Dance Rhapsody Calling

Choreography

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Love Thy Neighbor
Formation:	duple minor, becket (CCW progression)
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	March, 2009
A1:	(8) Long Lines Forward and Back; (4) Pass through across set (half gypsy neighbor), (4) Circle Left 1/2
A2:	(4) Pass through across set (half gypsy neighbor), (4) Circle Left 1/2; (4) Pass through ALONG set (up and down - half gypsy partner), (4) Circle Left 1/2
B1:	(4) ladies roll neighbor away with half sashay; (4) ladies come hither* neighbor; (8) neighbor swing
B2:	(8) on left diagonal, gents allemande left 1.5, (8) partner swing
Notes:	Come Hither: Like a circle left 1 place, but only hold hands with neighbor. Ladies pull/entice/beckon neighbor around to side of set to swing Janet Shepherd wrote a fabulous dance "Coming Home to Tohollie" : A1: Neighbor DSD; Circle left 1x A2: Ladies roll partner away 1/2 sashay (Left to Right); ladies 'come hither' partner; partner swing B1: right and left thru; ladies chain B2: Balance and petronella twirl; Balance and petronella twirl I love this dance. I call it all the time. Yet, I wanted a come hither with my neighbor instead of partmer. After many attempts, I started with a Gene Hubert base (A1/2 is basically a becket version of Permeation), added a full cup of Janet Shepherd and a dash of Seth to get this dance. Incidentally, the title was inspired by a tshirt I saw at Gypsy Moon in Indiana by Naresh Keswani. The front says "Love thy Neighbor" and the back says "thy homeless neighbor / thy black neighbor / thy gay neighbor / thy Muslim neighbor / ...". Contact Naresh at Naresh.Kewsani@jefferson.kyschools.us to get one for yourself.

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Gypsy Everyone
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	Jan, 2008
A1:	(8) neighbor DSD; (8) ladies left shoulder gypsy 1x , go back to neighbor
A2:	(8) neigbor gypsy; (8) neighbor swing
B1:	(8) gents gypsy left shoulder 1.5; (8) partner swing
B2:	(8) long lines, (8) gents allemande left 1.5 to next neighbor
Notes:	I had a hankering for a dance that gypsied everyone (except partner - I find partner gypsies redundant). I called this Thursday night at Lake City in Seattle, January 31, 2008. People loved the dance. I don't remember what was the 2nd half of B2. Viable choices would include: Gents allemande left 1.5 to next neighbor; Gents pass left for a broken hey (ladies allemande left in center); [long lines - give and take LADIES take neighbor back for] neighbor swing (again); circle left 3/4 CA twirl (no balance, really tight timing). Which do you like?

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A Different Way Forward or Friday at the Fool or Hi there!
Formation:	duple minor, becket
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	Jan, 2008
A1:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) circle left 3/4, pass thru up and down
A2:	(8) next neighbor (#2), allemande left 1.5; next next (#3) neighbor gypsy by right shoulder 1.5
B1:	(16) next next next (#4) neighbor balance and swing
B2:	(8) ladies allemande right 1.5, (8) swing partner
Notes:	For the Friday night of the Dancing Fool dance weekend in Seattle, I wanted a dance like "A Different Way Back" where you could say hi to lots of different people. But unlike "ADWB" I didn't want you to come back! So, as so often happens, I wrote the dance I wanted. I'm still tweaking the top part of B2. I need to get the ladies over to the gents, but how - circle left 3/4? Nah, you already do that in A1. Ladies allemande? Well, it's standard, but the it's still annoying flow out of a swing. Ladies start broken hey? still ugly flow. Give and take gents take partner? Hmmm. The dance was called as listed above, and was a hit.

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untitled star weave dance
Formation:	duple minor, becket
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	Feb, 2007
A1:	(8) right diagonal ladies chain; (8) across set ladies start 1/2 hey
A2:	(16) neighbor, balance and swing
B1:	(8) right and left thru across set; (8) left hand star
B2:	(4) ladies pass right shoulder up and down the set to partner, (4) balance partner; (8) swing partner
Notes:	I was watching dancers doing "Susie's Reel." In that dance, ladies travel from one left hand star to the next along the lines. Sometimes ladies are confused and want to pass right shoulder, weaving in the middle rather than passing left shoulder, staying on their side. I was inspired by the thought - what if there was a dance that deliberately did that? This is an attempt to write that dance.

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Snowball Shimmy
Formation:	duple minor, becket
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	Feb, 2007
A1:	(8) circle left 1x; (8) gents allemande right 1.5
A2:	(16) neighbor, balance and swing
B1:	(8) balance, petronella twirl; (8) balance, petronella-nella twirl (twirl two places around the rng)
B2:	(16) partner, balance and swing; slide left to next couple
Notes:	I love Erik Weberg's dance with the 'nella-nella' called the Wasatch Wiggle but I wanted to nella-nella into my partner's arms. This is that dance.

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Not the Same as Shame on Shane
Formation:	duple minor, improper, backwards progression
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	May, 2007
A1:	(4) circle left 1/2; (4) pass through (the wrong way); with 'previous' neighbor (4) box the gnat, women cross passing right shoulders
A2:	(16) partner, balance and swing
B1:	(8) promenade across set; (8) ladies gypsy 1.5
B2:	(16) neighbor, balance and swing
C1:	(8) long lines forward and back; (4) circle left, (4) with partner, roll away with a half sashay (across set, women left to right), end improper
Notes:	This dance requires a 40 bar tune - AABBC; ask the band before planning on using this dance. Preferably a week or two prior so they have some time to prep. *This dance was originally written by Lou Dow of Southern CA (contradance@charliescoffee.com) and called Shame on Shane (an LA contra dancer, see the book California Twirls for more) . Basically the same dance, if you take out the neighbor balance and 4 counts of the swing and the long lines. In other words, it was a standard 32 bar dance, but had a neighbor swing that ended in the middle of the phrase.

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40 Years of Penguin Pam
Formation:	duple minor, becket, quintuple progression
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	January, 2007
A1:	(6) circle left 3/4; (10) swing neighbor
A2:	(6) circle left 3/4; (10) with partner, two hand turn 1.5, end facing left diagonal*
B1:	(8) on left diagonal, right and left thru; (8) across the set, right and left thru
B2:	(8) on left diagonal, ladies chain; (8) across the set, ladies chain (to shadow)
C1:	(8) on left diagonal, ladies start 1/2 hey (passing right shoulder); (8) across the set, ladies start 1/2 hey (passing right shoulder)
C2:	(16) partner, balance and swing
Notes:	This dance requires a 48 bar tune - AABBCC; ask the band before planning on using this dance. Preferably a week or two prior so they can heat up a couple 48 bar tunes. If you wish, you can chop off the A1/A2 to make a 32 bar dance. However, I feel this loses the neighbor interaction. Written to celebrate Pam Eidson 40th birthday. The dance works particularly well to "Hangman's Reel" (aka Reel Du Pendu). Yes, Hangman's Reel is 48 bars. I promise. *The dance as originally written had a partner swing in A2. It was a bit confusing for dancers to determine which partner swing they were at, so this was changed to "allemande Right 1.5, end by gents giving a gentle push to hand for lady to twirl to face left diagonal." This required far too much teaching, so I took it back to two hand turm. I am happiest with this solution; zesty dancers can decide to swing if they are so inclined without my direction. :-)

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Blackberry Cobbler Quadrille
Formation:	four face four (mescolanza)
Level:	med-hard
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	2006
A1:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) swing corner
A2:	(8) at the heads, pass thru, cross trail; (8) swing partner
B1:	(8) circle left 1/2 (back to facing original direction, but having switched sides), (8) into center and come back out
B2:	(16) left hand men break the circle (hold hands in your line of four) and cast off to left to invert the line and lead entire line around the other line to end up in progressed places.
Notes:	There exists a traditional dance called the Apple Pie Quadrille. I think this is it: A1 Lines forward & back; Centre four dancers star right A2 All allemande left with partners x 3/2; New centres star right B1 (Balance and) swing partners B2 All eight circle left once round B3 Left hand men break the circle (but hold hands in your line of four)and cast of left to invert the line and lead round the other line to progressed places. Here is the same dance, but squared off: A1: Lines F&B; center four dancers star right A2: Partner B&S B1: All eight circle left 1x (all the way around) B2: left hand man break the circle and cast off left to invert the line and lead round the other line to progressed places. I love the dance, but every time I danced it I was a little disappointed - no neighbor interaction, and the same person leads the cast off/invert every time. So I wrote the dance above to rectify those failings. The dance I REALLY want to write someday gives everyone (ladies and gents) a chance to lead the cast off. :-) Although this is a very traditional dance, it has fallen out of commen parlay. Be careful on the ends - lines sometimes go too far on the cast/lead around. Especially when they were already out. It is easier if those out stand pat

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Pride of Charlottesville
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	med
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	2004
A1:	(8) neighbbor see saw (left shoulder DSD); (8) neighbor allemande left 1.5
A2:	(8) ladies chain; (8) ladies start 1/2 hey
B1:	(16) partner balance and swing
B2:	(8) men allemande left 1.5; (8) neighbor allemande right 1.75
Notes:	I wanted a dance that was easy for new callers. This is a slight variation on Tom Hinds' dance Pride of Baltimore (which was written for Bob Dalsemer).

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Family Contra in the Castle
Formation:	duple minor, improper,
Level:	first
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	April 22, 2006
A1:	(8) balance the ring x2; (8) circle left
A2:	(8) balance the ring x2; (8) circle right
B1:	(8) neighbor DSD; (8) neighbor swing
B2:	(8) partner DSD; (8) partner swing - face the next
Notes:	This dance was written on the spur of the moment at the Rome dance at Berry College. we needed something to bridge the gap between ONS dances and duple improper contra. We'd done Jefferson and Libery, but weren't ready for "Dud's Delight."  So I took a riff off of Sherry Nevin's fabulous "Family Contra" (A1 & A2 same as above, B1: (8) partner DSD and (8) Swing; B2: (16) as couples, DSD 1.5 to progress)

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Sandi and Marti
Formation:	duple minor, improper,
Level:	medium
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	April 21, 2006
A1:	(8) Neighbor (#1) Do Si Do 1.5, (8) Next Neighbor (#2) Do Si Do
A2:	(16) Original Neighbor (#1) Balance and Swing
B1:	(6) circle left .75; (10) partner swing
B2:	(8) Ladies start broken hey* by right shoulder to short wavy line (Gents RH, Nabe #1 LH);** (4) balance wave, (4) Allemande Left Neighbor 1.25
Notes:	*Broken Hey: Ladies start 1/2 hey with Right Shoulder, Gents follow as in 1/2 hey but once in center allemande right 1x to come back to neighbor. Gents retain Right hand, give left to neighbor to make wave. **The entire B2 sequence is quite zesty, and requires timely dancing to work. This dance was written for the birthday of the playful contra piano maven and singer Sandi Goldring (and also honors his talented and capable wife Marti). The plan for the evening was to call dances that featured "Sand" or "Gold" or "Ring" in the title. Steve Schnur has a fun dance called "Sam and Sandi" that features the sequence at the end of B2, and A1 and A2. I loved the dance, but wanted a partner swing. So I tweaked it to my own nefarious purposes.

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untitled Right Hand High/Left Hand Low dance
Formation:	duple minor, improper,
Level:	medium
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	April 6, 2006
A1:	(6) Neighbor Left shoulder gypsy, (10) actives swing
A2:	(4) down hall four in line (actives in center), (4) Active Gent lead right hand high lady arch over left hand low to turn under his own arm and face up, inactive gent turn alone; (4) up the hall; (4) bend the line
B1:	(6) circle left .75; (10) neighbor swing
B2:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) right hand star

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untitled riff off of Dancing Sailors
Formation:	duple minor, improper, double progression
Level:	medium-hard
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	April 9, 2006
A1:	(8) Actives Swing; (8) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(8) Long Lines, Actives roll away next neighbor with 1/2 sashay; (8) Actives dance 1/2 figure 8 down through NEXT inactives
B1:	(16) Actives turn contra corners
B2:	(16) Actives pass right shoulder for hey on diagonal with 2nd corners
Notes:	To identify the hey on diagonal, have the actives hold hands with their partner and their 2nd corners . That's the diagonal for the hey, and the participants of that hey.

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Lydia's Questions
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	medium
Author	Seth Tepfer
Composed:	April 9, 2006
A1:	(8) Forward and Back; (8) Gents lead broken hey by right (Gents start 1/2 hey with Right Shoulder, Ladies follow as in 1/2 hey but once in center allemande right 1x to come back to partner)
A2:	(16) Partner swing*
B1:	(8) Circle left .75 (slow & deliberate - take your time); *Traveling gypsy x3 (16) - remain facing Neighbor for the remainder of the dance (4) pass thru up and down, (2) Promenade single file 1 place (circle left 1 place without holding hands) (2) pass thru across ...
B2:	(2) finish pass thru, (2) Promenade single file 1 place , (4) pass thru up and down; (8) neighbor swing
Notes:	Notes: Traveling Gypsy move taken from Joseph Pimentel's dance "Flapjack Express." Broken Hey move taken from dance "Why Be Normal" by katherine Nails. Lydia's questions are translated into Spanish, and are as unanswerable as her dance is expressive and contagious. Written at Cascade Contras, outside of Eugene, Oregon. I was off-kilter on Sunday due to jet lag and lack of sleep and dace weekend ecstasy - or maybe just low impulse control - but I called this dance on Sunday afternoon, not 5 hours after conception and delivery (calling a dance without playtesting is rarely the wisest idea; but then wisdom isn't my strong suit! :-). When originally called, A2 was gypsy and swing. Or maybe it was balance and swing. or maybe we tried both. Another possibility for the A part is   A1: F&B; LH star A2: Balance the Star (in and out), Petronella Twirl into partner swing. The advantage of the broken hey into partner swing is that it is flowy and relaxed just like the neighbor side of the dance. The advantage of the twirl into the swing is that it has the same 'ahh' impact as the 3xtraveling gypsy. *sigh* Choices.

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Relay the Deucey
Formation:	square, HSHS
Level:	very challenging (MWSD plus level)
Composed:	Feb 2006
A1:	Heads R&L; Head Ladies Chain
A2:	Heads pass the ocean, 'extend the wave' (walk to new waves - end with waves with sides, ladies holding right hands), ladies allemande Left 1/2, balance
B1:	Relay the Deucey
B2:	swing partner (short), Promenade (short)
Notes:	Relay the Deucey 1) Allemande Right 1/2 2) Gents Allemande left 3/4 - H ladies tag on end of wave 3) Allemande Right 1/2 - H gents spit out of wave 4) allemande left 1/2 - S ladies tag on end of wave 5) allemande right 1/2 - S gents spit out of wave 6) Ladies allemande left 3/4 Teaching notes * Everyone keeps moving. No one stands still. * you end up “diagonally across the square” and beside (and holding onto) the exact same people * If you leave the wave, dance single file around the outside moving forward. Don’t turn around, don’t try to make stars, and don’t jump into the middle of the wave. * The person you started with will “relay you back into the grand wave” when it’s your turn, and you’ll meet them again at the end of the call. * If you are moving around the outside, watch that person with your peripheral vision, this will help pace you down the square. * a "mantra call” – ½, ¾, ½, ½, ½, ¾. * need to take as much time teaching for the sides as for the heads. It's a completely different move from the new position More teaching hints available: http://www.ceder.net/def/relaythedeucey.php4 http://members.tripod.com/~noriks/ENGLISH/516202e.html#PSD087 http://www.callerlab.org/documents/showdocuments.asp?DocTypeID=7 http://www.callerlab.org/documents/teaching/Teaching_Tips_-_Plus(03-06-03).pdf

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Relay the Orbit
Formation:	mescolanza (four face four)
Level:	very hard
Author	Lisa Greenleaf and Clark Baker (riffed by Seth Tepfer)
Composed:	Riff composed February 2006
A1:	(8) Gents allemande left 1.5; (8) opposite swing
A2:	(4) Up and down, pass the ocean, (4) balance; (4) ladies allemande left .5, (4) balance
B1:	(16) Relay the Deucey
B2:	(16) Partner swing, face original direction
Notes:	"Relay the Orbit" (http://www.tiac.net/~mabaker/contra-dances.html) is the original four-face-four dance as written by Lisa Greenleaf and Clark Baker. I didn't like the progression in the middle, so slightly tweaked the A2 to remove the progression right before the Relay the Deucey.

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The Diaper Blues
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	Easy
Composed:	November 2005
A:	(8) Neighbor gypsy; (8) neighbor swing
B:	(6) circle left 3/4, (10) partner swing
C:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) ladies swing; look for next neighbor
Notes:	Please note that this is a short dance - does not fit standard contra dance length -- 32 bar -- tunes. It was designed to fit a 12 bar blues tune. If you want to have it fit a regular dance (say to medley from 12 bar blues into a rell), here is a simple change (making the dance effectively Simplicity Swing by Becky Hill): A1: Neighbor gypsy, swing A2: circle left 3/4, partner swing B1: LL; ladies chain B2: left hand star, new nabe DSD

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Untitled Blues Dances
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	Easy
Composed:	March 2004
A:	A1: (8) neighbor gypsy; (8) ladies gypsy
B:	B1: (16) partner balance and swing
C:	C1: (8) ladies chain; (8) left hand star
A:	(8) neighbor gypsy; (8) gents allemande left 1.5
B:	(16) partner balance and swing
C:	(8) 1/2 promenade across set; (8) ladies chain
Notes:	Please note that these are short dances - they do not fit standard contra dance length -- 32 bar -- tunes. It was designed to fit a 12 bar blues tune.

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We're pregnant!
Formation:	duple minor, improper, double progression
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	Nov 2004
A1:	(8) 1's split the 2's by a mirror gypsy with the 2s (Gent 1, Lady 2 = left shoulder; (8) gent 2, lady 1 = right shoulder) 1's with 2's handy hand allemande (Gent 1, Lady 2 = left hand; gent 2, lady 1 = right hand)
A2:	(16) 1's balance and swing
B1:	(16) all four basket swing
B2:	(8) all four balance 2x; (4) 2's arch, 1's duk through, (4)1's separate and walk around NEXT 2's (2's come together). 1's split NEXT twos for a mirror gypsy ...
Notes:	Note: This is the dance Lalah (and Kevin) and Pam (and Seth) announced officially that we are all pregnant. The dance follows the cycle of pregnancy: gypsy and allemande = flirting and dating balance and swing = consummation and conception basket swing = 9 months of pregnancy (now THAT's a long basket swing) double balances = labor (40 hours of balances, please) arch and duck = delivery 1's separate = floating on the magic of the experience Lalah and Pam had some additional rules regarding the Pregnancy dance: Once the dance is established and the caller has stopped calling, the women are allowed, even encouraged, to yell at random men up and down the line. The men should not to take this personally, should know that this is part of the dance, that they should under NO circumstances yell back, that they should try to enjoy it all if possible. Laughter is encouraged. Once the dance is established and the caller has stopped calling, the women are allowed, even encouraged, to forget steps here and there. This is called Pregnancy Brain Dancing. They may make up something else or stand there more or less frozen. All other dancers are instructed to help these women along while also gently encouraging them that their lives will one day regain some sense of normalcy, even if what they understand to be normal also changes radically. Laughter is encouraged. Men are to smile, say I'm sorry, it's my fault, and hug wherever possible. And keep dancing. Laughter is essential.

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Granny Smith Apple
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	Aug 2004
A1:	(4) Partner balance (gents left, ladies right), (4) reverse star thru; (4) Neighbor balance (gents left, ladies right), (4) reverse star thru
A2:	(4) In a ring balance, (4) petronella twirl; (8) partner see saw
B1:	(16) parnter balance and swing
B2:	(8) ladies start a 1/2 broken hey by right shoulder*; (8) neighbor swing
Notes:	Note: *Broken Hey: ladies do a normal 1/2 hey, gents in center allemande right 1x to go back to neighbor to swing. Dance is variant of "Green Apple" written by Danika, Lillian, Loretta, and Emma Murray, to the tune of "June Apple"

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Sarah and Bill and Nancy and Drake tie the knot
Formation:	duple minor, improper
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	Aug 2004
A1:	(8) neighbor gypsy; (8) neighbor swing
A2:	(4) down the hall four steps, (8) #1 lady turns alone, #2 lady does right hand high, left hand low; (4) up the hall four steps
B1:	(4) partner handy-hand balance (gents left hand, ladies right hand), (4) partner 'Tie the knot' (handy-hand box the gnat - gents left hand, ladies right hand); (8) partner swing (on side)
B2:	(8) forward and back; (8) gents allemande left 1.5 to look for next neighbor or(alternate, more challenging B2) (8) forward and back; (8) ladies start right hand star, gents join behind partner to look for next neighbor
Notes:	Note: This dance was written to honor Nancy and Sarah Worth's weddings on August 15, 2004 to Drake and Bill (respectively). This dance is a variation on Erik Hoffman's dance Emily and Jerry Tie the Knot: A1: (16) Neighbor Balance and Swing A2: (4) down hall four in line, (8) dixie twirl - #2 gent right hand high, left hand low, #1 gent turn alone, (4) up the hall four in line B1: (4) tie the knot with partner: box the gnat handy hand: gents left hand, ladies right hand, (12) swing partner (in center); end swing with 1s face down, 2s face up B2: (8) circle left 1x; (4) balance ring, (4) 2s arch, 1s duck thru

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No More Worth-less Swings
Formation:	mescolanza (4 face 4)
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	Aug 2004
A1:	(8) forward and back; (8) up and down, ladies allemande left 1.5
A2:	(16) neighbor balance and swing
B1:	(4) gents left hand star 1/2 (to 'partner'), (4) allemande right 'partner' .5; (8) ladies left hand star 1x
B2:	(16) 'partner' balance and swing
Notes:	In this dance, you alternate from swinging (and allemanding) your partner and your 'other' partner - the other couple you are progressing with (I call them your travelling buddies)). Ladies stay on the same time, but gents flip flop sides. Note: This dance was written to honor Nancy and Sarah Worth's weddings on August 15, 2004. Drake and Bill (respectively) now will have no more "Worth"less evenings - or Swings.

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Seth's Triplet #1: B and B (Bagpipes and Barbershops)
Formation:	triplet, couple #1 improper
Level:	Med
Composed:	July 2004
A1:	(16) Couples 1 & 2 - with Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2:	(8) long lines; (8) couple #1 begin double contra corners*
B1:	(16) couple #1 continue double contra corners
B2:	(8) couple #1 finish double contra corners; (8) couple 1 pull by and swing at bottom WHILE couple #2 and #3 swing partner; top couple finish facing down, other couples finish facing up
Notes:	Double contra corners: 1st corner is same-sex, across & right 2nd corner is same-sex, across & left 3rd corner is opp-sex, immediate left 4th corner is opp-sex, immediate right Each time, couple turns partner by the right 3/4; then corner by left 1x. Couple #1 moves counter-clockwise around the triplet. When in Tampa/St. Pete, I frequently stay with Joey Norton and Sue Stanzyk. Sue was into Bagpipes (at one time), Joey is in a Barbershop quartet, they are my B and B!

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Swingin' On a Star (would you rather be a fish)
Formation:	duple minor improper
Level:	Med
Composed:	Feb 2004
A1:	(8) forward and back; (8) reverse flutterwheel*
A2:	(8) ladies see-saw; (8) partner swing
B1:	(16) Swinging Star**
B2:	(0-8) right hand star back to starting place; (8) neighbor swing
Notes:	*Reverse Flutterwheel: Gents Allemande Left Nabe .5; scoop up ladies for star promenade .5. The gents are back where they started, ladies have changed sides. **Swinging Star: four dancers make a right hand wrist star and a left hands across star above the right hands. Put right foot in for a buzz step star turn clockwise. Two warnings: (1) don't go faster than the shortest person wants to go; (2) leaning back too far tempts a head-on head collision - those other heads are going in the opposite direction. This dance stems from a desire to have a "Swinging Star" dance (a la "Katies Trip to Starbase 12") that contained a neighbor swing, and did not have the "Swinging Star" into a left hand star (which frequently provoked complaints of dizziness).

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Masala Chai
Formation:	becket
Level:	Med-hard*
Composed:	June 2004
Authors:	Kimberly Sessions, Rob Harper, Woody Lane, Lesly Bowers, Beth Molaro, Seth Tepfer
A1:	(8) Give and take**; (8) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(8)Ladies start Broken Hey passing right shoulder, Right Hand to Partner, right allemande 1/2; (8) Ladies chain
B1:	(8) Mad Robin (slide left, ladies forward); (8) Masala Gypsy
B2:	(8) partner gypsy (8) partner swing
Notes:	*This dance is easy to dance, lots to teach **On progression, the next neighbor will be on the right diagonal Give and Take: Long lines forward, take both hands across with neighbor, ladies continue moving forward as men back up to place Broken Hey: Ladies start half a hey, passing right shoulders; men follow to center and do right allamande back to place Mad Robin: (Note:Partners maintain eye contact with each other across hall throughout move). Women step forward and slide left while Men step back and slide right to change places with neighbor then, without stopping, Men step forward and slide left while Women step back and slide right to return to original place Masala Gypsy: (Note: In a traditional gypsy you maintain eye contact with the person you are revolving around, in a Masala Gypsy you maintain eye contact with your Partner, wherever they are, *instead* of the person with whom you are revolving). The move: In groups of four, women change places with each other, passing right shoulders (while maintaining eye contact with Partner toward whom she is moving) then men do a once around Gypsy (while maintaining eye contact with Partner over other man's shoulder). Partners should end up on same (men's) side of set.
History:	Masala Chai is a hot tea that combines Indian spices (cardamon, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper) with "British" milk (milk sweetened with sugar). This dance was written in 2004 at Split Tree Farm for the wedding of Kimberly Sessions and Karl Hagen. Kimberly's family comes from Scotland and Wales, Karl was born and raised in Darjeeling, India.

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Meg's a Dancing Fool
Formation:	improper contra
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	December 2003
A1:	(8) Neighbor Gypsy; (8) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(8) Circle left 3/4; (8) partner do si do
B1:	(8) Trail buddy (behind you) swing; (8) partner swing
B2:	(8) ladies chain; (8) left hand star
Notes:	This dance is a slight variation on "Another Nice Combination" by Tom Hinds. It was written to celebrate Meg and her 50th birthday party, a dance weekend called "Dancing Fool." Meg said one of her favorite moves is when you go from the arms of one swing into another. I agree - it is a magic moment!

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Untitled Broken Hey dance
Formation:	becket, duple minor improper contra
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	February 2004
A1:	(8) Circle left; (8) ladies chain
A2:	(8) ladies do si do; (8) neighbor swing
B1:	(8) forward and back; (8) ladies right shoulder broken hey (passing right shoulder)*
B2:	(16) Partner balance and swing (slide left to next couple)
Notes:	Broken Hey: ladies start 1/2 hey passing right shoulder BUT when gents get to center, allemande RIGHT 1x - go back to partner

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Untitled Double Swing Thru
Formation:	becket, improper contra
Level:	Med-easy
Composed:	September 2003
A1:	(8) Long lines forward and back (as moving back, pull to the left); (8) ladies chain across (to neighbor)
A2:	(8) Ladies start 1/2 hey (passing right shoulder); (8) Neighbor Swing
B1:	(8) Circle left .75; (8) partner do si do
B2:	(8) Double Swing Thru*; (8) partner swing
Notes:	*Double Swing Thru is a series of 1/2 allemandes: Partner R; Gents L; Neighbor R; Ladies Left I liked a dance written by Allan Brozek called Zamboni Becket. I just wanted the double swing thru to end with a partner swing. And include a neighbor swing. So I rewrote it.

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Untitled Vicious Circle Dance
Formation:	becket, improper contra
Level:	med-hard
Composed:	September 2003
A1:	(8) Right diagonal, Right and left through; (8) straight across, right and left through
A2:	(16)down the hall, four in line, turn as a couple, return, CAST OFF
B1:	(16) Vicious Circle*
B2:	(4) gents allemande left 1x, (12) partner swing
Notes:	*Vicious Circle: Circle left 1/4, with neighbor Roll away with 1/2 sashay; circle left 1/4, with partner roll away with 1/2 sashay. Repeat entire sequence. Note that all roll-aways are on side of set, gents tugging with left hand, ladies rolling left to right. Ladies will move between two positions, essentially pivoting, while gents go around the circle twice. Vicious Circles are an upper body workout. To make this sequence flow requires good weight by all involved during the entire Vicious Circle. Otherwise timing breaks down, and the flow of it is lost. I saw in the CDSS news a fun dance ("Michele Takes a Licking") with the vicious circle. I wanted to use the move, but I thought the CDSS dance was harder than I would like. So I re-wrote the dance, and had the gents allemande back to their partner.

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Carole and Bill Get a Toaster
Formation:	becket, improper contra
Level:	Med
Composed:	6/12/2003
A1:	(6) Left hand star, 3/4; (10) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(8) Long lines, forward and back; (8) Left diagonal, Ladies Chain
B1:	(4) Balance in a Ring, (4) Petronella twirl; (4) Balance in a Ring, (4) Petronella twirl
B2:	(16) turn around and partner swing
Notes:	Call the neighbor swing early. Gents want to turn the star too far, and can end up swinging on the wrong side. Out of the star, when the gents turn over their right shoulder they fall right into their neighbors arms, quite satisfactorily. Composed for the wedding of Carole Galanty and Bill Porter. Pam (my wife) really wanted a toaster. I said, "Pam, we have a toaster oven. It is much more useful and versatile than a toaster." But Pam really wanted a toaster. Finally, our friends Ann Robinson and Joseph Steinhauser gave us a toaster as a wedding present. Pam said, "Now I really feel married!" So, as a wedding gift for Carole and Bill, I gave them a virtual toaster.

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Perforated Corners
Formation:	improper contra
Level:	Med
Composed:	3/20/2003
A1:	(4) Down the Hall 4 in line, 1s in the center; (4) 1s turn as a couple, 2s turn alone; (4) up the hall 4 in line, (4) cast off with same gender
A2:	1s allemande Right .75, give LH to 1s corner to form diagonal wave (4); balance (4); allemande L 1st corner 1x, 1s give right to partner to form diagonal wave (4); balance (4)
B1:	1s allemande Right .75, give LH to 2s corner to form diagonal wave (4); balance (4); allemande L 2st corner 1x, 1s give right to partner to form diagonal wave (4); balance (4)
B2:	1s swing
Notes:	Notes: Contra Corners with waves and balances in the middle

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Thank you, Barry (for a fabulous Vernals)
Formation:	improper contra
Level:	Med
Composed:	3/23/2003
A1:	Neighbor, Balance and Swing, end facing down the hall line of four
A2:	Down the Hall (2 steps), 2s (in the center) turn alone and swing the 1s behind
B1:	Gents Allemande left 1.5; Partner Swing
B2:	Long lines; Right hand Star .75 - ladies start, gents join behind partner
Notes:	Notes: Written for Barry Gibbons, organizer of Vernals Equinox Dance Weekend near Gainesville FL. Barry has a tradition on Sunday of Vernals of traveling along the lines thanking each dancer personally. He asked for a dance which would make this happen - a double or triple progression. Additionally, the floor slopes slightly toward the stage, so Bill Olson and I found ourselves continually saying "Swing down the hall". Bill remarked, wouldn't it be nice if there was a dance that went down the hall and didn't come back up! So here it is.

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Black Beards of Vernals
Formation:	improper contra
Level:	Med
Composed:	3/20/2003
A1:	(4) Down the Hall 4 in line, 1s in the center; (4) 1s turn as a couple, 2s turn alone; (4) up the hall 4 in line, (4) cast off with same gender
A2:	1s turn contra corners
B1:	hold on to 2nd corner with LH, give RH to 1st corner - Rory O'More balance and twirls
B2:	1s balance and swing
Notes:	Notes: When I attended Vernals in 1997 I wrote down the dance "Black Birds of Spring" that Susan Kevra called. In preparing for a contra corners playshop at Vernals 2003 I added on Rory O More twirls. In the true folk tradition I retained something of the original dance name in the double pun.

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Tico-Deka-mania
Formation:	improper contra
Level:	Med
Composed:	2/22/2003
A1:	Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2:	Down the hall four in line; 2s turn back to back; come back (cloverleaf style)
B1:	Cloverleaf left 3 places; Partner Swing
B2:	Long lines F&B; Gents All L 1.5 to next neighbor
Notes:	Another Triskadeka Phobia variation. This was written in Costa Rica, and is a more accessible version of BiTriskaDeka-thon. Residents of Costa Rica call themselves Tico's, so this dance is named in honor of them.

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Bi-TriskaDeka-thon .2 Reel
Formation:	improper contra
Level:	Med
Composed:	2/22/2003
A1:	(8) long lines; (8) handy hand allemande 1.5 (LH: #1Gent, #2Lady; RH: #1Lady,#2Gent; 1s go inside first); end in line down hall (2's in center, 1s twirl)
A2:	Down the hall four in line; 2s turn back to back; come back (cloverleaf style)
B1:	Cloverleaf left 3 places; Partner Swing
B2:	Gents All L 1.5; Neighbor Swing
Notes:	Written for Terry Maluk's fundraising dance for her marathon run, the title is a pun off of TriskaDeka Phobia (fear of 13)

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Gypsy Road
Formation:	Duple Improper
Level:	Med
Composed:	November 2002
A1:	(8) Neighbor Gypsy; (8) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(8) Long lines Forward and Back; (8) gents allemande left 1.5
B1:	(16) partner balance and swing
B2:	(4) circle left 1/2-way, (4) women roll partner away with ½-sashay; with Neighbor traveling gypsy: (3) face across, Neighbor pass right (as in a 1/2 gypsy), (2) turn 1/4 to right, single file prom CW one place, (3)face Neighbor along side, pass right to a new Neighbor [3]
Notes:	B2. The high piece count and corresponding flurry of activity make this sequence challenging. Both women and men initially resist the idea of the woman rolling the man away. The sequence “pass through across – turn right – single file promenade” is familiar from dances like Bob Dalsamer’s Pedal Pushers, but it happens here quickly and the single file promenade is only one place, so it feels quite unusual. Joseph Pimentel writes: I find a demonstration worthwhile. Rather than all the pieces, I suggest dancers think of this sequence as a “traveling gypsy” with their neighbor: gypsy R-sh ½-way to cross the set, women draw their neighbor man to their side, then pass him by up and down the set to new neighbors. It happens fast, so the “gypsy” should be tight.
History:	After dancing the Joseph Pimentel dance Flapjack Local at a dance weekend in Lawrence KS, I asked him about the Express version. When he showed me the unique B2 part of that dance, my eyes lit up and my mind raced. Shortly after the weekend, I asked if he would mind my writing an otherwise simple dance to teach the traveling gypsy. This is that dance.

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Dragonfly View Reel
Formation:	Duple Improper becket
Level:	Med
Composed:	11/23/2002
A1:	(2) On left Diagonal, ladies pull by with LEFT hand, (6) Neighbor Gypsy; (8) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(8) Long lines Forward and Back; Give and Take (gents take Shadow), open up to
B1:	(16) Down the hall four in line, turn alone, come back up
B2:	(4) Arch in the middle, ends duck through, (4) Balance Partner, (8) Swing Partner
Notes:	Reminiscent of Ocean View Reel, by Ted Sanella. Written for that fabulous trio Dragonfly, starring: Roger Gold (on guitar, of Elftones and Shadrack's Delight fame Wes Maluk (on banjo and mandolin, of Merriweather and Sligo Creek fame) Terry Maluk (on fiddle and percussion, of Merriweather and Sligo Creek fame)

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Pam and Lalah and Bruce and Seth's Reel, or more simply, ContraQuad
Formation:	duple minor, double progression Becket
Level:	Med
Composed:	11/23/2002
A1:	(4) In a ring Balance, (4) Petronella Twirl; (8) Neighbor Swing
A2:	(4) In a ring Balance, (4) Petronella Twirl; (8) Partner Swing
B1:	(8) on the left diagonal, right and left through (or, for a zestier dance, ladies start 1/2 hey for four passing right shoulder); (8) Across set (with new couple) ladies start right shoulder 1/2 hey for four
B2:	(4)Balance Partner; (12) Swing Partner
Notes:	Two partner swings. Going from a petronella twirl into a swing is very smooth, if you do not stop to double clap. In B1, when using the zesty variation and transitioning from one hey to next, pass left shoulder with partner (at practically the same time that women are passing right shoulders). When out, don't go anywhere, a couple will be there momentarily to hey across the set with you. I'm in conflict what to name this dance. This is a variant of the dance by ?Ted Hodapp? "Rick and Sara's Reel" which is a variant of another dance with a title in the form of "somebody and somebody's Reel". It is a very common practice when making a dance that is a variant, or close relative, to have a similar title, or a title that is evocative of the original. The folk process at work! Tht title could be: Pam and Lalah and Bruce and Seth's Reel or more simply: ContraQuad Reel. ContraQuad is easier to remember and tell, but not as indicative of its legacy.

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FloorPlay New Years Eve 2003
Formation:	circle mixer
Level:	Easy
Music:	12 bar blues tune
Composed:	12/31/2002
A1:	(8) Grand Right and left (right to current partner; left to #2; right to #3; left to #4; with #5 gypsy
B1:	(4) with new partner kiss cheek, (12) Swing
C1:	(8)Promenade; (8) Into Center and come back out
Notes:	Please note that this is a short dance - does not fit standard contra dance length -- 32 bar -- tunes. It was designed to fit a 12 bar blues tune. If you want to have it fit a regular dance: A1: (8) Grand Right and left (right to current partner; left to #2; right to #3; left to #4; with #5 gypsy A2: (4) with new partner kiss cheek, (12) Swing B1: (16) promenade B2: (8) Into center and come back out; (8) Into center and come back out; We wanted a dance to do a the stroke of midnite, not very hard, that allowed everyone in the room to interact with each other. Something to incoporate the traditional 'kiss at midnight' without people to kiss in a way they didn't want to.

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Variations on a Grit:
Notes:	The basic dance is taken from "Rod's Grits" by Bill Olson:   A1  (R/H)Balance neighbor (4), Box the gnat (4), Star R x 1 (8) A2 R & L through across the set* (8), Women do sa do x 1.5 (8)  B1 B & S partner (16)  B2 1/2 promenade (8), Cir L 3/4, pass thru (8) I wanted a dance that had similar flow, but didn't have a partner swing (for a medley, to build tension, or for early in the evening, when I want newcomers to learn how to balance and swing from experienced dancers). But I really like the flow of the holding hands on the R&L through and wrist star. So I riff-ed 2 dances off of the same style.
Formation:	Duple Improper
Level:	Easy
Composed:	6/30/2002
Cheese Grits with Jalapeno:
A1:	(4) with Neighbor right hand balance, (4) Box the Gnat; (8) Right Hand Star
A2:	(8) Right and Left thru; (8)Ladies Do Si Do
B1:	(16) balance and swing neighbor
B2:	(8) Right and left thru; (8) left hand star
Southern Grits
A1:	(4) with Neighbor right hand balance, (4) Box the Gnat; (8) Right Hand Star (make this star hands across)
A2:	(8) ladies chain; (8)Ladies Do Si Do
B1:	(16) balance and swing partner
B2:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) circle left .75, pass through

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Solids and Stripes v 1.5
Formation:	Duple Improper (start in long waves, gents face in, ladies out, neighbor in left hand, prev nabe in right)
Level:	Med
Composed:	8/13/2002
A1:	(4) balance, (4) allemande left .5 (make a new wave, gents face out, ladies in, nabe in left, next nabe in right); (4) balance, (4) allemande right 1x
A2:	(16) Balance and Swing (original) Neighbor
B1:	(8) Circle Left .75; Swing Partner
B2:	(8) Circle left .75; (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1.5 to a wavy line (gents face in, ladies face out, left hand with new neighbor)
Notes:	A minor variation on that classic dance, Stripes and Solids by Lisa Greenleaf. The timing of DSD 1.5, IMHO, is too tight to be comfortable. I feel the Allemande 1.5 is a stronger move. So I changed the dance. Unfortunately, this makes a slightly difficult dance fiendishly challenging. Caller beware!

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Color Outside the Lines (East End Hey)
Formation:	four face four, mescolanza
Level:	Easy-Med
Composed:	7/04/2002
A1:	(8) Forward and back; 8 hands Circle Left .5
A2:	(8) 4 hands circle left 1x; ladies allemande right 2x
B1:	(16) face partner, pass left shoulder for a full hey for four
B2:	(16) Partner Balance and Swing; face original direction
Notes:	A very smooth, flowing dance. Especially the circle - ladies allemande right - hey. A variation on Tm Hinds' "West End Hey." Written for wedding of Diane Shultz and Bryan Walls, in Huntsville, October 19, 2002. Well, one of their wedding celebrations was that date. I think the official one was a week before.

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Absolutely!
Author:	Pam Eidson
Formation:	Duple Improper,
Level:	Med
Composed:	3/5/2002
A1:	(8) neighbor left shoulder gypsy, 1.5;  (ladies loop wide from gypsy to) (8) ladies allemande left, 1.5
A2:	(16) partner gypsy and swing
B1:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) ladies start hey passing right shoulder
B2:	(8) ladies finish hey passing right shoulder; (8) ladies gypsy right shoulder, 1.5 to next neighbor
Notes:	Absolutely is Pam Eidson's answer-in-dance to Seth Tepfer's dance Will You Marry Me? Given to Seth by Pam on the occasion of their wedding.

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Will you Marry Me?
Formation:	Duple Improper, becket
Level:	Easy-Med
Composed:	9/30/2001
A1:	(8) Circle Left .75; ooze into a wavy line, Ladies take LH, Nabe take RH (4) Balance in Wave, (4) Ladies allemande left 1x
A2:	(16) Balance and Swing Neighbor
B1:	(8) Circle Left .75; ooze into a wavy line, Ladies take LH, Partner take RH (4) Balance in Wave, (4) Ladies allemande left 1x
B2:	(16) Partner Balance and Swing; slide left to circle
Notes:	Yes, this is the dance I utilized to propose to Pam Eidson on October 4, 2001. I also have 2 variations on B1. Will you Dance with Me variant: B1: (8) Right hand Star (use a hands across star), Ooze into a Wavy line, Gents take RH, Partner take LH (4) Balance in Wave, (4) Gents allemande right 1x Will you Live with Me variant: B1: (8) Circle left .75, Ooze into a Wavy line, Gents take RH, Partners take LH (4) Balance in Wave, (4) Gents allemande Right 1x

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Gypsies in the Fields
Formation:	Duple Improper
Level:	Hard
Composed:	8/1/2001
A1:	(8) Gypsy Neighbor; (8) Ladies allemande left 1.5
A2:	(8) Gypsy Partner; (8) on the Right diagonal, Gents start 1/2 Hey passing left shoulder
B1:	(16) Partner Balance and Swing
B2:	(8) long lines forward and back; (8) Gents allemande left 1.5
Notes:	Written in honor of Allen Fields 50th birthday. As in becket dances, if there is no one on the right diagonal, just wait, and they will arrive. Progression is reverse normal (1's will go up, 2's down).

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