonal, women (original opposites) cross passing right shoulder (spare women don't cross), men cast right (4 beats) |
| Swing partner (12 beats) |
A lost-and-found dance where you take a slight detour before meeting your partner again.
| A1 | 1s arch over 2s, all moving forwards (4 beats) |
| 2s arch over 1s, all moving backwards (4 beats) |
| Neighbours allemande right 1 1/2 |
| A2 | Top neighbours (2nd man and 1st woman) arch over bottom neighbours, all moving forwards (4 beats) |
| Bottom neighbours arch over top neighbours, all moving backwards (4 beats) |
| Partners allemande right 1 1/2, moving towards the outside of the set to help line up for the next move, finish facing partner |
| B1 | On the diagonals (partners and couple on the opposite side from the next set): hey for four, passing partner right shoulder to start; spare couples at the ends balance and box the gnat twice |
| B2 | Continue into a half hey for four (progression); spare couples at the ends gypsy right shoulder |
| Swing partner; finish in new diamond |
To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that women are in a line down the middle and men are on the side. Diamond dances have a double progression.
I was working on new progressions for diamond formation dances and came up with a half hey on the diagonal. The rest of the dance developed around that.
| A1 | Do-si-do neighbour |
| Swing neighbour |
| A2 | Gypsy partner |
| Swing partner |
| B1 | Star right once around |
| Star left once around |
| B2 | Butterfly whirl half-way anti-clockwise (4 beats) |
| Men join left hands with the man from the next set (where possible) and star promenade half-way (8 beats); couple coming out at the top swing partner (12 beats) |
| Butterfly whirl half-way anti-clockwise (4 beats) |
To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that women are in a line down the middle and men are on the side. Diamond dances have a double progression.
Written for the NEFFA 75th Contra contest.
| A1 | Do-si-do partner by the right shoulder |
| Right hand star once around |
| A2 | Women turn inwards (right shoulder back) and swing neighbour |
| Men swap to opposite side (passing right shoulder) and swing partner, finishing on the side facing across |
| B1 | Do-si-do neighbour (across the set) by the left shoulder |
| Left hand star once around |
| B2 | Men allemande left half-way; while women turn out to the right (4 beats) |
| Balance (4 beats) and swing neighbour (8 beats) |
For Diana Pascoe's 60th birthday.
The swing/men cross/swing combination I had seen in Canberra and wanted to use in a dance, although their version had the men passing back to back. Originally the second half of the dance was a repeat of the first half, but this seemed to be too much clockwise turning, so I reversed the direction for the latter half.
| A1 | Circle left 3/4 |
| Do-si-do neighbour |
| A2 | Push-off hey: men start passing left shoulder, pass women by the right shoulder (4 beats) |
| Women meet and push off each other and back out to the right (4 beats) |
| Men meet and push off each other to back out to the right (4 beats) |
| Women cross passing left shoulder; all finish on the opposite side from where they started (4 beats) |
| B1 | Swing partner |
| B2 | Men forward towards partner and clap (4 beats) |
| Women forward towards partner and clap (4 beats) |
| Circle left 3/4 and pass through to progress |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
The push-off hey move reminded me of bells in a church tower swinging back and forth, so it became the feature of this dance. In a similar vein, the lines advancing and clapping derived from a Cary Ravitz dance and also felt like bells being struck.
| A1 | Long lines forward and back |
| Women allemande left 1 1/2 |
| A2 | Men allemande right 1 1/2 |
| Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Men allemande right 1 1/2 |
| Partners allemande left 1 1/2 |
| B2 | Women allemande right 1 1/2 |
| Swing neighbour |
I had envisaged a series of linked turns for a dance movement, which then developed into this dance. The motions reminded me of the small whirlwinds (willy-willy in Australia) seen in the outback, hence the name.
| A1 | In groups of four on the ends, star right |
| Star left; finish with ends facing middles, middles facing nearest ends |
| A2 | Pass through using right hands up and down the lines (4 beats) |
| Those now in the middle turn single half-way around (anti-clockwise); while those now on the ends cross using left hand |
| Pass through using right hands up and down the lines |
| Those now in the middle turn single half-way around (anti-clockwise); while those now on the ends cross using left hand – all finish in their partner's position |
| B1 | In groups of four on the ends, balance the ring and Petronella turn one position right (anti-clockwise) |
| 2nd corners (2nd man/1st woman, 4th man/3rd woman) balance forward and back, then cross to original positions, twirling woman under the man's arm (box the gnat) |
| B2 | In groups of four on the ends, right and left through, starting with partners |
| Middle four continue right and left through, starting with partners; while the ends balance in and out and change sides twirling the woman under the man's arm (box the gnat) – finish ordered 2, 4, 1, 3 |
This dance was written for Trecialee – its name being an anagram.
The dance started with the progression, then the hey around the end of the set. The balance and Petronella turn were added because I like the moves. At the same time I received a CD of Contra tunes and the first one, Hommage à Edmond Parizeau, was perfect – cementing this as a Contra-style dance.
| A1 | Do-si-do opposite |
| Do-si-do opposites as couples |
| A2 | Star right once around |
| Star left back |
| B1 | Promenade across the set (courtesy turn hold) and continue on (anti-clockwise around the set) to face the next couple |
| Right and left through (with new opposites) to finish in progressed position |
| B2 | Basket left twice around |
Written for the Royal Flying Doctor Service charity Contra dance. Reverend John Flynn founded the service in May 1928.
The movements in the dance represent the community coming together, the propellers on the aircraft, picking up patients and taking them to hospital, and the support that the RFDS provides to the outback.
Couples coming out at the ends should wait on their new side and rejoin for the promenade and right and left through.
| A1 | Circle left once around |
| Star right once around |
| A2 | Do-si-do neighbour |
| Swing neighbour, finish in neighbour's position with the men down the centre of the set |
| B1 | Gypsy partner |
| Swing partner, finish opposite original position with women down the centre of the set |
| B2 | Do-si-do neighbour |
| California twirl partner (4 beats) |
| Slide left into the next set, passing face-to-face with the couple going the other way; spare couples at the ends California twirl again (4 beats) |
Another diamond formation dance with a different progression – a slide past the next couple.
To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that women are in a line down the middle and men are on the side. Diamond dances have a double progression.
| A1 | Allemande right neighbour 1 1/4 |
| Women allemande left 1 1/2 |
| A2 | Swing partner |
| B1 | Ladies chain across and back |
| B2 | Ladies chain across |
| Allemande left partner |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
This dance had to feature the ladies, where they could swirl their (white) dresses. Thus a sequence of turns, swings, and chains make up this dance – the women never stop moving. Add a twirl to the ladies chain for more dress swirl.
| A1 | Give and take, men drawing the opposite woman back with them |
| Swing opposite |
| A2 | Balance the ring and Petronella turn one place anti-clockwise |
| Balance the ring (4 beats) |
| Women allemande left 1 1/4 to face partner on the diagonal (4 beats) |
| B1 | Hey for four on the diagonal, passing partner right shoulder to start |
| B2 | Promenade with partner clockwise around the large set onto the next couple and swing partner there; couples coming out at an end finish facing into the set and rejoin in the next promenade |
Inspired by a move from Pat Shaw's The Dancing Dutch.
Note that the hey should be done on the diagonal, not across the set.
| A1 | Men allemande left once around, while women orbit half-way clockwise |
| Swing neighbour |
| A2 | Circle left half-way (4 beats) |
| Men roll away in front of neighbour who sashays left (4 beats) |
| Long lines go forward (4 beats) |
| Men slide left as they retire, drawing their partner with them on their right (4 beats) |
| B1 | Do-si-do opposite |
| Right and left through |
| B2 | On the right diagonal, individually pull past with right hand (same-sex) (4 beats) |
| Face into the set and pull past with the person opposite with left hand (4 beats) |
| Swing partner |
Similar to Bucksaw Reel, but with smaller teeth.
It works best with an even number of couples. Spare couples at the ends face into the set with woman on the man's right. Join in from the diagonal cross.
| A1 | Star left once around |
| Star right back to place |
| A2 | Hey for four, men passing left shoulder across the set to start |
| B1 | Hey for four with the next couple (to the man's left facing across the set); men passing right shoulder to start |
| B2 | Partners allemande left 1 1/2 |
| Do-si-do partner by the left shoulder |
Someone mentioned a hey leading into another hey and this dance developed from that idea. The name derives from the two heys with different couples – resembling two rungs in a ladder up and down the set.
End effects: couples coming out of the first hey with no-one to face should move to normal improper positions at the ends of the set and wait. When the second hey starts next time they rejoin, with the woman moving into the man's position when he vacates it.
| A1 | Neighbours allemande right once around |
| 1st man and 2nd woman allemande left once around, others orbit clockwise half-way |
| A2 | Swing partner |
| Balance the ring (4 beats), men roll the woman on their left (neighbour) to their right (4 beats) |
| B1 | Swing neighbour |
| Right-and-left through |
| B2 | Star left once around |
| 1st couple allemande left 1 1/2, 2nd couple allemande left once around |
Someone called my Silver White Winters dance recently at the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival and I felt it was time for another proper Contra. It was raining throughout our dance.
| A1 | Mirror allemande once around with neighbours, 1s between the 2s to start |
| 1s lead down the middle, while 2s come up the outside, past original neighbours and the next ones, then all turn right – the women are facing out of the set with their partners behind them |
| A2 | Single file 1/4 clockwise around your current small set, then single file around the whole set back to your original neighbours and single file with them 1/4, finishing in your partner's original position |
| Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Broken half hey: men cross passing left shoulder, women meet and allemande right 3/4 back to original side |
| Swing partner |
| B2 | Circle left 3/4 |
| Balance the ring (4 beats) |
| 1s duck under an arch made by the 2s (4 beats) |
For the wedding of Suzanne Kingston and Stuart Hunt.
The movements include a walk down the aisle and the exit of the married couple under the church's arch.
| A1 | Women do-si-do |
| Swing partner |
| A2 | Men allemande left 1 1/2 |
| Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Hey for four, men pass left shoulder to start |
| B2 | Long wavy lines (men facing in, women facing out) balance (4 beats) |
| Men cross the set, while women slide right (4 beats) |
| Long lines balance (all facing out) (4 beats) |
| Men act as pivots (not moving but turning on the spot) and turn their partner half-way around anti-clockwise to progress (reverse direction) and face the next couple (4 beats) |
While reviewing dances by Bill Olson, who includes lots of waves, I wondered what would happen if you slid in a box circulate instead of turning around on the end. This dance is the result, with an unusual progression producing a reverse Becket dance. The progression reminded me of Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain, hence the name.
End effects: couples coming out of the pivot with no-one to face just wait in place on their original side. They rejoin in the balance section, both crossing when the other men cross, then balance and pivot as before.
| A1 | Do-si-do opposite by the left shoulder |
| Men allemande left once around and end in original position facing out |
| A2 | Balance in long wavy lines (4 beats) |
| Allemande partner left half-way (4 beats) |
| Balance in long wavy lines (4 beats) |
| Allemande partner left half-way (4 beats) |
| B1 | Hey for four with women starting passing right shoulder |
| B2 | Star left once around; open out at the end to progress anti-clockwise around the set to meet the next couple, with women leading their partner |
| Star left once around with new opposites |
The balance and turn movement came into my head late one night – a carry over from the box circulate movement in Cary Ravitz's CrossWalk that I had called recently. I wanted the rest of the dance to flow nicely from that – producing a Becket formation dance with a reverse progression. The name comes from the fact that most moves are left hand around.
| A1 | Mirror do-si-do neighbour, 1s going outside 2s to start |
| Mirror balance neighbour, 1st man and 2nd woman right hand, 1st woman and 2nd man left hand (4 beats) |
| Mirror allemande neighbour 3/4, 1s going outside 2s to start, using same hand as balance (4 beats) |
| A2 | Dolphin hey: hey for three, with the 1st couple acting as a single unit, however they change the lead at each end of the hey, 1st couple pass 2nd woman by the right to start; finish in a line of four facing up, 1s in the middle |
| B1 | Line of four up the hall and turn individually towards your neighbour to face down (4 beats) |
| Line of four down the hall (4 beats) |
| Mirror allemande 1 1/4, 2s turning in on the spot to face up to start, 1s going down between the 2s – 1st man and 2nd woman left hand, 1st woman and 2nd man right hand |
| B2 | Double figure of eight, 2s start by crossing down, 1s casting up |
After dancing Sapphire Sea by Christine Robb recently I wanted to incorporate a dolphin reel into a Contra dance.
And life's purpose is ... dancing!
| A1 | Gypsy opposite |
| 1st man and 2nd woman (at the bottom of each minor set) do-si-do and finish facing down, while the others cross (right shoulder) and move to the end of a line of four facing down, men on one side, women on the other |
| A2 | Dublin Bay: lines of four back up (up the hall) and then come forward, turning individually half-way (toward same-sex neighbour) at the last moment to face up |
| Lines of four back up (down the hall) and then come forward, turning individually to face same-sex neighbour at the last moment |
| B1 | Half hey for four passing same-sex neighbour right-shoulder to start |
| Circle left 3/4 (men together and women together) back to original side, those in the centre pass their neighbour right shoulder to follow them into the circle |
| B2 | Swing partner |
| Slice left: advance towards the couple on your left diagonal, then retire straight back from them (progression); spare couples wheel onto the opposite side |
Following online discussions about the Dublin Bay movement I decided to create a dance that incorporated it.
The River Liffey flows into Dublin Bay.
| A | On the left diagonal, ladies chain (if possible) |
| Swing that neighbour (or partner if you didn't chain) |
| B | Men allemande left 1 1/2 |
| Swing shadow |
| C | Facing opposite, pull through right hand across the set (2 beats), then pull through left hand along the line with shadow (2 beats) |
| Balance and swing partner |
Inspired by Henri Mancini's Baby Elephant Walk music, which has a 24 bar repeat. The dance became a lost-and-found style, leading to the name.
End effects: On arriving at an end, the couple should swing to the women's line at the top, men's line at the bottom. Join in the diagonal ladies chain, then ends swing to finish improper at the top, proper at the bottom. Rejoin in the balance and swing partner.
| A1 | Men allemande left 1 1/2 and form a short wave, right hand to neighbour |
| Balance the wave, forward and back, walk forward to new neighbour |
| A2 | Swing new neighbour |
| Ladies chain to partner |
| B1 | Circle right once around |
| Rebound: facing neighbour, men retire, women advance (4 beats), then men advance, women retire (4 beats) |
| B2 | Half hey for four, starting men passing left shoulders |
| Swing partner |
For Marina Robins' 60th birthday. Actually "Marina's Marvellous Musical Motion".
End effects: Spare couples should wait proper at the top and improper at the bottom.
| A1 | In groups of four at each end right-hand star |
| Left-hand stars to return (keep hold of your partner's left hand at the end) |
| A2 | Ladies chain up or down the set to neighbour who courtesy turns them |
| Ladies chain back up or down the set to partner and courtesy turn (keep hold of the left hand at the end) |
| B1 | Allemande left your partner |
| Allemande right your neighbour (keep hold of the right hand at the end) |
| B2 | With your neighbour, balance and pass through by the right shoulder |
| Middle four with your new neighbour, ends with their partner, balance and pass through by the right shoulder |
Repeat four times to return to original positions.
Dance Kaleidoscope joined a picnic in the vicinity of Mt Coot-tha to celebrate Anita Hürlimann's 10 years in Brisbane. I already had a dance progression that I had developed and incorporated it into another Contra-style dance.
The music for its first outing was a little slower than usual since we were dancing on grass with beginners in the group. I chose Round the Horn.
| A1 | Gypsy neighbour 1 1/4, finishing in a line across, men on the outside facing in, women facing out |
| Half hey for four, passing neighbour right shoulder to start |
| A2 | Swing neighbour |
| Broken half hey for four; men half hey passing left shoulder to start, women allemande right 3/4 when they meet to return to their original side |
| B1 | Swing partner |
| Men allemande left once around finishing where they started but facing out, women orbit clockwise half-way |
| B2 | Hey for four, women passing right shoulder to start, while men cast left to start |
I'd been toying with the idea of a dance with different types of heys in it. This combined with a move from an English dance where one couple individually circled the other to get into position for a hey. The name was obvious from the stack of heys in the dance! Or should it be Heystack?
| A1 | Circle 3/4 to a wavy line, women join left hands, right to neighbour |
| Balance the wave and walk forward to new neighbours (progression) |
| A2 | Do-si-do neighbour |
| Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Half hey, led by the men passing left shoulders |
| Mad Robin, clockwise, men in to start |
| B2 | Slingshot: Butterfly whirl, men forward, and men cross the set passing right shoulder to partner |
| Swing partner |
Written for the NEFFA 75th Contra contest. There's never enough dancing.
I reused the slingshot combination from Singin' in the Rain.
| A1 | Circle left once around |
| Circle right once around |
| A2 | Neighbours allemande left once around |
| Partners allemande right once around |
| B1 | Star right once around |
| Star left once around |
| B2 | Partners allemande left once around |
| Balance with neighbour and pass through |
This dance is the start of an introductory series for Contra. It contains only basic moves with the progression at the end and directly to face new neighbours.
The name comes from the title of a Dr. Seuss book – an introduction to reading.
| A1 | Give and take, women drawing their partner back with them |
| Swing partner |
| A2 | Women allemande right once around; men orbit clockwise half-way |
| Neighbours allemande right 1 1/2 |
| B1 | Hey for four, women passing left shoulders to start |
| B2 | Turn 1/4 around neighbour to face down (1s) or up (2s), single file in columns to come into line with the next neighbour and allemande right half-way |
| Return and swing original neighbourr |
The hey/progression is based on The Peterborough Assembly by John Patcai, an English country dance, that I'd recently animated.
| A1 | Men allemande left once around, while women orbit clockwise half-way |
| Swing opposite |
| A2 | On the left diagonal, ladies chain to shadow |
| Opposite do-si-do left shoulder |
| B1 | Star left once around |
| Star right once around |
| B2 | Snake: Men allemande right 5/8, next neighbour men allemande left 1/2, next neighbour men allemande right 1/2 to face partner; man coming out at the end loop right and rejoin immediately |
| Swing partner |
The snakelike move for the men to reunite with their partners inspired this dance, and its name.
If there's a spare couple at the bottom they wait together on the "men's" line. The woman joins in from the diagonal ladies chain, while the man joins in from the snake.
| A1 | With neighbour, balance and box the gnat |
| Pull past neighbour right hand, past 2nd neighbour left hand, face partner across the set and pull past right hand, face back to original position and pull past 2nd neighbour left hand |
| A2 | Balance and swing neighbour |
| B1 | Men allemande left once around, while women orbit half way clockwise |
| Swing partner |
| B2 | Do-si-do left shoulder with neighbour and men cross passing left shoulder |
| Star left once around |
Pull pasts away from your normal set – so, outside the box.
If you pop out at an end during the dance, keep dancing with ghosts to rejoin correctly.
When arriving at an end, don't cross with partner. Just turn around and join in the pull pasts.
| A1 | Men allemande right 1 1/4, women move into men's positions on the side |
| Swing opposite on the side |
| A2 | Men with man from next set allemande left 1 1/4, finish facing partner on the diagonal, men standing back to back in the centre |
| Half hey for four on the diagonal starting right shoulder with partner – this is your new group of four |
| B1 | Balance partner and box-the-gnat (aligning back to side lines with the other couple from the hey) |
| Gypsy partner right once around |
| B2 | Circle left half-way (4 beats) |
| Swing partner (12 beats) |
For Paul Barber-Riley's 70th birthday. He complains that my dances are too complicated. Let's see if he can work this one out.
| A1 | With partner in half-ballroom hold, men put left hands in and star promenade anti-clockwise |
| Turn as a couple to star promenade back with the women joining right hands |
| A2 | Women return to place, men left star once around |
| Women right star once around |
| B1 | Gypsy partner once around, 1st couple finish facing their sides, others face partner |
| Half hey for three on the sides, starting with 2nd/3rd couples passing partner right shoulder |
| B2 | All cross the set passing right shoulder – 1s with their partner, 2s and 3s with their opposite (4 beats) |
| Swing partner, 1s finish facing down, 2s and 3s face across (12 beats) |
A three couple Contra in the formation of Bastille Day Reel #1, by Al Olson, which I had been reviewing. The 1st couple faces down, while the 2nd and 3rd couples face each other across the set. All have the woman on the right of the man.
At the end of each round the 1st couple has moved onto new 2s and 3s, while the 2s and 3s have swapped sides and moved up. At the top, 2s miss one turn and come in as 1s, 3s miss two turns before returning. At the bottom, 1s must drop to the end once there are no longer two couples below them.
Six is both a perfect number (the sum of its divisors, 1, 2, and 3) and a composite number (non-prime).
| A1 | Give and take, women take their partners back |
| Swing partner |
| A2 | Ladies chain across, open left turn, finish in long wavy lines (men facing out, women in) |
| Balance the wavy line (4 beats) and allemande left half-way (4 beats) |
| B1 | Half hey, starting with men passing right shoulder |
| Swing next neighbour; if coming out at an end swing partner and finish where you started |
| B2 | Long lines go forwards and back |
| Swing original neighbour (men with the woman on his left); when out at an end swing partner and finish on the opposite side |
Written for Peter Vohralik's 60th birthday.
Any spare couples start improper at the bottom. When arriving at an end, don't swap sides and join in the swing after the hey.
| A1 | In ballroom hold, gallop across the set, the couple on the women's normal side separating to let the couple on the men's normal side pass through (4 beats) |
| Polka balance towards the centre of the set (4 beats) |
| Gallop across the set, the couple on the women's side separating to let the couple on the men's side through (4 beats) |
| Polka balance towards the centre of the set (4 beats) |
| A2 | Polka once around the other couple and continue anti-clockwise around the set to progress to the next couple |
| B1 | Allemande partner right half-way (4 beats) |
| Balance the long wavy lines (make a face or say boo to your neighbour) (4 beats) |
| Allemande partner right half-way (4 beats) |
| Balance the long wavy lines (make a face or say boo to your neighbour) (4 beats) |
| B2 | Men's chain across and back, left hand to other man, right hand to opposite woman and turn |
Someone at dancing mentioned "Polka-geist" as a pun. What a great dance name I thought. So developed a Contra dance with a polka feel and scary and back-to-front moves.
| A1 | Star left and turn out to the right at the end |
| Star right and men turn inward (right shoulder back) at the end |
| A2 | Gypsy partner by the right shoulder |
| Swing partner, finish facing down |
| B1 | Lines of four down the hall; spare couples at the ends join in (4 beats) |
| Turn as couples – men moving backwards, women forwards or California twirl; except any spare bottom couple that turns individually (4 beats) |
| Lines of four up the hall (4 beats) |
| The couples on the right end of the lines (and at the bottom) continue forward and turn 1/4 anti-clockwise into progressed position; while the couples on the left (and alone at the top) wheel 3/4 anti-clockwise into progressed position (reverse progression); end couples finish across the set from partner (4 beats) |
| B2 | Ladies chain across and back |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
Roses suggested stars with a turn out at the end, while raindrops falling suggested a line down the hall. The progression grew out of the return of that line and the Butterfly Whirl that I had recently seen in one of Cary Ravitz's dances, and seemed to naturally flow in a reverse direction.
| A1 | Star left once around |
| Star right once around |
| A2 | Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Ladies chain across and back |
| B2 | Do-si-do partner |
| Neighbours allemande right once around |
The third introductory dance (see One Fish) - featuring the ladies chain movement.
| A1 | Circle left |
| Circle right |
| A2 | 1s form an arch and move down over 2s, while 2s move up under the arch; spare couples at the ends wait one round |
| 2s form an arch and move up over next 1s, while 1s move down under the arch; all turn singly at the end |
| 1s form an arch and move up over 2s, while 2s move down under the arch |
| 2s form an arch and move down over original 1s, while 1s move up under the arch |
| B1 | All swing partners; finish facing your partner across the set |
| B2 | Cross with partner by the right shoulder, then pass neighbour by the left shoulder (first progression) |
| Cross with partner by the right shoulder, then pass new neighbour (below 1s, above 2s) by the left shoulder (second progression) |
This Contra dance includes a double progression. It can work well in a circle, where you avoid the end effects.
I wanted to write a longways set Contra dance but hadn't found a progression that I liked. I realised that the progression from Etica Reel would also work in a longways set but would result in a double progression. In keeping with the double theme, I added the dip-and-dive move that also involved dancing with two groups of neighbours. These two moves reminded me of salmon trying to swim upstream, hence the name.
| A1 | Balance and box circulate |
| Swing partner |
| A2 | Half hey, men passing left shoulder to start |
| Broken half hey: men allemande right 3/4, women cast right, then men cast right, women cross passing left shoulder |
| B1 | Swing neighbour |
| Taking left hands, neighbours balance and swat the flea |
| B2 | Whirligig: neighbours allemande left 3/4 (4 beats) |
| Women allemande right 1 1/2, men orbit anti-clockwise half-way (8 beats) |
| Neighbours allemande left 3/4 to a long wavy line (4 beats) |
I'd recently danced Fenterlarick, an English Country dance, and thought that the whirligig figure would work well in a Contra dance. The name is a mis-hearing of that dance's name, and we had a large jar of garlic on the kitchen bench.
Start in long wavy lines, men facing out, women facing in.
| A | Circle left 3/4 |
| Swing neighbour |
| B | Balance the ring (4 beats) |
| Nevada twirl with partner (California twirl with other hands) (4 beats) |
| With next couple, balance the ring (4 beats) |
| Petronella turn one place anti-clockwise (4 beats) |
| C | Half hey for four, starting with women passing left shoulders |
| Swing partner |
I found some great music ("Sweet Home Chicago" by the Blues Brothers) but it was only 48 beat repeats – blues bars have 4 beats per bar (you could use a 24 bar reel or jig instead). So I had to create a dance to fit. The name was obvious.
End effects: After coming out out the set on the Nevada twirl, wait until the next one to rejoin.
| A1 | 1s cross by the right (4 beats) |
| 1s cast down into 2nd position, 2s slide or roll into 1st position (4 beats) |
| Do-si-do partner 1 1/4 times to end in a wavy line up and down the hall, women in the middle joining left hands |
| A2 | Balance right and left (4 beats) |
| Allemande right partner 3/4 to form wavy lines across the hall, men in the middle joining left hands (1s are on the men's side) (4 beats) |
| Balance right and left (4 beats) |
| Allemande right partner 3/4 (4 beats) |
| B1 | Swing partner |
| Long lines forward and back |
| B2 | Right and left through |
| Both women and 1st man star right 1 1/3 |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
The last of this series. The title didn't suggest any particular moves, other than the ones I'd already used in Snowflakes That Stay. I did however want to write another more traditional dance in proper formation.
| A1 | Give and take, men take opposite back |
| Swing opposite |
| A2 | Half hey for four, men pass left shoulders to start |
| Mad robin, men in to start |
| B1 | Slingshot: Butterfly whirl, men forward, and men cross the set to partner |
| Swing partner |
| B2 | Pass through across the set and pivot around the men to face a new couple |
| Pass through across the set and pivot around the women to face new opposites |
The crossings and pivots reminded me of the dance scene in the film "Singin' in the Rain" where he dances into the street and swings around the lamposts.
Couples coming out at the top, don't cross the second time and slide down when the others pivot to rejoin immediately. Similarly at the bottom.
| A1 | Balance the diamond and Petronella turn one place to the right (anti-clockwise) |
| Repeat balance and Petronella turn |
| A2 | Balance the diamond, California twirl partner to face out of the diamond (men down the middle) |
| Partners wheel anti-clockwise a quarter turn into new diamond (progression – men down the middle); couple at the top turns 3/4 to opposite side of the set; any couple waiting at the bottom joins in (4 beats) |
| Women allemande left half-way; any couple coming out at the bottom complete their wheel to finish facing up (4 beats) |
| B1 | All star left once around |
| Star right once around |
| B2 | Swing partner; finish back in diamond formation, women down the middle |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
I had seen a Cary Ravitz dance that was done in a diamond formation. I thought that this would be appropriate for snowflakes and designed the dance around that. I had to include some stars as well to reflect the snowflake shape. The progression by wheeling from one diamond into the next represents the swirling snowflakes as they fall.
To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each group of four moves 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that women are in a line down the middle of the set and men are on the side. To orient everyone during the wheeling progression it may help for the men to join left hand with the man from the next set.
This dance has a double progression, so no-one is ever out at the top.
| A1 | Long lines backwards! and forwards |
| Men swing woman on their left (progression) |
| A2 | Men chain across (left hand) and allemande right with opposite woman half-way |
| Long wavy lines balance (men facing in, women out) (4 beats) |
| Men swap places passing left shoulder, women turn half-way on the spot (4 beats) |
| B1 | Long wavy lines balance (men facing out, women in) (4 beats) |
| Box circulate: women cross the set, men cast left (4 beats) |
| Long wavy lines balance (4 beats) |
| Box circulate: men cross the set, women cast left (4 beats) |
| B2 | Women swap places passing right shoulder, men turn half-way on the spot (4 beats) |
| Women cast right, men cross the set (4 beats) |
| Swing partner |
This mixer has the men moving clockwise around the set and the women anti-clockwise. Start on the wrong side of your partner in Becket formation.
Somehow the Spanish Inquisition came up at dancing, and someone said that it should be a dance that is dropped into an evening's program unexpectedly ("Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" - Monty Python). That inspired this dance, with its unexpected moves and progression.
| A1 | Balance the ring and Petronella turn one place anti-clockwise |
| Line of three (1st man and both women) down the hall, 2nd man goes down alone |
| A2 | Women move to 2nd man to form line of three coming up the hall, 1st man leads on his own |
| Men move to their neighbour and swing on the side |
| B1 | Women allemande left once around, men orbit half-way clockwise |
| Swing partner |
| B2 | Long lines go forward and back |
| As a couple pass the opposite couple by the right and promenade clockwise around the large set, past another couple, to the next diamond |
To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that women are in a line down the middle and men are on the side. Diamond dances have a double progression.
I wanted to create a Contra dance with a line of three - as in July 12 Birthday Triplets by David McMullen. The diamond formation leads into that naturally. The names comes from the Paul Simon song "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes".
| A1 | Neighbours allemande right half-way; spare couples at the ends allemande right half-way with their partner (4 beats) |
| With the next person allemande left once around (8 beats) |
| Original neighbours allemande right half-way (4 beats) |
| A2 | Women start a hey for four passing left shoulders |
| B1 | Gypsy neighbour |
| Swing neighbour |
| B2 | Men right allemande 3/4 into neighbour's position (their original position); women cast into neighbour's position (their original position) (4 beats) |
| Women right allemande 3/4 into neighbour's position (progressed position); men cast into neighbour's position (progressed position) (4 beats) |
| Do-si-do new neighbour |
I tried to create a flowing dance. The name is a nod to Delphiniums and Daisies (another great flowing dance) and is also a great flow-er!
| A1 | 1st and 2nd couples pass opposite by the right and California twirl, 3rd couple allemande right half-way and promenade across the sett |
| 1st and 2nd couples pass opposite by the right and California twirl to place, 3rd couple Nevada twirl and promenade across the set to place |
| A2 | Grand chain half-way, starting right hand with partner |
| Swing partner |
| B1 | Men dance once around their neighbour (the woman on their left) starting through the inside of the set (anti-clockwise) |
| Women dance once around their partner starting through the inside of the set (anti-clockwise) |
| B2 | All left hand star once around, 1st and 2nd couples finish facing away from their set (1st couple down, 2nd couple up) |
| 1st and 2nd couples facing another couple from the next set right hand star half-way, then allemande right their opposite in that same group once around, other couples allemande right their partner once around |
I was looking through Pat Shaw's dances and found The American Husband in this three couple formation. That could work as an alternative Contra formation I thought.
The dance was written while on holidays on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
It doesn’t matter which side the 3rd couple start on. The 1st and 2nd couples double progress into the next triple-minor set, while the 3rd couples stay in the one set but bounce from side to side.
| A1 | Circle left once around |
| Men allemande left once around, when home again, keep holding hands, pick up partner as if for a star promenade (half-ballroom hold) but just turn her in |
| A2 | Women clasp right hands (on top of the men's hands) to form an hourglass basket, basket left once around |
| Women keep right hands held, while men release left hands and open out, star promenade half-way and progress clockwise around the set to the next couple |
| B1 | Hey for four with new opposites, men start left shoulders |
| B2 | Single file clockwise half-way (4 beats) |
| Swing partner (12 beats) |
I developed a new basket formation – partners in half-ballroom hold, men taking left hands, women taking right hands – and built the dance around that. I was in Mt Tamborine at the time and the basket shape reminds be of an hourglass – hence the name.
End effects: Couples coming out of the promenade with no-one to face, wait there until the next promenade and rejoin.
| A1 | Do-si-do neighbour |
| Gypsy neighbour once around |
| A2 | Swing neighbour, finish on the side of the set facing your partner across the set, with the woman on the man's right |
| B1 | Long lines forward and back |
| Do-si-do partner |
| B2 | Star right once around |
| Star left once around and look for new neighbour |
The second introductory dance (see One Fish) - featuring a gypsy/swing combination.
| A1 | Right and left through |
| Star left once around |
| A2 | Sides and ends balance forward and back; the women down the middle with someone behind them turn back over their right shoulder to swap with the woman from the next set (women progress) (4 beats) |
| Petronella turn one place anti-clockwise (4 beats) |
| Sides and ends balance forward and back; the men down the middle with someone behind them turn back over their right shoulder to swap with the man from the next set (men progress) (4 beats) |
| Petronella turn one place anti-clockwise (4 beats) |
| B1 | Right and left through |
| Star left once around |
| B2 | Balance and swing partner; finishing in diamond formation |
To get into diamond formation, start in improper Contra formation and each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that women are in a line down the middle and men are on the side. Diamond dances have a double progression.
I wanted to write another diamond formation dance, but had trouble coming up with a suitable progression. Eventually I stumbled on the sneaky swap during the balance and Petronella – hence the name.
| A1 | Circle left half-way (4 beats) |
| Swing neighbour (12 beats), finish facing down (the 1s are in the middle) |
| A2 | Lines of four down the hall; turn into a cosy line – middle couple (1s) turn away from each other bringing their joined hands over their heads, while outer couple (2s) turn in and join spare hands behind the others |
| Return back up the hall; at the end, 1s go backwards under an arch formed by the 2s |
| B1 | Basket to the left, twice around |
| B2 | Do-si-do partner (across the set) |
| Balance with partner, box the gnat and turn to meet next couple |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
For this dance the cosy line sprang to mind, followed by a basket as people huddle together around a fire. This required a more usual duple improper set.
| A1 | Star left once around |
| Star right once around |
| A2 | Women start a half hey for four passing left shoulders |
| Swing neighbour |
| B1 | Star left once around |
| Star right once around |
| B2 | Men start a half hey for four passing left shoulders |
| Swing neighbour |
This is basically a 16 bar Contra dance, but through the magic of swings still allows the dancers to progress after 32 bars. The switching back and forth between the sides of the set reminded me of a shuttle in weaving, hence the name..
| A1 | Balance the ring, Petronella turn one position right (anti-clockwise) |
| Balance the ring, California twirl partner to face next set |
| A2 | Right hand star once around with next couple |
| Left hand star half-way with original couple (4 beats) |
| Women drop out of the star and turn out to the right, men allemande right half-way with man from next couple (men progress) (4 beats) |
| B1 | Women rejoin in front of partner (women progress), right hand star once around with that couple |
| Gypsy partner |
| B2 | Swing partner |
| Right and left through |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
Whiskers suggested stars, so these form the main figure in the dance. The balance and turns at the start remind me of a kitten pouncing on and playing with a toy. For a change I tried a Becket formation and once again had two sets interacting during the dance.
End effects: spare couples don't cross immediately when they come out the top or bottom, and join in as needed. When they gypsy/swing they finish in normal improper position ready to meet the next couple for the first right hand star.
| A1 | Allemande right partner |
| Allemande left neighbour |
| A2 | Star right once around |
| Star left once around with the next couple |
| B1 | Do-si-do original neighbour |
| 2s cast up; while 1s cross down (4 beats) |
| 1s cast up; while 2s cross down and move outwards to form a line of four facing down with 1s in the middle (4 beats) |
| B2 | Lines of four down the hall, including spare couples at the ends (4 beats) |
| Ends (2s) fold in and all pass through right shoulder with partner; ending with 2s behind 1s all facing up (1s improper, 2s proper) (4 beats) |
| Lead back up the hall (as couples); 1s cast down into next position, 2s little cast on the spot |
Part of the "My Favourite Things" series.
Spare couples at the bottom of the set start improper. Spare couples at the ends of the set don't change sides immediately.
The quilting pattern called Wild Geese inspired the final move in this dance, with the other steps reflecting the geese wheeling through the sky.