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Articles Michael Dyck's Contradance Index
Michael Dyck's Contradance Index

Jonathan's dances Dances/Composers (contradance) Tunes/Bands (contradance)
L0 Contradance program L1 Contradance program L2 Contradance program L3 Contradance program L4 Contradance program L5 Contradance program


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Dances: Easy, Medium, Advancedish, 4Facing4, Squares, Tunes, Composers.
JK: Dances,  Recent Programs,  House contras,  Mathematics teaching.
Legacy pages: 2010, UFCC, 2011, 2012, 2013.
Dancing on a Moving Float: 2015:  Finding NEMO     2016: The Right Stuff
   2017:  The Unicorns missed the Boat     2018: Emerald Isle

Easy contra dances

Family Contra in the Castle by Seth Tepfer.
[IMPROPER: Teaching: Face-up/down, memorize. Swing partner, ending the way you memorized.]
Balance-the ring, twice(8); Circle-RIGHT 4-places(8).
Balance-the ring, twice(8); Circle-LEFT 4-places(8).
[Face nbr] NBR dosido(8), then NBR-swing [on-the-side](8).
Long-lines(8). Partner swing [across-the-set](8).
Exchanged the circling directions, to flow into the R-shoulder nbr-dosido. Use long-lines rather than across-the-set partner-dosido.
Dip and Dive by Tom Hinds.
[IMPROPER: Identify ONES/TWOS. Double progression]
Nbr bal&swing(4+12).
DTHall(6), turn alone(2), UTHall(6), bend-the-line(2).
ONEs gypsy [across the set](8), ONEs swing [across the set](8),
Circle left all-the-way(8). [Dip&Dive] TWOs arch, ONEs dive(4); [with next couple] ONEs arch, TWOs dive(4).
[END: Circle left just 3-places(8). Everyone swing your partner(8).]
VideoCameraDavid Keller | Marc Rennard, Nikos Papas, Dave Landreth.
DipDive by Seth Tepfer.
[IMPROPER: Identify ONES/TWOS. Double progression. (Seth's variant of Tom Hinds' Dip and Dive)]
Nbr bal&swing(4+12).
DTHall(6), turn as-a-couple(2), UTHall(6), bend-the-line(2).
Circle left 3-places(8). Partner swing(8) [on the side; 's home].
Circle left 3-places(8). [Dip&Dive] TWOs arch, ONEs dive(4); [with next couple] ONEs arch, TWOs dive(4).
[END: Circle left all-the-way(8). Partner swing(8).]
VideoCameraBob O'Brien.
Reel Easy by Cary Ravitz.
[IMPROPER:]
Nbr dosido(8). Nbr swing(8).
Long-lines(8). allemand-R 1.5 (8).
Partner bal&swing(4+12).
Circle left 3-places(8). Nbr allemand-R(6), pull-by right(2).
VideoCameraCaller? | Band?.
Al's Safeway Produce by Robert Cromartie.
[IMPROPER:]
Star-L all-the-way-around(8). Allemand-L nbr 1.5 (8).
allemand-R 1.5 (8). Partner swing(8).
Circle left 3-places(8). Nbr swing(8).
Long-lines(8). Star-R (merging to a star-L with new couple).
VideoCameraMartha Edwards | Echo Valley String Band.
VideoCameraJoy Greenwolfe | ? .
Small Potatoes by Jim Kitch.
[IMPROPER:]
With nbr, Bal&Swing(4+12).
R-hands-across--Star 1x (8). chain [to partner](8).
dosido(8). Partner swing(8).
Circle-left 3-places and pass thru(6+2), next nbr dosido(8).
The Baby Rose by David Kaynor.
[IMPROPER:]
Nbr Bal&Swing(4+12).
Circle-left 3-places(8). Partner DoSiDo(8).
Partner Bal&Swing(4+12).
chain(8). Left-hand star(8).
VideoCameraJack Mitchell | Big Medicine.
Cranky Ingenuity by Bill Olson.
[IMPROPER: Dosido as couples]
Circle-left(8). As couples, dosido nbr-couple(8).
Individually, nbr dosido(8). Swing nbr(8).
allemand-L 1.5 (8). Partner Swing(8).
Circle-left 3/4 (8). Ring-balance(4). California Twirl(4), to face new nbrs.
VideoCameraMyra Hirschberg | Mike Ayles & David Boulanger.
VideoCameraAlice Morris.
Fidelity Reel by Bill Wellington.
[IMPROPER: Two s]
, then Nbr swing(8+8).
Long-lines(8). allemand-L 1.5 (8).
, then swing partner(8+8).
With partner, promenade across(8) [Gents pass by L-shoulder]. chain(8).
Frederick Contra by Tom Hinds.
[IMPROPER:]
(“New”) dosido(8). allemand-L 1.5, to change places(8).
Partner bal&swing(4+12).
DTHall line4, ONEs next to TWOs(6), turn as a couple(2). Come back UTHall(6), bend the line(2)...
...Circle left 3-places(8). Nbr swing(8). look for new on L-diagonal.
Hay in the Barn by Chart Guthrie.
[IMPROPER:]
Nbr Bal&Swing(4+12).
chain(8). start half-hey(8).
Partner Bal&Swing(4+12).
chain(8). start half-hey(8).
VideoCameraSeth Tepfer | Tim&Friends.
See also the “Roll in the Hey” medley.
Judah Jig by Charlie Fenton.
[IMPROPER: Circle-into-star]
Bal&swing nbr(4+12).
Circle-left 3 places, swing partner(8+8).
Circle left(8). Hands-across R-hand star(8) [i.e, both in same dir].
chain to Nbr(8), L-hand star(8) to face new nbrs.

VideoCameraDave Harvey. See “Roll in the Hey” medley. Bob Isaacs: “Charlie Fenton, of San Francisco, named this dance for the street on which the local contra dance was located.
Simplicity Swing by Becky Hill.
[IMPROPER: Identify ONEs/TWOs, and direction of progression.]
Nbr bal&swing(4+12).
Circle left 3-places(8). Partner swing(8).
Long-lines(8). chain [to nbr](8).
Star-L 4-places(8). Next Nbr dosido(8).
OR: A2: Long-lines and take partner back to side(8). Partner swing(8).
VideoCameraJean Gorrindo | Celtic Spring. VideoCameraLinda Leslie, calling the give&take variant.

Down-the-Hall dances

Jefferson and Lincoln by Seth Tepfer.
[IMPROPER: 1's arch, then backing up]
Circle left(8). Circle right(8).
Star-R(8). Star-L(8).
Long-lines(8). ONEs&swing(8), in the middle.
Line4 DTHall, ONEs in the center(4). ONEs arch(4) [still facing down]. TWOs pop through(4) [facing up the hall]. All go up 2 by 2 [ONEs bkwards](4); ONEs are facing their new NBRs.
Broken Sixpence by Don Armstrong.
[IMPROPER: 3 dosido's]
[New] Nbr dosido(8).  dosido(8).
dosido(8). ONEs swing, face down the hall(8), step between TWOs.
Line4-DTHall, turn alone(6+2). Line4-UTHall, bend the line(6+2).
Circle left(8) [or Right-hand Star]. [Reverse] Left-hand Star(8).
VideoCameraInisheer Irish Dance | Contra from 15:58 till 21:22, Jonathan King calling | Waltz. Band: Flying Turtles. At 21:30, Joe tries to steal my waltz partner. Unsuccessfully.

*  NBR balance&swing(4+12) [on the side].
*  Long-lines, roll-away while backing up(8).
ONEs swing, face down the hall(8), step between TWOs.
Kinematic Vorticity by Carol Ormand.
[IMPROPER: ]
Long-lines(8).
Nbr mirror-gate, all-the-way-round & ¼ more(8).
(ONES walking fwd, TWOS backing up).

DTHall Line4, ONEs in the center(5).
(2-1-1-2).
Turn alone(2), Line4 UTHall(6), bend the line(2).

Circle left 3-places(8). Partner swing(8)
Circle left 3-places(8). Nbr swing(8)
Oak Hill Quickstep by Bob Nicholson.
[IMPROPER: 4-in-line, turn alone]
Down the hall, 4-in-line [ONEs in the center], turn alone(8); come on back, face nbr(8).
Bal&swing nbr(4+12).
chain(8), then chain on back(8).
Long lines(8). ONEs swing(8).
(A bit more challenging)
Adam's Beginning by Erik Hoffman.
[BECKET: Line-of-4 DTHall 1-1--2-2. Emph: The “pull-by” has no courtesy turn]

In lines-of-4 DTHall, ONES on Left(6). Turn as a couple(2),
UTHall [1-1-2-2(6)], bend the line(2).

Circle left all-the-way-around(8). As couples, Slide Left along the line to face a New Couple(2) and Circle left 3-places(6).

Nbr do-si-do(8), then nbr swing(8).

pull-by right(hand), to swing your partner. [End facing DTHall]

Mixers

Notes not yet correct for:
The Flying Scotsman by .
[Triplet or quadruplet, PROPER] abc
123 or abcd
1234
[Top three]  join hands, weave around 1, between 1 and 2, between 2 and 3 (8), and back to place(8).
[Top three]  join hands, weave around 1, between 1 and 2, between 2 and 3 (8), and back to place(8).
ONEs sashay way down the hall(8); [on beats 5,6,7,8 the other couples join hands on the side, take four steps to move up, making a new top couple]. ONEs sashay back (little steps) to the bottom of their set.(8).
Join hands in short-lines facing across. Sashay down(8); sashay up(8).
VideoCameraTFS, YouTube and VideoCamera Slightly more complicated version.



The Barn Mixer by Rick Mohr.
[Scattered-fours, couple-with-couple. Contra-music.]
Circle left(8). R-star, wrist-grip star(8).
Slide hands to Rights-&-lefts with Nbr(8). Dosido Nbr(8).
Nbr bal&swing(4+12); this is your new partner.
Promenade anywhere with new partner(16), to find another couple to circle with.
Borrowdale Exchange
[Scatter mixer: 3-couple groups, on right]
Circle left(8), circle right(8).
Dance to center and back(4+4). Partner dosido(8).
Right hands-across star [3 couples](8). All lift joined-hands; lowest-hand pull [new]partner under the arch, then next lowest-hand , then last; you have three new couples.
As couples, scatter promenade to make new sets. [Cèilidh (“kay-lee”) version: Skip as couples].
VideoCameraDanced in Seattle.
Mad Scatter by Rick Mohr.
[Scatter mixer: Couples in 4-somes or 6-somes or 8-somes]
Circle left(8). Dosido nbr(8).
Allemand-R partner 1.5 [sending in](8). star-L, while orbit CW(8).
Bal&swing new partner(4+12).
Promenade anywhere with new partner(16) [Find another group to circle with].
Any number of couples can be in the circle left, ditto the star-L.
Dive for the oyster, dig for the clam.
[2-couples in hands-4, anywhere on the floor.]
[Hands-4] “Dive for the oyster ”(8). A couple makes an arch, others dive/peek under; all hands stay joined. “Dig for the clam”;(8); the other couple makes an arch, and the others peek through.
[All hands stay joined] “Shoot through the hole in the old tin can”(16). First couple arches, 2nd pops through, rolls-over-outside shoulder, brings the other couple through, and they roll over.
Circle-L, circle-R(8+8).
Promenade about the hall(16), to find a new couple.
VideoCamera[This is a different version].

Circle mixers

Vowel Mixer [AEIO You!] by traditional.
[Circle-mixer contra-music or waltz. Best if  #Couples ≢4 0; maybe use nested circles.]
Circle left(8), circle right(8).
In the middle and back(4+4) [face prtnr]. Partner dosido(8) [then R-hand to prtnr].
Grand R&L; A(2), E(2), I(2), O(2), whom-do-I-swing? You! New-prtnr swing(8).
Promenade(16).
La Bastringue
[Circle mixer:] In-to-Center, back(8). Again(8). Cir-L(8), Cir-R(8). turns LH to him, swing(4+12). Promenade(16) with swing-hands-out/in.
VideoCamera2008 California State Fair. Of French-Canadian origin, La Bastringue is a fine warm-up dance.

Slightly less Easy contra dances

Chainsaw Reel by Don Lennartson.
[BECKET: ID-dir-prog, THEN Becketize! Huge oval circle.]
[Same two] chain(8). Long lines(8); keep hands, and connect at the ends to make a huge oval.
Oval right(8) [“Ovaltine”]. Oval left(8) [“OvalTang”].
[Original foursomes] Circle-left(8). [C'mon back with a] Left-hand star(8) all the way around [ in front of his partner].
[ look right and] Allemand-R the new nbr- coming toward you(8). Partner-swing(8), on the side.
VideoCameraJonathan King, Footloose. Called as no-walk-through. VideoCameraCaller? | Band?.
Chain the Hey by Becky Hill.
[IMPROPER:]
Nbr dosido, then swing(8+8).
allemand-L 1.5, partner swing(8+8). [short swing]
With partner, promenade across(8). Rights-and-lefts across(8).
start half-hey(8), to chain(8). [Turn to face new nbrs]
VideoCameraDavid Keller | Playing with Fire.
Seth: Good 4th dance.
The Cure for the Claps by Bob Isaacs.
[IMPROPER:]
Ring-bal, petronella(4+4), partner swing(8).
Ring-bal, petronella(4+4), nbr swing(8).
DTHall line4 [ONEs in the center], turn alone(6+2), UTHall, bend line(6+2). 4-by-4 go down the floor
Circle left all the way(8). Ring-bal(4), Cal-twirl(4).
VideoCameraBob Isaacs | Crowfoot. See 4:20-4:42.
VideoCameraJonathan King | Flying Turtles. Contra till 2:53, then a waltz.
Delphiniums and Daisies by Tanya Rotenberg.
[IMPROPER:]
Nbr allemand-L 1.5 (8). chain(8).
start a full-hey(16).
Partner Bal&Swing(4+12).
Circle-left 3-places(8). Nbr allemand-R 1.5 (8).
VideoCameraLisa Greenleaf | Great Bear Trio.
VideoCameraDave Harvey. At 2:21 a dancer plays spoons
Heartbeat Contra by Don Flaherty.
[IMPROPER:]
Bal-the-ring then petronella(8). Bal-the-ring, petronella(8).
Bal-the-ring(4). Nbr swing(12) on the side.
 1.5 in the middle(8), partner swing(8) on the side.
Circle-left 3-places(8). Ring-bal(4), California twirl(4).
VideoCameraHank Morris | Contraversial.
Sarah's Journey by Gene Hubert.
[IMPROPER: Contra-stretch; Fours far apart. No balance on box-the-gnat.]
Box-the-Gnat with Nbr(4); pull-by L-hand to cross the set(4). Partner swing(8).
Circle left all-the-way(8); Dosido Partner(8).
Box-the-Gnat Partner(4); pull-by L-hand to cross the set(4). Nbr swing(8).
Rights-&-lefts across(8). Star-L all-the-way(8), to face new Nbrs.
VideoCameraJo Morland | Stringdancer. VideoCameraWilliam Watson | Joyride.
Becket Reel by Herbie Gaudreau.
[BECKET: Partner on one side of you, shadow on other. (Double-progression) Emph: Close gaps with swing]
Allemand-L your shadow(8). Partner swing(8).
chain across and back(8+8).

On left diagonal: Right&left through(8). Straight across: Right&left through(8).
Star left(8). Star right(8). [...until you see your shadow...]
VideoCameraSeth Tepfer | Band ?.


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____End: JK Program Easy contra dances


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