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Dance Format
Absolute zero Five Couple
A slice of life Contra
The blizzard chimney contra Contra
California Star Boxing Flea Contra
Coleman's Reel Contra
Everyone's a Star Square
Eye to Eye Contra
The Fosse Way contra Contra
Four Ring Circle Contra
The fruits of my labour Contra
Garden party Circle
Geoff's over the Hill and still Chased (Chaste?) Contra
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot Circle
Hand play Contra
Hunter's conception Five Couple
Is This Reel? Contra
Jackie's eight Square
Jackie's three 3 Couple
Jackie's seventh Circle
Jay's square Square
King Kontra Contra
Larry's dance Square
Last of the Hitchikers Contra
Lines Entwined Contra
Loughborough Polka Four Couple
Meltdown Four Couple
More Lines Entwined Contra
Meg's Golden Allstar (ALCESTER) Becket
More Than a Feeling Contra
The Nanpantan circle dance Circle
New Horizons Contra
Parallel turns Contra
Peacock Rag Contra
Pat and Terry's contra Contra
Pitter Patter Square
Remember, Remember the 5th of November Contra
Showtime Reel Sicillian circle
Soar Valley Reel Contra
Swing One, Swing All Contra
Swing Swang Swung Contra
Switch on your brain Contra
The Glorious Twelth Contra
Trade the Wave Contra
Try a Becket Contra
Who's in Charge? Contra
Where when and why Square
Whose line is it anyway? Contra
Wildcat square Square
Zayat Contra Contra


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ABSOLUTE ZERO

Five Couple  48 bar

A1 Lines forward and back
RHT your partner 1½
A2 Lines forward and back
LHT your partner 1½
B1 Top man cast to the bottom
Do Si Do your opposite
B2 Top lady cast to the bottom
Swing your partner
C1 & C2 Face the bottom couple and dip and dive to place
Swing your partner

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A SLICE OF LIFE

Long, Becket

A1 LHT your corner 1½ (first shadow)
Swing the next (second shadow)
A2 Ladies chain over to a circle of four
Balance ; Petonella Twirl to two long waves on the side of the set, men facing in, ladies out  giving RH to first shadow
B1 Balance ; Rory O Moore style roll to the right
Swing partner
B2 Double slice to the left i.e. forward to the left diagonal couple and continue moving to the left as you back out to face the next couple (double progression)
RHS

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THE BLIZZARD CHIMNEY CONTRA

Long, Becket

A1 Circle L ¾ and pass through
RHT the next person 1½ and join hands in a long wave on the sides, men face in ladies face out
A2 Balance ; Box Circulate
Balance ; Box Circulate
B1 Swing neighbour (the one from the RHT)
Men LHT  1½
B2 Balance and swing partner

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CALIFORNIA STAR BOXING FLEA

Long, 1s Impr, Triple progr.

A1 Give RH to neighbour, Balance ; Box the Gnat
RHS
A2 Give LH to second neighbour, Balance ; Swat the Flea
LHS
B1 Swing next neighbour
Lines forward and back
B2 Star Through across the set with partner ; Circle L, California Twirl with partner to face the next neighbour
I was asked once about the difference  between a Box the Gnat  and a Star Through. After demonstrating the various moves I wanted to see if it was possible to write a contra that automatically put you in the correct place so that it was impssible to use the wrong hand! I'm not quite sure I achieved my goal but this useful teaching dance was the result.

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THE FOSSE WAY CONTRA

Long, PROPER

A1 1s cross down, 2s cast up into a double figure of eight
A2 1s cross to neighbour and swing
B1 Lines forward and back
1s 2HT 1½
B2 With the same couple circle L
1s lead up through 2s and cast 1 place
Lots of journeys on the Fosse Way

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THE FRUITS OF MY LABOUR

Long, 1s Impr

A1 In lines balance towards neighbour and away ; Men roll away neighbour
Men LHT 1½ to an O.W. (RH to partner).
A2 Balance ; Chassey past partner, reform O.W.
Balance ; Chassey past partner, reform O.W.
B1 Balance and swing partner
B2 R and L thru
Ladies chain over

Written outside the Marquee before the start of a “Home Grown” workshop at Sidmouth. Named by Henry Morgenstein

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GARDEN PARTY

Circle

A1 Do Si Do partner
Do Si Do corner
A2 Walk past your corner and RHT the next
LHT you original corner 1½
B1 Walk past your original partner and swing the next
B2 Promenade

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HUNTERS CONCEPTION

Five Couple in lines

A1 RHT your partner
Do Si Do on the L diagonal
A2 LHT your partner
Do Si Do on the R diagonal
B1 2s and the 4s turn contra corners
B2 Top couple slip down the centre of the set
Swing your partner

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JACKIE'S EIGHT

Square

A1 All four ladies chain
Heads circle L ¾ and pass through
A2 Full double figure eight with the side couple ( heads cross thru sides to start)
B1 Heads lead through the sides and separate around one to lines of four
Lines forward and back
B2 Ladies cross and swing your partner to a square set

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JACKIE'S THREE

3 Couple in lines

A1 2s turn contra corners
A2 2nd man face 3rd man, 2nd lady face 1st lady for a reel of 3 on the sides of the set. Pass left shoulder to start
B1 2nd man with 3s, 2nd lady with 1s for a LHS
2s cross for a RHS with the other couple
B2 All circle left half way ; 2HT partner ½ way
2s lead to the bottom WHILE bottom couple (1s) cast up to the middle

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Jackie's Seventh

Circle Men inside

A1 Do Si Do partner to O.W.
Balance ; LHT
A2 RHT partner 1½
LHT corner
B1 Balance and swing partner
B2 Promenade ; Ladies cast back past two men or however many needed for a decent progression

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JAY'S SQUARE

Square

A1 Men LHS
Pick up your partner and star promenade ½ way
A2 Head ladies chain
Heads go to the R and circle to a line
B1 Lines forward and back
Pass through to an ocean wave ; Balance
B2 Swing through and balance ; Step forward, swing partner one position
to the L

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LARRY'S DANCE

Square

A1 Heads walk past your partner ; around one and in through the sides
Heads circle L ½ way and pass through
A2 R and L thru with the side couple
Heads dive through ; Pass through
B1 LHT your corner ; RHT your partner
Swing your corner
B2 Promenade to the man's original position

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LOUGHBOROUGH POLKA

Four couple, 2s and 4s Impr

A1 With your neighbour Dip and Dive the set, RH couples of the line arch first
A2 Centre four people RHS 
LHS with the opposite couple
B1 First corner couples swap places on the diagonal ; Second corner couples swap places on the diagonal
All promenade one place round the set
B2 All four ladies chain
Lines forward and back

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MELTDOWN

Four couple, 1s and 3s Impr

A1 2s and 3s   ½ fig 8 though the end couples
2s and 3s circle left half way and pass through to original places 
A2 Face neighbour along the sides and Pass The Ocean ; Balance (do not join the two separate wavey lines together)
Swing through ( ½ RHT,  ½ LHT) ; Balance
B1 Step forward out of the wave and swing your partner
B2 In circles of four Balance ; Circle left  ¾
Centre four (1s and 4s) california twirl and pass through each other up and down the set

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THE NANPANTAN CIRCLE DANCE

Circle men inside facing out

A1 Gypsy R shoulder around your partner to a circular wave (men facing out RH to partner)
Balance ; RHT ½ way
A2 Pull by partner to start a grand chain till you get to the seventh person
B1 Balance and swing this one
B2 Promenade ; Ladies cast back one place

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PARALLEL TURNS

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Pass your neighbour R shoulder and LHT the next
Pass your neighbour R shoulder and LHT the next
A2 Balance and swing your neighbour
B1 1s ½ fig 8 up through 2s
1s turn contra corners
B2 1s finish contra corners
1s swing and face down

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PAT AND TERRY'S CONTRA

Becket    CORRECTED

A1 Circle L ¾
Swing neighbour
A2 R and L thru
Ladies chain over
B1 “Push Off Hey”
B2 Balance and swing partner
For next turn of dance start with cpl on L diag
“Push Off Hey” Ladies start hey by passing Rsh, Lsh with N. Men push off each other in centre and back out of the set to the same side passing man's R to Ladies L as the ladies go in and push off two hands in the centre and back out the same as the men, who then pass R with each other to meet their partner on their original side 1st time through start with opposite couple and then couple on L diagonal

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PITTER PATTER

Square

A1 All circle L ½ way
Heads forward and back ; Sides forward and back
A2 Head ladies chain
Heads circle L ¾ and pass through
B1 Swing the one you meet to side lines
Lines forward and back
B2 Pass through to an ocean wave ; Balance
Box circulate ; Balance
C1 &  Box circulate ; Balance
C2 Step forward and swing your partner
Promenade home to original positions

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SHOWTIME REEL

Sicillian circle

A1 Swing your opposite
Circle L and slip L one place to the left
A2 Circle L ¾ with new couple (not with partner)
Square through 3 hands (start opposite)
B1 LHT partner 1½
Ladies chain
B2 Forward and back to partner
Star through partner ; Pass through along

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SWING SWANG SWUNG

Long, 1s Impr  Double Progr.

A1 Swing your neighbour
R and L thru and roll away with neighbour
A2 Gypsy new neighbour (# 2)
Swing this neighbour (# 2)
B1 Men LHT  1½
Swing partner
B2 Long lines forward and back 
Ladies LHT 1½

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SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Balance to neighbour ; Box the gnat to a long wave, men facing in
Balance ; Box circulate
A2 Balance ; Box circulate
Swing original neighbour
B1 Circle L
Ladies lead a flutter wheel
B2 Ladies chain over
LHS

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TRY A BECKET

Long, Becket

A1 Circle L ¾ to an O.W.
Balance ; Ladies walk forward to a new wave *
A2 Balance ; Men walk forward to partners wave**WHILE the ladies LHT ½ way
RHT partner  ½
B1 Reel of 4 men pass L shoulder to start
B2 Balance and swing partner

*Ladies pass one other lady before taking hands in the wave. At the end of the sets ladies loop L to other ladies place to reform wave. MEN DO NOT MOVE !

**At the end of the sets Men loop to the other end of the wave.i.e. nobody is ever out.

WHERE WHEN AND WHY

Square

A1 Head ladies chain
Heads circle L ¾ and pass through
A2 Swing the one you meet to side lines
Lines forward and back
B1 Pass through to an ocean wave ; Balance
In fours box circulate ; Balance
B2 In fours start a box circulate but men make a LHS while ladies single file promenade C.W.
C1 Pass your partner by and RHT the next
Swing your partner
C2 Promenade to place

WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY

Long, 1s Impr

A1 1s cross down, 2s cast up into a double figure of eight
A2 1s LHT, Swing neighbour
B1 Men LHT 1½
Swing your partner
B2 Circle L ¾
1s cross up through while 2s cast for a double ½ figure of eight

WILDCAT SQUARE

Square

file:///home/nigel/Documents/Geoff/website/diary.htm
A1 Heads forward and on the way back ladies roll away
Heads star through with your opposite ; Circle L ½ way with side couple
A2 Heads dive through (sides california twirl) ; Pass through in the centre
RHS with the new side couple
B1 Heads LHS
Swing your corner
B2 Promenade to the man's original position

ZAYAT CONTRA

Long, 1s  Impr  Dbl progr

A1 LHT neighbour 1½
Swing the next neighbour
A2 R and L through
On the left diag ladies chain and roll away
B1 Pass through across and swing partner
B2 Circle L ¾
RHT neighbour  1½

LINES ENTWINED

Long, 1s Impr Line the sets up so that minor sets are in line across the room

A1 RHT neighbour ¾ to a O.W. ; Balance
Men LHT 1½ WHILE the ladies LHT another lady from adjacent minor set
A2 Balance and swing partner
B1 Ladies chain over
Ladies lead a ricochet hey ½ way (men push off)
B2 Balance the ring ; Petronella twirl
Balance the ring ; California twirl

MORE LINES ENTWINED

Long, 1s Impr Line the sets up so that minor sets are in line across the room

A1 RHT neighbour 1½
Men LHT 1½ WHILE the ladies LHT 1½ a lady from adjacent minor set
to swap sets
A2 Balance and swing this neighbour from adjacent set and end facing in,
in man's original set
B1 Ladies lead a reel of four as the ladies finish the reel they pull past the lady
from A1 back to their original minor set
B2 Swing partner
Men LHT 1½

LAST OF THE HITCHIKERS

Long, Becket

A1 Ladies chain on L diag
Ladies chain on R diag
A2 Give and take (men take ladies back)
Swing
B1 Circle L ¾
Do Si Do the one you are facing up and down the line
B2 ½ RHS, ½ LHS
Swing partner

MORE THAN A FEELING

Long, Becket

A1 Pass the ocean ; Balance
Swing through ; Step forward to next neighbour
A2 Swing new neighbour
Circle L 7/8 till ladies in the centre men, on the outside.
B1 Tug partner to pass them R sh for a reel of four
B2 Swing Partner

NEW HORIZONS

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Balance and swing your neighbour
A2 R and L through
Ladies chain over
B1 Pull by partner up and down the set RHT the next
Pull by your partner LH and RHT the next
B2 Swing your partner
Circle L ¾, California twirl

PEACOCK RAG

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Balance to your neighbour ; Star through
Long lines forward and back
A2 Pass the ocean ; Balance
Swing through ; Balance
B1 Reel of four start partner R shoulder
B2 Swing your partner
Circle L ¾ and pass through

FOUR RING CIRCLE

Double Contra 4 face 4

A1 Lines forward and back
In 4s RHS
A2 Single file promenade ( In 4 lines)
Return LHT your partner into
B1 All 4 ladies chain
Ladies chain back
B2 Face partner start a grand chain LH for four changes
Swing your partner

IS THIS REEL?

Impr Minor sets lined up across room and note people in minor set behind you

A1 RHS
With couple behind you (next to you on the side) LHS lady leads man into star.
If you are not involved in a LHS then LHT neighbour 1½
A2 In orig. Minor sets ladies lead a reel of four
But as they pass partner on ladies orig. Side they RHT lady
from adjacent set WHILE the men RHT back to partner
B1 Gypsy partner
Swing partner
B2 Circle L ¾
Balance ; California Twirl

Coleman's Reel

Long, 1s Impr

A1 LHT neighbour 1½
Ladies chain over
A2 Ladies chain back and rollaway
Men RHT  1½
B1 Balance and swing partner
B2 Pass the Ocean ; Balance
Ladies LHT ½ way ; All RHT neighbour

Hand play

Long, 1s Impr 

A1 Ladies pull by RH, Swat the flea with partner, (men back to back in the centre)
look diag R and RHT shadow, LHT partner
A2 Ladies cross, swing neighbour
B1 Circle ¾
Swing partner
B2 Slice L one place
Ladies chain

Meg's Golden Allstar (Alcester)

Long, Becket

A1 Circle L
Pass Thru across; Calif. Twirl
A2 Single slice L
RH to opp and Bal ; Square thru 2 hands and look along the line to a shadow
B1 RHT 1½ next (shadow) to TW (Men face in, Ladies out)
Bal; Rory roll to the R and look for partner
B2 Bal and swing partner
Written for the 50th Alcester dance organised by Meg Winters

Soar Valley Reel

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Circle L
Pass Thru LHT neighbour
A2 Bal and swing neighbour #1
B1 Men LHT 1½
Swing partner
B2 Bal ring ; Petronella twirl
Bal ring ; Calif twirl

Trade the Wave

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Bal and swing neighbour
A2 Pass the ocean ; Bal
Trade the wave ; L swing thru (½ LHT, ½ RHT)
B1 Bal and swing partner
B2 Ladies chain over
LHS

TRADE THE WAVE: Dancers facing the same direction in the wave swap places with each other. A RH wave becomes a LH wave(ie in this dance LH to neighbour, men taking RH) .
End people become centers and centers become end dancers in a new wave.

Swing One, Swing All

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Take nearest hand with neighbour and Bal to each other ; Men roll neighbour away,
Ladies roll men away, Ladies cross the set to partner
A2 Bal and swing partner
B1 Men lead hey for 4, 2nd time ladies meet ricochet back to neighbour
B2 Bal and swing neighbour

King Kontra

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Dosido N to OW
Bal; Trade the wave      
A2 LHT neighbour 1½
Ladies reel ½ way and men ricochet back
B1 Bal and swing partner
B2 Circle L ¾
Bal; Calif Twirl

TRADE THE WAVE: Dancers facing the same direction in the wave swap places with each other. A RH wave becomes a LH wave. End people become centers
and centers become end dancers in a new wave.


Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Star Twirl partner (Star thru then Calif twirl)
Bal; Petronella twirl to a tidal wave LH to partner
A2 Bal; ½ LHT partner
Men lead a reel ½ way
B1 Bal and swing partner
B2 Ladies chain over
Lines fwd and back

The Glorious Twelth

Long, 1s Impr

A1 LHT neighbour 1½
Ladies lead ½ a reel but when men meet in the centre they RHT back to their partner
A2 Gypsy and swing partner
B1 Men lead ½ a reel but when ladies meet in the centre they RHT back to their neighbour
Swing neighbour
B2 Pass the ocean; Balance
Do Si Do next neighbour L sh

Geoff's Over the Hill and still Chased (Chaste?)

Long, 1s Impr

A1 RHT neighbour 1½
1st lady round 2, gent fall thru
A2 Circle L ¾
Dosido partner
B1 Bal and swing partner
B2 Ladies chain over
LHS

Who's in Charge?

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Ladies give LH and Bal ; Swat the flea
Dosido partner (along the side of the set)
A2 Men give RH Bal ; Box the gnat
Swing neighbour
B1 Men LHT 1½
Swing partner
B2 Circle L ¾ and pass thru
Dosido neighbour #2

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Star twirl partner (Star thru then Calif twirl)
Join hands 4 and bal ring; Roll neighbour away
A2 Join hands 4 and bal ring; Roll partner away across the set
Swing neighbour
B1 Circle L ¾
Swing partner
B2 Ladies Dosido WHILE men cross the set and loop around neighbour to progressed places
Lines fwd and back

Everyone's a Star

Square

A1 All into the centre and out
Circle L
A2 Circle R
LHT partner as far as you want
B1 One of each couple RHS
LHT partner 1½
B2 The other person RHS
Swing partner
C1 All hold hands 3s arch 1s lead across the set through the arch and separate back to place pulling the others through the arch(next time 4s arch and 2s lead across etc)
C2 Balance and swing partner

EYE TO EYE

Long, 1s Impr

A1 Facing partner across the set take nearest hand with neighbour
Bal towards neighbour and away, ladies rollaway, gents half sashay,
Mad Robin figure men start inside ladies outside
A2 Pousettes - half way - with gents pushing,
Ladies passing left lead a reel - Half way for men, ¾ for ladies
B1 Balance and swing partner on ladies original side or Gypsy and swing
B2 Circle L ¾
Balance the ring ; California twirl
The figures above are a rewrite of ErikWeberg's wonderful dance “Joyride” with a bit more eye contact with your partner
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