A dance program of Contra Classics and Chestnuts!
Improper
| A1. | ( 8) | Cir lf |
| ( 8) | Cir rt | |
| A2. | ( 8) | Star rt |
| ( 8) | Star lf | |
| B1. | (16) | 1s separate, go dn outside, turn alone, ret |
| B2. | ( 4) | 1s in center of line-of-4 down hall |
| ( 8) | 1s arch, 2s duck through, take hands 4 w/ new N | |
| ( 4) | 1s back up, 2s walk fwd back up the hall |
This dance is a simplification of Jefferson & Liberty (the tune that the band played).
Circle mixer
| A1. | ( 8) | Cir lf |
| ( 8) | Cir rt | |
| A2. | ( 8) | W fwd & bk |
| ( 8) | M fwd, turn lf to face out, ret | |
| B1. | (16) | Corners sw |
| B2. | (16) | Promenade |
This circle mixer shows up as a well-known folk dance all over the world. This (contra) version replaces everybody fwd & bk 2x in A1 with cir lf/cir rt.
improper
| A1. | (16) | N bal & sw |
| A2. | (16) | 1s dn center, turn alone, ret, cast off |
| B1. | (16) | W ch (over and back) |
| B2. | ( 8) | Promenade across |
| ( 8) | Rt and lf thru |
Triple proper
| A1. | ( 8) | 1s down outside below 2 cpls |
| ( 8) | 1s come up inside, cast around 2s | |
| A2. | ( 8) | 1s face dn, hands-across star rt w/ 3s |
| ( 8) | 1s face up, hands-across star lf w/ 2s | |
| B1. | (16) | Cir rt (all six) |
| B2. | (16) | 1s w/ 2s rt & lf thru over and back |
Notes:
Proper triplet, ends (2, 3, 1)
| A1. | (16) | 1s dn center, turn alone, rt, cast off |
| A2. | (16) | 1s turn contra corners |
| B1. | (16) | 1s bal & sw; end facing up |
| B2. | ( 8) | 1s up center to top, separate to bottom |
| ( 8) | Lines of 3 fwd & bk |
(It's not so much a classic as a classic helper....)
proper
| A1. | (16) | 1s cross over, go dn below 1, 1s come up center while crossing back, cast off with same-sex N, come in to center, give rt hd to P and lf to next active to make wavy line of 1s |
| A2. | ( 8) | bal wave rt, then lf, and slide rt |
| ( 8) | bal wave lf, then rt, and slide lf | |
| B1. | (16) | 1s turn contra corners |
| B2. | (16) | 1s bal & sw, end proper |
It turns out that this dance is deceptively difficult for more novice dancers.
(break)
improper
| A1. | ( 8) | 1s cross over, loop lf around 1 into center (M1 face up, W1 face dn) (*) |
| ( 8) | bal diamond, petronella twirl to rt | |
| A2. | ( 8) | bal diamond, petronella twirl to rt |
| ( 8) | 1s sw, end facing dn | |
| B1. | (16) | 4-in-line dn hall, 1s turn as cpls, 2s turn alone, ret, cast |
| B2. | ( 4) | Cir lf 1/2 |
| (12) | N sw, end facing across |
(*) 1s not with your P in A1
It was a bit tricky to teach, but the dance went very well.
Improper
| A1. | ( 4) | 1s bal |
| ( 8) | 1s dsd (across phrase) | |
| ( 4) | N almd lf (asymmetric!) (*) | |
| A2. | (16) | 1s sw |
| B1. | (16) | N bal & sw |
| B2. | (16) | W ch over and bk |
Improper
| A1. | ( 8) | N dsd 1 1/4 to wavy lines (W in center) |
| ( 4) | Bal wave | |
| ( 4) | All almd rt 1/2 | |
| A2. | ( 4) | Bal wave |
| ( 4) | Men almd lf 1/2 | |
| ( 8) | P sw, end facing dn | |
| B1. | (16) | 4-in-line dn hall, turn as cpls, ret, cast off |
| B2. | ( 8) | Rt & lf thru |
| ( 8) | W ch |
Proper
| A1. | (16) | 1s down outside, turn alone, ret, meet P in center |
| A2. | (16) | 1s down center, turn alone, ret, cast off w/ 2s |
| B1. | (16) | 1s turn contra corners |
| B2. | (16) | 1s bal & sw |
The band started with the title tune, then switched to Dancing Bear. Awesome tune choice!