Contra
Dances I've
Written (and am willing to share)
Terms of use: When calling my dances, I ask that you
mention the title and author, and think of me when booking dances in
your area. And think of me when you're in a happy mood, for the karmic
benefits. --Jerome Grisanti
Please
Don't Leave Us, Mary Kathleen!
Triad and True
Bei Mir Bist du Schoen
Trip to Mars
Indy Practice
Lap
Cottonwood
Contra
Rerouted to Tulsa
Waylaid in Tulsa
Kimmswick
Diamonds
Libra Boys
Gateway to the South
(aka Jerome's Dixie Twirl
contra)
Rory O'Nella
Just a Splash
The
Dances:
Please
Don't Leave Us, Mary Kathleen!
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Becket Contra (clockwise progression.
Identify ones and twos
in improper formation before beginning, then rotate left to Becket.
Partners
swing and end cozy, facing down the hall) |
Composed February
2015 |
|
A1
|
With partners cozy, go
down the hall four in line. Twos turn
as couple (remaining cozy) while ones advance one couple. Come
back up the hall four in line (ones falling back,
twos forward, ladies in middle of line)
|
| A2 |
As
couples, balance right. Partners butterfly whirl once around.
Ladies allemande Right 1 1/2. |
| B1 |
Neighbors
Swing (16-count swing)
|
| B2 |
Circle
Left 3/4,
Partners Swing, end cozy, facing down the hall. |
Notes:
Worked well with swingy medley that included Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen, or
was it Minor Swing?
With a different tune, balance & swing in B1 might be
appropriate). For Mary Kathleen Porter, upon her threatened move to
Atlanta.
First
danced on Feb 22, 2015,
in Lawrence, Kansas. |
* * * Return
to Top
Triad and True
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Triad Contra (Triple Minor, Double Progression) |
Composed March 2019 |
| Starts in lines of six facing
down, middle couple is #1 couple and will progress down, while
outside couples (2s & 3s) will progress up, alternating sides each
iteration. |
|
A1
|
Down hall four steps, ends bend, ends pass thru and bend to face up
while ones pause (to avoid congestion) then CA twirl, return up hall
& form ring of six.
|
| A2 |
Balance ring, corner roll away, swing next person. | | B1 |
Right & left thru, Right & left thru
(in ring, face next corner, pull by right and courtesy turn the next. Repeat.)
|
| B2 |
Ladies allemande right (3-person
star) WHILE gents adjust (so ones are in middle and below twos. Twos
should be on sides). Partners swing. End swing with ones stepping
confidently between new twos.
|
Notes: The twos are trail buddies
to each other and will alternate sides during their trip up the hall.
(Similar to four-facing-four trail buddies).
In A2 pass thru, people
on the very outside end on the very outside (on the other side). Second
from end will end second from the other end. |
End effects:
At top, two
couples will pop out at once. You have 32 seconds to decide who will be
the next ones, and who will wait another turn before becoming ones.
Those ones prepare to confidently step into line.
At bottom, one
couple will pop out. When a second couple joins you, you can dance a
variation of the figure, but be sure to end with a space between you so
the ones can step between you for the six in line down hall figure. |
* * * Return
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Bei
Mir Bist du Schoen!
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Duple Improper Contra (Identify left file and right
file
in before beginning) |
Composed October
2015 |
|
A1
|
Circle Left once round (8),
Neighbor Swing (8). |
| A2 |
.Down
hall four in line, left file turn alone while right file turn as couple
to end in line facing up with men on ends) (8),
Return, face your neighbor (8). |
| B1 |
With
neighbor, Right hand balance (4),
Neighbor pull by right (2), Men pull by left (2)
Partner swing (8).
|
| B2 |
Circle
L 3/4 (8)
Balance, California Twirl (8)
|
Notes:
Written for the tune Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.
First danced in November 2015,
at CDSS event/Pilgrim's Progression in Lawrence, Kansas. |
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Trip
to Mars
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Improper Contra |
Composed February 2015 |
|
A1
|
Neighbor Balance & Swing
|
| A2 |
Long lines forward, roll away on your way back
(women in front of men),
Star Right 3/4
|
| B1 |
Shadow Left Allemande once,
Partner Swing |
| B2 |
Ladies Chain,
Balanced square thru 2 places, starting with partner across the set,
then neighbor, to find new neighbor |
| First danced on Feb 22, 2015,
in Lawrence, Kansas. |
* * * Return to Top
Indy
Practice Lap
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Becket Contra |
Composed July 3, 2012 |
|
A1
|
Long lines forward & back,
Ladies chain
|
| A2 |
Right-hand to partner, balance, square thru two
places,
Next Neighbor right-hand Balance, Box the Gnat
|
| B1 |
Pull into half hey, men
passing Left shoulders,
Neighbors swing |
| B2 |
Circle Left 3/4,
Partner swing. |
| First danced on July 3, 2012,
in Indianapolis Indiana. |
* * * Return to Top
Cottonwood
Contra
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Duple Improper Contra |
Composed April 2012 |
|
A1
|
(new) Men allemande Right Once (or so),
Neighbor Do-si-do
|
| A2 |
Same Neighbor Balance
& Swing |
| B1 |
Ladies allemande Right 1 1/2,
Partners swing |
| B2 |
Pass the Ocean, Balance the
wave,
Partner allemande Right 1/2, Men allemande Left 1 1/4 (to next man) |
| Inspired by (but significantly
departs from) the English dance called Cottonwood. In B2 the women may
have to realign themselves while the men allemande. |
* * * Return to Top
Rerouted
to Tulsa
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| |
Duple Improper Contra |
Composed Jan. 2011 |
| A1 |
Neighbor balance (4), box the
gnat (4),
Pull by to previous neighbor (2), allemande Left once around (6). |
| A2 |
Ladies chain (8),
Ladies start a half hey (8) |
| B1 |
The captain announces a delay,
please continue the hey another 8 beats across the phrase while the
runway is cleared (8),
Partners swing on gent's side (8), but you're not home yet. |
| B2 |
Long lines go forward and
back, yearning left as you go forward (with slight turbulence, to face
original neighbors), partners roll away as you back up (8).
Star Left 3/4 to face new neighbors (and give a right hand to next new
neighbor). |
| Note: The basic idea is to
make you wonder whether you're progressing or not, like changing a
direct flight to one with stops in several directions opposite from the
final destination. |
* * * Return to Top
Waylaid
in Tulsa
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| Duple Improper Contra *
Composed Jan 2010 |
| A1: |
Neighbor balance (4), box the gnat (4),
Pull by to previous neighbor (2), allemande Left once AND A HALF around
(6). |
| A2: |
MEN chain (8),
MEN pass right to start a half hey (8) |
| B1: |
Partners BALANCE & swing on gent's side
(4, 12) |
| B2: |
Long lines go forward and back, yearning left as
you go forward, partners roll away as you back up (8).
Star Left 3/4 to face new neighbors (and give a right hand to next new
neighbor). |
| A variation of Rerouted to
Tulsa (with differences in all capital letters) |
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Kimmswick
Diamonds
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| Duple Improper
Contra -- Intermediate -- composed May 2010 |
| A1 |
(Next) neighbor allemande
right 1 3/4 to wavy lines (men in middle). Balance the wave, spin to
right as in Rory O'More but reform into diamond of four, women in the
middle of the set facing up and down, men on side facing into the set. |
| A2 |
Balance diamond, Petronella turn,
Balance diamond, Petronella turn. |
| B1 |
Balance diamond, women lift your arms and twirl
into your partner's arms. Men catch her &
swing. (works best if women twirl reverse of petronella rotation). |
| B2 |
Long lines forward & back,
Men allemande left 1 1/2 (and look for your next neighbor)
|
|
Notes: From hands four I have dancers find the
diamond shape by first swinging the neighbor, then forming a ring and
rotating 1/8 to the right. Then rotate back and unswing your neighbor
to start teaching the sequence.
I composed this dance during the five-hour drive
to Kimmswick Dance Weekend in May 2010. Based on Rory O'Nella, but I
wanted to add spinning into your partner's arms. It made more sense for
the women to spin and the men to catch, so I came up with this.
An alternate A2a is: Neighbor box the
gnat, allemande right 1 1/4 to wave.
|
* * * Return to Top
Libra
Boys
|
By Jerome Grisanti & Susan Moffett
|
| Duple
Improper Contra -- Intermediate
-- finalized Nov 2007 |
| A1 |
Balance the ring of four (4), circle left halfway
(4), ladies allemande left halfway to form wavy lines (4), balance the
wavy lines.
|
| A2 |
Partners allemande right 1 1/2,
Men pass left shoulders to start a half hey.
|
| B1 |
Partners balance & swing
|
| B2 |
Ladies Chain ,
Balance the ring, symmetrical turn single* to face new neighbor.
|
| Notes: Symmetrical turn single
can be prompted as "flirt and twirl." The A1 transition from the circle
to the allemande is the "hook." |
* * * Return to Top
Gateway
to the South (aka Jerome's Dixie Twirl
contra)
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| Duple Improper
Contra -- Medium/Easy -- composed Aug 2005 |
| A1 |
Long lines go forward & back
Neighbors swing
|
| A2 |
Down the hall in lines of four, Dixie twirl*,
return |
| B1 |
Circle Left 3/4,
Partners swing
|
| B2 |
Promenade
Ladies Chain |
| Notes: Dixie Twirl: Middles
(inactives) make an arch, active lady ducks through and crosses the
set, pulling the inactive man under. Active man walks around to other
side of set. In effect, the line of four turns as a line to face back
up. |
* * * Return to Top
Rory
O'Nella
|
By Jerome Grisanti
|
| Duple Improper
Contra -- Intermediate -- composed Aug 2005 |
| A1 |
(Next) neighbor do-si-do 1 1/4
to wavy lines (women in middle). Balance the wave, spin to right as in
Rory O'More but reform into diamond of four, men in the middle of the
set facing up and down, women on side facing into the set. |
| A2 |
Balance diamond, Petronella turn,
Balance diamond, Petronella turn |
| B1 |
Men step toward partner, Balance & Swing |
| B2 |
Circle left 3/4, ooze into a wavy line of four.
Balance the wave, drop hands and walk forward to next neighbor
|
| Notes: From hands four I have
dancers find the diamond shape by pointing to the floor betwen them and
the person to their right. Then form the diamond while holding hands
four. Then rotate back and start teaching the sequence. |
| Alternate B2: Ladies chain,
star left |
* * * Return to Top
Just
a Splash
|
By Jenny Lavery & Callers
Workshop at Hands Four 2006, Berea Kentucky**
|
| Duple Improper Contra --
Medium/Easy -- composed Apr 2006 |
| A1 |
Neighbor Balance &
Swing |
| A2 |
Circle Left 3/4, Partner swing |
| B1 |
Long lines to splash*, Right & Left thru |
| B2 |
Hey for four, ladies start by passing Right
shoulders. Instead of second pass, men push back (splash) to progressed
position.
|
|
Notes: *Splash figure looks like the little slap
that people on the ends of long lines often give, only everyone does it
with two hands. Emphasize pushing "up" rather than forward. The title
refers to how a southern lady responds to an offer for more bourbon:
"Oh, just a splash."
Orient men to next neighbor at beginning of walkthrough so they'll know
where pushback ends.
|
| **Callers present included
Susan Moffett, Jerome Grisanti, Steve Bennett, Judy Goldsmith, John
Coffman and Kathy Coffman. Jenny intented the signature "splash" move. |
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This
page last updated on: Wednesday,
April 1, 2015
|