Contra Dances by Cary Ravitz

Notes | Dances | Notation | Links


Notes

Last modified 12:42 PM, 30 Dec 2008 - File size 99K - Count 33905

Below are all of my contra dances that I consider worthy of publishing. I removed a set old dances that I don't care for to keep this page smaller. Notes on Calling Contra Dances and Notes on Choreography for Duple Minor Improper Contra Dances are my notes on two topics that are very important to contra dancers. And a set of interesting contra dance links is included. Comments are welcome - see http://ravitz.us/ for contact information.

If you are not familiar with Michael Dyck's index of contra dances, check it out. You can look up dances by title or author, and it will point you to the dance on the web or in print. And it is updated regularly.

This web page, not including the notes, is composed of one HTML file. The dance writeups use minimal HTML tags so that you can save the file and read it with any ASCII text editor. Copy and paste to Notepad or WordPad to print individual dances.

See http://ravitz.us/ for contact information. cr

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Dances

Amy's Harmonium
Andes Anomaly - complex
Bernadance
Between the Lines (2-08)
Bev's Becket
Breakup Breakdown - complex
Butterflies
Carla's Contra
Carried Away - complex
Catch Phrase (9-08)
Chicory (7-08)
Contra Clovers - complex
Contra Currents
Contrablend - complex, contra mixer
Cookies and Cream
Crosslink (11-08)
Daisy Chain (10-08)
Dance Kentucky Unhinged - complex
Dance Symmetry
Dancing Spell - easy
Dar Trek - complex
Deanna's Dance - complex, diamond
Debra's Dance
Dianne's Dance - diamond
Dreaming - complex
Enchanted (9-08)
The Enchanted Forrest - complex
Entranced - complex
Evil Diane - complex
The Fair Maid
Fiddle Tales - complex
Flip-Flop
Flirting with Love Again - complex
Flying Flamingos
Four on the Floor
Fractal Fling
Fractal Frolic
Fudge Swirl
Galax (9-08)
Gypsy Eights - complex
Gypsy Star
Heart of Glass
Interstate 75 - complex
Jubilation Permutation (5-08)
Jubilation Variation
Jump Start
Jump the Tracks (3-08)
Linda's Flight
Looking for Love Again - complex
Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion
Mary Keith's Harmonium
Megadance - complex
The Millennium Hug
Moment of Inertia
Oh More Snakes - complex
Passion Breakdown (2-08)
Pigtown Breakdown - complex (12-08)
Pigtown Petronella
Pigtown Swing - complex (8-08)
Prelude (7-95)
Presto Petronella
raDar Love (inverted ver 10-08)
Rat Race - complex
Reel Easy - easy
Reel to Reel
Reflections - complex
Riding Whisky (3-07)
Roadkill - complex
Rocky Road - complex
Roll Around
Run Around Susie - complex (4-07)
Sealed with a Keith - complex
Slip and Slide
Snake in the Garden (7-08)
Snake in the Hey
The Squeaking Reel
The Squeaking Wheel
Star Trick
Star's End
Starburst
Starcrossed - complex
Stardust - complex (12-08)
Starfire (12-08)
Strawberry Swirl
Streetsboro Daisies
Susan's Snafu - complex
Susan's Swing (3-08)
Tara's Trip (2-08)
Terry and Sherry (10-08)
Through the Looking Glass
Trillium (7-08)
Trinity 2
Vicki's Dance - complex
Waterfall (3-08)
Wavefront
Wedding Contra for ... - complex
Whim's Gym
Whirl of Fortune - complex
Whirlaway
Whitewater - complex
Wildcats
Wildflowers (7-08)
Woven Waves

My favorites

Breakup Breakdown
Dar Trek
Gypsy Star
Jubilation Variation
Jump Start
Mary Keith's Harmonium
Passion Breakdown
Pigtown Petronella
Reel Easy
Reel to Reel
Roadkill
Sealed with a Keith
Snake in the Hey
The Squeaking Wheel
Whitewater
Wildflowers
Woven Waves

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Notation

The number of counts used by each move is noted in parentheses. These are not necessarily rigid as the figures can trade off, especially within a 16 count phrase. For example with the common phrase circle left 3/4 (8), partners swing (8), the dancers will often use just 6 or 7 counts for the circle.

Ladies chains and right and left throughs end with a courtesy turn. This is implied and not noted.

The term star, as used here, covers both the wrist hold star and the hands across star (also called just "hands across"). If the type of star is important then it is specified. Otherwise either type works well and I suggest using whatever is traditional for the dancers.

For circles and stars, one time around is implied and not noted. Anything else is noted. Allemande distances are always noted since allemande once around is unusual.

I prefer right and left throughs without hands, i.e. pass through to a courtesy turn. This leaves both hands free for the courtesy turn or substitute flourish.

I use the phrase "men roll away with a half sashay" to refer to the common roll away with a half sashay with roles reversed, i.e. men roll and ladies half sashay.

I use the phrase "reverse improper" for the contra formation with the twos crossed (from proper) instead of the ones.

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Links

About Contra and Other Dancing maintained by Cary Ravitz
Charlie Seelig's Links | Resource Links | Worldwide
Chattahoochee Dancers What is Contra Dancing
Chattahoochee Dancers Videos 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Contra Dancing in the Mid-South
Contra Dance Links for the UK
Country Dance and Song Society
The Dance Gypsy
Dance Weekends in the Southeast
Dwayne Johnson's Contra Dance Page | Map
Folk Dance Association | Contra
Kiran Wagle's Contra Dance Page | Dance Articles
Lexington KY Traditional Dance Association
NEFFA LinkFest | Folk Dancing | Contra | Essays
Ralph Page's Northern Junket Magazine | Contents
Rec.Folk-Dancing Newsgroup via Google
Steven Nagy's Introduction to Contra Dancing
Ted Crane's Dance Database
Thomas Green's links
Will Linden's Links

Contra Related Catalogs
AlamoStyles (shoes, etc.)
Bowling.com (leather soled bowling shoes)
Contracopia (music)
Country Dance and Song Society Catalog
Dancestore.com (swing dance shoes)

Dances in the Kentucky Region
Ann Arbor MI | schedule
Atlanta GA | schedule
Asheville/Swannanoa NC
Berea KY | schedule | Hands Four
Bloomington IN | Sugar Hill
Brasstown NC
Chapel Hill NC
Chattanooga TN
Charleston WV
Cincinnati OH | schedule
Cleveland OH | schedule
Columbia MO | schedule
Columbus OH | Winter Warmup
Contradancers Delight WV
Cumberland KY
Dandelion Romp OH
Dayton OH
Frankfort KY
Greenville SC | schedule
Huntsville AL
Indianapolis IN
Knoxville TN | Festival
LEAF NC
Lexington KY | Dance Trance | Swing Shift
Louisville KY
Memphis TN
Nashville TN | schedule
Pittsburgh PA
River Rendezvous OH
St Louis MO
Split Tree Farm GA
Terpsichore's Holiday WV
Urbana IL
West End NC
Whitewater Whirl WV

About Sound at Contra Dances
Andy Wilson's Live Sound Engineering
Bob Mill's All Mixed Up | Online Version
Weogo Reed's Contra Dance Sound Forum
Westerry | Sound Board

For Musicians
Alaska Fiddle Camp
AMT Roam microphones
Ashokan
Carwile String Studio (Lexington, KY)
ChordWizard Tutorial
Contra Dance Music Guide
Fiddle Forum
Fiddle Hangout | forum
The Fiddler's Companion
Fiddling for Violinists archive
Gary Reynolds' Creating Fiddle Tunes
John Chamber's ABC Music | Tune Finder
Musician's Hearing Protection - Etymotic | Westone
Old Town Violins (Lexington, KY)
The Portland Collection music books
Rec.Music.Makers.Bowed-Strings Newsgroup via Google
Sias Music | Chords

About Writing, Calling, and Teaching Contra Dances
Al Olson's Notes on Composing Contras
Bill Olson's Workshop Notes
Bill Pope's Contra Thoughts
Bob Archer's Notes on Calling
Caller Insurance for CDSS Members
Caller's Resource Archive
Cary Ravitz's Notes on Calling
Cary Ravitz's Notes on Contra Choreography
Chris Page's Links into Rec.Folk-Dancing
Colin Hume's Composing Dances
Colin Hume's Callers' Workshop
Contra/Country Dance Markup Language Project
Greg Hopkins Contra Dance Simulator (requires IE)
Heiner Fischle's Articles
Kiran Wagle's Notes on Calling
Kiran Wagle's Dance Articles Page
Mark Balzer's Lead and Follow FAQ
Mary McNab Dart's Contra Dance Choreography thesis
NEFFA LinkFest Essays on Calling
Ralph Page's Northern Junket Magazine | Contents
Seth Tepfer's Notes on Calling
Tom Lehmann's Notes on Choreography
William Watson's Callers' Resources

Contra Dance Indexes
Michael Dyck's Index | Sources Hugh Stewart's Index William J. Watson's Index

Contra Dance Collections
American Country Dances On Line
Contradancers of Hawaii Traditional Contras
Contras from Connecticut
Contras from Texas
Dancing for Busy People Collection
The CD*NY Contra Repertoire PDF
David Smukler's Collection
Hugh Stewart's Collection
Jeff Kaufman's Collection
Kiran Wagle's Page of Dances
Mary McNab Dart's thesis Appendix E
Permanent Wave's CD Notes
Ralph Page Legacy Weekend PDF
Saint Louis Hatchlings' Collection

Contra Dances by
Bob Archer
Melanie Axel-Lute
Clark Baker
Jacob Bloom
Mike Boerschig
Ed Bugel
Donna Calhoun
Tom Calwell
Alan Cheetham
Thomas W. Christopher
Dave Colestock
Eric Conrad
Ted Crane
Robert Cromartie archive
Bob Dalsemer
Leonard Ellis
Erik Erhardt
Heiner Fischle
Peter Foster
Michael Fuerst
Alex Funk
Pam Goddard
Grant Goodyear
Rich Goss
Al Green
Jerome Grisanti
Myra Hirschberg
Erik Hoffman
Gene Hubert archive
Colin Hume
Keith Hunt
Peter Jorgensen
Amy Kahn
David Kaynor
Barb Kirchner
David Kirchner
Roberta Kogut | 2
Tom Lehmann
David Mandelberg
David McMullen archive
Rick Mohr
Jo Mortland
Linda Mrosko
John Nance
Bob Nicholson
Devin Nordson
Bill Olson
Carol Ormand
Chris Page
Joseph Pimentel
Bill Pope
Elinor Preston archive
Cary Ravitz
Paul Rosen
Merri Rudd
Mike Schuh
David Smukler
Micah Smukler
Jeffery Spero
Merilee Standifer
Seth Tepfer
Don Theyken
John Turner
William Watson
Erik Weberg
Chris Weiler
Ian Whitehead
Mark Widmer
Reine Wonite
David Zinkin
Eric Zorn archive

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Amy's Harmonium                                     Cary Ravitz  10-99

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Men allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down to a new couple (8).

B2 - Ladies allemande left 1 while men orbit 1/2 clockwise (6).
   - Partners swing (10).

Dances


Andes Anomaly                                       Cary Ravitz   9-97

Becket, counter-clockwise, double progression
Complex

A1 - People in the line to the caller's right are ones.
   - Long lines go forward and back and just the ones roll away with a
     half sashay (8).
   - Hands across star right 7/8 (3+1/2 places) so that a man and
     woman from each set of four are in the middle (8).

A2 - Keep hands in the star and take hands in a long wavy line in the
     middle.
   - People on the sides balance in and out while people in the middle
     balance to a new neighbor and away (4).
   - Slide past the person that you balanced to with a Rory O'More
     spin (4).
   - Hands across star left 3/4 with the handy group of four (8).

B1 - Keep hands in the star and take hands in a long wavy line in the
     middle.
   - People on the sides balance in and out while people in the middle
     balance to a new neighbor and away (4).
   - Slide past the person that you balanced to (4).
   - Hands across star right 7/8 with the handy group of four, ending
     on the side with your partner (8).

B2 - Partners gypsy and swing (16).

If there is no one to slide with in A2 or B1, turn to face the other
direction and wait for the next star.

No one is ever out at the top. For odd length lines, at the bottom,
men and women reenter the dance separately.

The roll away in A1 is not necessary for the dance to work, but it
makes the wavy lines man/woman.

Dances


Bernadance (for Bernadene)                          Cary Ravitz  10-96

Becket, double progression

A1 - Circle left 3/4 (6).
   - Neighbors swing (10).

A2 - Star left (8).
   - Look away from the star for a new neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Star left (8).
   - Look away from the star for a new neighbor.
   - Ladies gypsy 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Between the Lines                                   Cary Ravitz   2-08

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Long lines go forward (4).
   - Ones swing in the middle and end facing down while twos back up
     and face up (12).

B1 - New neighbors do-si-do (8).
   - Circle left (8).

B2 - Partners do-si-do (across the set) (8).
   - Twos swing in the middle and end facing up, ones face down (8).

Alternate B1/B2

B1 - With new neighbors ones split the twos to start a mirror do-si-do
     (one men and two ladies see-saw, two men and one ladies do-si-do)
     (8).
   - Twos swing and end facing up (8).

B2 - Circle left (8).
   - Neighbors do-si-do (8).

In both versions, the twos may cut short the do-si-do before the swing
by a couple of counts to start the swing early.

Dances


Bev's Becket                                         Cary Ravitz  7-05

Becket

A1 - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

A2 - Ladies pass right to start a hey (16).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

This is an inverted version (partner and neighbor roles are swapped)
of Becky's Becket by David Zinkin (and Butter by Gene Hubert). The
dances are readily medleyed.

The opening figure here is borrowed from Hey Man by Paul Balliet.

Dances


Breakup Breakdown                                   Cary Ravitz  12-99

Improper contra
Complex

A1 - Pass through across (4).
   - Neighbors balance and swing (12).

A2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - With a new couple star left (8).

B2 - Look away from the star for your original neighbor to do-si-do
     (8).
   - Same neighbors swing (8).

I think that if a dance has a partner and neighbor swing, the partner
swing should come second. Otherwise it feels like a breakup.

Dances


Butterflies                                         Cary Ravitz  04-01

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Men allemande left 1/2 (2).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl 1/2 to put the ladies in the middle (6).
   - Ladies allemande right 1/2 (2).
   - Ladies keep right hands, pick up your neighbor, star promenade
     across, and butterfly whirl 1/2 (men go forward, ladies go
     backward) to put the men in the middle (6).

B1 - Men allemande left 1/2 (4).
   - Partners swing (12).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors do-si-do (8).

A2 might be noted as men lead a flutterwheel by the left, ladies lead
a flutterwheel by the right.

I use two common progressions for partners swing to new neighbors
balance and swing in 16 counts often - circle left 3/4 / pass through
/ do-si-do and right and left through / ladies chain. I consider these
the best of the lot when a simple progression is needed. But they can
be replaced to fit a dance into an evening of dances. For Butterflies
you can change B2 to, for example, long lines forward and back /
ladies chain or ladies chain / star left.

Dances


Carla's Contra                                      Cary Ravitz   3-01

Becket

A1 - Take hands in a circle and balance (4).
   - Partners roll away with a half sashay (4).
   - Circle RIGHT 3/4 (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - With a new neighbor (to the left) men allemande left 3/4 to a
     wavy line in the middle but do not take right hands (4).
   - Men stay in place while ladies walk forward and take right hands
     to make a gypsy star with your partner and new neighbors (4).
   - Ladies go forward and men backward to turn the star 3/4 (8).

B2 - Turn alone and neighbor men take right hands and neighbor ladies
     take left hands to make new gypsy star.
   - Men go forward and ladies backward to turn the star 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Carried Away                                        Cary Ravitz   1-04

Becket, counter-clockwise

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Star left 3/4 (8).
   - Look away from the star for a new (old) neighbor to swing (8).

A2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain to your shadow (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8)

B2 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     and turn alone to face your partner (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Men and women reenter the dance three times on each end with ladies on
the left, to swing. Ladies also reenter the dance with a left diagonal
chain.

Dances


Catch Phrase                                        Cary Ravitz   9-08

Improper contra

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ones swing in the middle and end facing down (8).

A2 - Neighbors swing (16).

B1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

Alternate A1, can be alternated

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Twos swing in the middle and end facing up (8).

The swing to swing transition is taken from Ted Sanella's Yankee Reel,
but the timing is modified so that the switch is on a 16 count phrase
break.

Dances


Chicory                                             Cary Ravitz   7-08

Becket

A1 - Men allemande left 1 (6).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in while shifting to the right one
     place, to face a new couple (10).

A2 - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Men pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

This variation of Wildflowers uses the butterfly whirl to progress,
borrowed from Charley Harvey's Amy Asked for a Gypsy. Also see
Trillium.

Dances


Contra Clovers                                      Cary Ravitz   5-95

Becket
Complex

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

A2 - Circle left (8).
   - Keep hands held until it's time to break the clover.
   - Face your neighbor.
   - Men raise your right hand and ladies raise your left hand.
   - Ladies turn clockwise 1/2 while sliding to your neighbor's left
     to form a two leaf clover (2).
   - Turn the clover counter-clockwise 3/4 (6).

B1 - Ladies slide back to back while men turn in place to reverse the
     clover (2).
   - Turn the clover clockwise 3/4 (6).
   - Drop hands to break the clover and men switch to a back hold with
     your partner.
   - Promenade to the next couple (2).
   - Ladies do-si-do (6).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

In the initial two leaf clover all four people are in line across the
set, women on the inside. The one man and two woman are together,
facing up and the two man and one woman are together, facing down.
Men's left hands are behind their neighbor's back and right hands are
across their front. Women's hands are crossed in front. Everyone is
facing counter-clockwise to turn the clover.

Then the clover shifts. Women slide back to back and men turn around
in place counter-clockwise, with no raised hands. This puts partners
together, facing clockwise.

As the clover ends, ones are facing down, twos are facing up. Men's
right arms are behind their partner's back, ready to start a back hold
promenade to the next couple.

The two leaf clover is an old square dance figure that I borrowed for
this dance. I do not know its origin.

Dances


Contra Currents                                     Cary Ravitz   4-97

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Go down the hall (5).
   - Turn as a couple (3).
   - Come back up (5).
   - Ones cast around the twos (3).

B1 - Ones half figure eight around the twos (8).
   - Ones swing and end facing down (8).

B2 - With a new couple circle left (8).
   - Twos swing and end facing up (8).

Use a back hold with neighbors in A2 to make the cast easier and
quicker.

Dances


Contrablend                                         Cary Ravitz  11-95

Improper contra mixer
Triple progression for women, single progression for men
Complex

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Men's NEW PARTNERS are in their right hand.
   - Ladies' NEW PARTNERS are in their left hand.
   - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).

B2 - Circle RIGHT 3/4 (with partners) (8).
   - Look away from the circle for a new neighbor to gypsy 1+1/2 (8).
   - Look for another new neighbor.

You can start this dance in B1 to make it a Becket dance. In this case
you don't get to swing your original partner, but it makes the dance a
little easier.

Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Cookies and Cream                                   Cary Ravitz   9-98

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

A2 - Circle left 1/2 (4).
   - Neighbors swing (12).

B1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Next ladies allemande right 1+1/2 while men slide left 1 step
     (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Crosslink                                           Cary Ravitz  11-08

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward, neighbors gypsy 1/2, and men take
     neighbors back to the side (3+2+3).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Partners balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (7).
   - Pass through up and down (2).
   - With a new couple circle RIGHT 3/4 (7).

Dances


Daisy Chain                                         Cary Ravitz  10-08

Becket, double progression

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, MEN chain
     by the right hand (8).

A2 - Star left 3/4 (8).
   - On the right diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

B1 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Ladies allemenade right 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Dance Kentucky Unhinged                             Cary Ravitz   4-00

Becket, counter-clockwise, double progression
Complex

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

A2 - Star left (8)
   - Look away from the star for a new neighbor to do-si-do (8).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Shadows allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Look for your partner to balance and swing (16).

Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Dance Symmetry                                      Cary Ravitz   1-02

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

A2 - Star left (8).
   - Look away from the star for a new neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Men chain across by the left hand to a mirror courtesy turn (8).
   - Star right (8).

B2 - Men turn in and partners gypsy and swing (16).

Inverted version, clockwise

A1 - Men chain across by the left hand to a mirror courtesy turn (8).
   - Star right (8).

A2 - Men turn in and neighbors gypsy and swing (16).

B1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the right diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

B2 - Star left (8).
   - Look away from the star for your partner to swing (8).

To switch from one version to the other in a medley without changing
the direction of progression, replace the next right and left through
with a long lines forward and back.

Dances


Dancing Spell                                       Cary Ravitz   9-98

Improper contra
Easy

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Circle left (8).
   - Star left using a hands across star (8).

B1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

Dances


Dar Trek (for Darlene)                              Cary Ravitz   5-02

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Look away from your partner for your shadow.
   - With your shadow and first neighbor star left 3/4 (8).

A2 - Look away from the star for a second neighbor to do-si-do (8).
   - Second neighbors swing (8).

B1 - With your second neighbor and shadow circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Balance (4).
   - Second neighbors California twirl (4).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Alternate A1/A2

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Look away from your partner for your shadow.
   - With your shadow and first neighbor star left 3/4 (8).
   - Look away from the star for a second neighbor to swing (8).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.
You always reenter the dance with ladies on the right.

Dances


Deanna's Dance                                      Cary Ravitz   6-97

Diamond formation (circle left 1/8 from improper), double progression
Complex

A1 - Face your neighbor in the diamond.
   - Men pass left to start a hey (diagonal) (16).

A2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

B1 - Circle left (8).
   - Star left using a hands across star (8).

B2 - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl back into the diamond (8).
   - Ladies look for the lady in the next diamond (first new couple),
     take right hands, keep your partner, star promenade across, and
     butterfly whirl to a new diamond with a second new couple (men go
     forward, ladies go backward) (8).

Alternate A1/B2, can be medleyed changing after A1

A1 - Ladies pass right to start a hey (16).

B2 - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face out of the diamond (8).
   - Men look for the man in the next diamond (first new couple), take
     left hands, keep your partner, star promenade across, and
     butterfly whirl to a new diamond with a second new couple (8).

All of the moves start and end in diamond orientation.

To get into diamond formation, start in improper contra formation and
each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that ladies
are in the middle and men are on the side.

No one is ever out at the top. If there is no couple to star promenade
with, stay put.

Dances


Debra's Dance                                        Cary Ravitz  5-06

Becket

A1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Pass through across (4).
   - Neighbors allemande right 3/4 to a wave across with men in the
     middle (4).

B1 - Balance right and left and slide right with a Rory O'More spin
     (8).
   - Balance left and right and Slide left with a Rory O'More spin
     (8).

B2 - Men allemande left 1/2 (2).
   - Partners swing (14).

Inverted version, can be medleyed

A1 - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).
   - Pass through across (4).
   - Partners allemande right 3/4 to a wave across with men in the
     middle (4).

A2 - Balance right and left and slide right with a Rory O'More spin
     (8).
   - Balance left and right and Slide left with a Rory O'More spin
     (8).

B1 - Men allemande left 1/2 (2).
   - Neighbors swing (14).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Dianne's Dance                                      Cary Ravitz   7-96

Diamond formation (circle left 1/8 from improper), double progression

A1 - Star left 3/4 so that the men are in the middle (8).
   - Next men allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

A2 - Take hands in a diamond oriented circle.
   - Balance and spin one place to the right, as in Petronella (8).
   - Take hands in the diamond, balance, and spin one place to the
     right (8).

B1 - Star right 3/4 so that ladies are in the middle (8).
   - Next ladies allemande left 1+1/2 so that you are progressed and
     in a diamond (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing and end in a diamond (16).

To get into diamond formation, start in improper contra formation and
each group of four turns 1/8 (1/2 place) to the left so that ladies
are in the middle and men are on the side.

No one is ever out at the top. For odd length lines, at the bottom,
men and women reenter the dance separately.

Dances


Dreaming                                            Cary Ravitz   8-05

Becket
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Look away from your partner for your shadow.
   - With your shadow and neighbor star right 3/4 (8).
   - Men turn in and neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Shadows do-si-do (across the set) (8).
   - Look away from your first neighbor for your second neighbor.
   - With your shadow and second neighbor star left 3/4 (8).

B2 - Look for your partner to balance and swing (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.
You always reenter the dance with ladies on the right.

Dances


Enchanted                                           Cary Ravitz   9-08

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Men pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Long lines go forward, partners gypsy 1/2, and long lines go back
     (3+2+3).
   - Star left 7/8 (3+1/2 places) to put the ladies in the middle (8).

B2 - Ladies look for the next lady to allemande right 3/4 while men
     walk forward to meet your partner (4).
   - Partners swing (on the side) (12).

The 1/2 hey also works with ladies pass left to start a 1/2 hey, which
flows as in Becky Hill's Mystic to Montreal.

This is a makeover of Entranced.

Dances


The Enchanted Forrest                               Cary Ravitz  11-98

Becket
Complex

A1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Star left 7/8 (3+1/2 places) using a hands across star so that
     men are in the middle (8).

B1 - Men look for a new man to allemande right 1+1/2 while ladies
     allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Star left 7/8 with the handy group of four (8).

B2 - Look away from the star for your partner to balance and swing
     (16).

Alternate A2/B1, can be medleyed

A2 - Long lines go forward, partners gypsy 1/2, and long lines go back
     (3+2+3).
   - Star left 7/8 (3+1/2 places) using a hands across star so that
     ladies are in the middle (8).

B1 - Ladies look for a new lady to allemande right 1+1/2 while men
     allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Star left 7/8 with the handy group of four (8).

Dances


Entranced                                           Cary Ravitz   5-97

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Star right 3/4 using a hands across star (men are in front of
     partners) (8).
   - Ladies turn in and neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Pass through across the set and turn alone to face in (4).
   - Star left 7/8 (3+1/2 places) to put the ladies in the middle (8).
   - Ladies look for the next lady to allemande right 3/4 while men
     walk forward to meet your partner (4).

B2 - Partners swing (on the side) (16).

Dances


Evil Diane                                          Cary Ravitz  11-00

Becket, double progression

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and with your shadow, men roll
     away with a half sashay (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

A2 - Star left (8).
   - On the right diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

B1 - Long lines go forward and back and with your partner, men roll
     away with a half sashay (8).
   - Ladies do-si-do (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

The fundamental figures of this dance are long lines with a roll away,
chain to the left and right, and look for your partner to balance and
swing, a total of 40 counts. This leaves 24 counts that can be filled
in to make a wide range of variations. Null moves that fit nicely
include circle right after the roll away and star left or hey after
either chain. I used star left after the chain left. After the chain
to the right you can include a progression (men progress and ladies
unprogress) to put partners in the same set of four before they
balance and swing. I used another long lines with a roll away to do
this because I like the symmetry and the partner interaction.

This dance is named after Sam Bartlett's tune Evil Diane, for Diane.

Dances


The Fair Maid                                        Cary Ravitz  7-05

Becket

A1 - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).
   - Ladies allemande right 1/2 (2).
   - Neighbors allemande left 1+1/4 (6).

A2 - Star left 1/2 using a hands across star (4).
   - Men drop out and loop back in behind your neighbor while ladies
     turn left 1/2 (4).
   - Star left 1/2 (4).
   - Men drop out and loop back in while ladies turn left 1/2 (4).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

The A2 figure is borrowed from Of the Mills by John Gallagher.

You can replace the second half of A1 with a ladies chain, then the
women loop in A2.

It is unclear to me if the A2 in this dance takes the right amount of
time. This alternate version uses a little more time and has the
advantage of letting men and women loop out of the star. I will remove
one of these versions eventually.

The Fair Maid (revised)                              Cary Ravitz  3-06

A1 - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).
   - Right and left through across (8).

A2 - Star left 1/2 using a hands across star (4).
   - Ladies drop out and loop back in behind your partner while men
     turn left 1/2 (3).
   - Star left 3/4 (6).
   - Men drop out and loop back in while ladies turn left 1/2 (3).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Fiddle Tales                                        Cary Ravitz   1-01

Improper contra
Complex

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Ones cross the set by the right, turn left,  pass one person and
     go to the middle to form a diamond, men facing up in a new minor
     set, ladies facing down in their original minor set (8).
   - Take hands in the diamond, balance, and spin one place to the
     right, as in Petronella (8).

B1 - Balance and spin one place to the right (8).
   - Ones turn alone to find your partner to swing and end facing down
     (8).

B2 - With new neighbors ones split the twos to start a mirror do-si-do
     (8).
   - Twos swing and end facing up (8).

The central figures of this dance, A2 and B1, are borrowed from Ted
Sannella's Fiddleheads.

You can run this as an alternating dance (as in Alternating Corners by
Jim Kitch). On even cycles, after the neighbor swing, twos cross the
set, turn left, etc. Men face down and women face up in the initial
diamonds, and after the partner swings (both versions), ones face down
and twos face up.

Dances


Flip-Flop                                           Cary Ravitz   8-00

Improper contra
128 count

A1 - Neighbors do-si-do (8).
   - Neighbors swing and end facing down (8).

A2 - Go down the hall (4).
   - Twos cast around the ones (4).
   - Twos half figure eight below the ones (8).

B1 - Twos turn contra corners (16).

B2 - Twos balance and swing in the middle and end facing up (16).

A1 - Neighbors do-si-do (8).
   - Neighbors swing and end facing up (8).

A2 - Go up the hall (4).
   - Ones cast around the twos (4).
   - Ones half figure eight above the twos (8).

B1 - Ones turn contra corners (16).

B2 - Ones balance and swing in the middle and end facing down (16).

This is an alternating contra corners dance, inspired by Jim Kitch's
Alternating Corners.

Make sure there is enough room below the lines to handle this dance.

Dances


Flirting with Love Again                            Cary Ravitz  10-97

Becket, double progression
Complex

Face your partner, your second shadow is beyond your partner, your
first shadow is beyond your second shadow.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Circle left (8).

A2 - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).
   - On the right diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain to your first shadow (8).

B1 - Star left (8).
   - Look away from the star for your second shadow to allemande
     right 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Alternate A1

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Long lines go forward and back and with your partner, men roll
     away with a half sashay (8).

This dance borrows A1 and A2 from Ken Bonner's Falling in Love Again.
The alternate A1 is borrowed from Cis Hinkle's Rollin' and Tumblin'.

Dances


Flying Flamingos                                    Cary Ravitz   6-97

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors allemande right 1+1/2 (8).
   - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Neighbors gypsy and swing (16) (or balance and swing).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Star left 3/4 using a wrist hold star (8).
   - Neighbors allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

With fond memories of "the flamingo affair" at Buffalo Gap, June 1997.

Dances


Four on the Floor                                   Cary Ravitz   1-99

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

A2 - Star left 7/8 (3+1/2 places) using a hands across star so that
     men are in the middle (8).
   - Keep hands in the star and men take hands in a long wavy line in
     the middle.
   - Men balance right and left and ladies balance left and right (4).
   - Men slide right and ladies slide left with a Rory O'More spin
     (4).

B1 - Men balance left and right and ladies balance right and left (4).
   - Men slide left and ladies slide right (4).
   - Star left 7/8 using a hands across star (8).

B2 - Look away from the star for your partner to balance and swing
     (16).

Dances


Fractal Fling                                       Cary Ravitz   4-96

Becket

A1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your neighbor, star promenade
     across, and butterfly whirl until the ladies are in the middle
     (8).

A2 - Ladies take right hands, keep your neighbor, star promenade
     across, and butterfly whirl out (men go forward, ladies go
     backward) (8).
   - Melt from the whirl into a swing (8).

B1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the right diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

It is important for the man's arm to be below the woman's arm in the
star promenade. This allows for a smooth melt from the whirl to a
swing.

Tell the dancers to keep a close hold in the middle of the star
promenades, so that the outside people don't run into the next group.

Dances


Fractal Frolic                                      Cary Ravitz   3-96

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl until the ladies are in the middle (8).

B1 - Ladies take right hands, keep your partner, star promenade
     across, and butterfly whirl out (men go forward, ladies go
     backward) (8).
   - Melt from the whirl into a swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

It is important for the man's arm to be below the woman's arm in the
star promenade. This allows for a smooth melt from the whirl to a
swing.

Tell the dancers to keep a close hold in the middle of the star
promenades, so that the outside people don't run into the next group.

The sequence of figures in Fractal Fling is almost identical to that
of Fractal Frolic, but partner and neighbor roles are reversed. To
change from Fractal Fling to Fractal Frolic in a medley, change
Fractal Frolic's first A1 to ladies allemande right 1+1/2, neighbors
swing. To change from Fractal Frolic to Fractal Fling, change Fractal
Frolic's last B2 to right and left through across, long lines go
forward and back and shift left one couple.

Dances


Galax                                               Cary Ravitz   9-08

Becket

A1 - Circle left (8).
   - Hands across star left (8).

A2 - Men allemande left 1 (6).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in while shifting to the right one
     place, to face a new couple (10).

B1 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey, men push off in the middle
     to trade roles in the hey (ladies do a 1/2 hey while men do a 1/2
     push off hey) (8).
   - Continue the hey, ladies push off in the middle to trade roles in
     the hey, men finish an ordinary hey (ladies do a 1/2 push off hey
     while men do a 1/2 hey) (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

I revised this dance to move the progression from the circle phrase
(circle left 3/4, pass through, circle right 3/4 or star left 3/4) to
the butterfly whirl and shifted the phrases to end on the balance and
swing.

Dances


Fudge Swirl                                         Cary Ravitz  10-97

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Long lines go forward and back and neighbors roll away with a
     half sashay (8).
   - Star right (8).

B1 - Look away from the star for a new neighbor to allemande left
     1+3/4, to put the men in the middle (8).
   - Men take right hands to start a hands across star right.
   - Ladies join in behind your neighbor.
   - Star right 3/4 using a hands across star (8).

B2 - Ladies turn in and partners gypsy and swing (16).

Reenter the dance with ladies on the left.

Dances


Gypsy Eights             Cary Ravitz, Danika Murray, Emma Murray  7-05

Becket
Complex

A1 - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).
   - Ones are moving down the set and twos are moving up the set.
   - Ladies chain across and the one men and two ladies roll away with
     a half sashay (8).

A2 - Gypsy eights starting with the ones (16).
     The ones (diagonally opposite in the set of four) walk to the
     middle, gypsy by the right 3/4, and walk back to their neighbor's
     place (10) then loop out to return to their original place (6)
     while the twos loop out to their neighbor's place (6) then walk
     to the middle, gypsy by the right 3/4, and walk back to their
     original place (10).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Gypsy Star                                          Cary Ravitz   5-99

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Men walk forward to a wavy line in the middle (4).
   - Balance (4).
   - Men stay in place while ladies walk forward to a wavy line in the
     middle (4) (there are now two interlinked but separate wavy
     lines).
   - Balance (4).

B1 - Ladies drop left hands and men drop right hands to form a gypsy
     star with a new couple.
   - Ladies go forward and men go backward to turn the star 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Circle left 3/4 (8).

I suggest that dancers look into their partner's eyes during the wavy
line balances (rather than looking in the direction of the balance).

Also see Woven Waves.

Dances


Heart of Glass                                      Cary Ravitz  10-00

Becket

A1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in (8).

B1 - Ladies pass right to start a hey (16).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

This dance is an easier version of Through the Looking Glass, or you
might see it as Amy Kahn's Sweet Music with a different progression,
or Steve Zakon-Anderson's Twirling at the Alter with the progression
moved from the hey to the circle, or David Zinkin's Becky's Becket
with a different A2.

Dances


Interstate 75                                       Cary Ravitz   8-95

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies pass
     right to start a 1/2 hey and note the neighbor that you pass (8).

A2 - Straight across ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Hands across star right 3/4 (men are in front of partners) (8).

B1 - Look away from the star for the neighbor that you passed in the
     diagonal 1/2 hey to balance and swing (16).

B2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Jubilation Permutation                              Cary Ravitz   5-08

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors do-si-do (8).

Also see Jubilation Variation.

Dances


Jubilation Variation                                Cary Ravitz   3-06

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

This dance started out as a variation of Jubilation by Gene Hubert in
which the partner allemande is replaced by a swing and the men start
the hey. This gives the same swing / 1/2 hey / swing sequence as in
Diagonal Discovery, also by Gene Hubert. The dance is further modified
by replacing the men allemande left 1+1/2 and long lines with circle
left 3/4 and right and left through, which moves the middle of the
dance to the opposite side of the set.

Also see Jubilation Permutation.

Dances


Jump Start                                          Cary Ravitz  10-98

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Right and left through across (8)
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Hands across star right 3/4 (men are in front of neighbor ladies)
     (8).
   - Ladies turn in and partners swing (8).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors do-si-do (8).

When the men pass right in the middle in the second half of the 1/2
hey, rather than finishing the 1/2 hey, they can take right hands and
turn 1/2 leisurely to start the star, with women joining in as they
finish the 1/2 hey. This makes a nice blending between the hey and
star.

Dances


Jump the Tracks                                      Cary Ravitz  3-08

Becket

A1 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Ladies step forward to start a mad robin (see-saw partner facing
     neighbor) (8).

A2 - Ladies walk straight across the set (2).
   - Neighbors swing (14).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).

Alternate version, can be medleyed

A1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Men step forward to start a mad robin (do-si-do partner facing
     neighbor) (8).

A2 - Men walk straight across the set (2).
   - Neighbors swing (14).

B1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).

Dances


Linda's Flight                                      Cary Ravitz  12-97

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

A2 - Neighbors box the gnat (4).
   - Neighbors pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Neighbors box the gnat (4).

B1 - Neighbors pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - With a new couple (and your partner) star left 3/4 (8).

B2 - Men turn back and partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Looking for Love Again                              Cary Ravitz   9-00

Becket, counter-clockwise, double progression
Complex

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Circle right 3/4 (8).

A2 - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain to your shadow (8).
   - On the right diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and men face in and ladies face out to form
     wavy lines at the sides (8) (your shadow is now in your right
     hand).
   - Balance right and left and slide right with a Rory O'More spin
     (8).

B2 - Partners swing (16).

Dances


Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion                     Cary Ravitz  12-96

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Promenade across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - Take hands with the new couple, balance, and spin one place to
     the right (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Mary Keith's Harmonium                              Cary Ravitz   1-02
Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Pass through across (4).
   - Circle left (8).
   - Pass through up and down (4).

B2 - Ladies allemande left 1 while men orbit 1/2 clockwise (6).
   - Partners swing (10).

This variation on Amy's Harmonium borrows its B1 from Boomerang by
Gene Hubert.

Dances


Megadance (for Meg)                                 Cary Ravitz   8-99

Becket, counter-clockwise, double progression
Complex

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your first shadow is in
the other hand, your second shadow is beyond your first shadow.

A1 - Take hands in long lines.
   - With first shadows, to the men's left, men roll away with a half
     sashay (4).
   - With second shadows, to the men's left, men roll away with a half
     sashay (4).
   - With your second shadow take hands in a circle, balance, and spin
     one place to the right, as in Petronella, and men face in and
     ladies out to form wavy lines at the sides (8).

A2 - Balance right and left and slide right with a Rory O'More spin
     (8).
   - Look for a new neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     and men face in and ladies out to form wavy lines at the sides
     (8) (your first shadow is now in your right hand).
   - Balance right and left and slide right (8).

B2 - Partners swing (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

Dances


The Millennium Hug                                  Cary Ravitz  12-99

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right
     (8).
   - Star left using a wrist hold star (8).

B1 - Partners allemande left 1/2 (4).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 3/4 hey, men push off in the middle
     to trade roles in the hey (12).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Alternate B1, can be called as dancers' choice

B1 - Partners allemande left 1 (4).
   - Men pass right to start a 3/4 hey, ladies push off in the middle
     to trade roles in the hey (12).

Reenter the dance with ladies on the left.

Dances


Moment of Inertia                                   Cary Ravitz   5-02

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Men pass through across while ladies walk in, make a small U turn
     to the left, and walk out (4).
   - Neighbors courtesy turn (4).
   - Star right (8).

Alternate A1/B2, can be medleyed changing at A2

A1 - Neighbors allemande right 1+1/2 (8).
   - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Men pass through across while ladies walk in, make a small U turn
     to the left, and walk out (4).
   - Neighbors courtesy turn (4).
   - Star left (8).

Dances


Oh More Snakes (revised 9-02)                       Cary Ravitz  11-99

Becket, double progression
Complex

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey and then walk straight
     forward to a long wavy line in the middle while men move to stand
     behind your partner (8).

A2 - Ladies balance right and left (4).
   - Ladies slide right with a Rory O'More spin to a new wavy line
     while men walk forward to a wavy line in the middle (4). There
     are now two interlinked but separate wavy lines.
   - Ladies balance left and right while men balance right and left
     (4).
   - Men slide right with a Rory O'More spin while ladies back out
     (4).

B1 - With the handy man men allemande right 1+3/4 (8) (or balance and
     allemande right 3/4).
   - Partners pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Passion Breakdown                                   Cary Ravitz   2-08

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Ladies step forward to start a mad robin (see-saw neighbor facing
     partner) (8).

B1 - Ladies walk straight across the set (2).
   - Partners swing (14).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Balance (4).
   - California twirl (4).

Alternate version, can be medleyed

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Men step forward to start a mad robin (do-si-do neighbor facing
     partner) (8).

B1 - Men walk straight across the set (2).
   - Partners swing (14).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Balance (4).
   - Pass through to a new neighbor (4).

At the start of B1 the men (ladies in the alternate version) should
not step forward into the swing, but should wait for their partner to
cross the set.

Men (ladies in the alternate version) can turn around in the 1/2 hey to
lengthen the eye contact with their partner.

Dances


Pigtown Breakdown                                   Cary Ravitz  12-08

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - (New) neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - With your neighbor, on the RIGHT diagonal, walk forward to meet
     your shadow (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four (4).

B1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     and turn alone to face your partner (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Pigtown Petronella                                  Cary Ravitz  11-97

Becket, counter-clockwise, double progression

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain to your shadow (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - Take hands with the new couple, balance, and spin one place to
     the right, and turn alone to face your partner (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Note the similarity to Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion. The chain is
to the diagonal left here, so at the end of B1 you must face a new set
of four to find your partner.

Dances


Pigtown Swing                                       Cary Ravitz   8-08

Becket
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Men's shadows are in their right hand, ladies' shadows are in
     their left hand, your first neighbor is directly across the set.
   - With your shadow right and left through across (8).

A2 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     and turn alone to face your partner (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Be alert on the ends. You always reenter the dance with ladies on the
left.

Dances


Prelude                                             Cary Ravitz   7-95

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

B1 - Star left 3/4 (8).
   - Look away from the star for a new neighbor to allemande right
     1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Ladies walk straight across the set (2).
   - Partners swing (14).

Dances


Presto Petronella                                   Cary Ravitz  12-96

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

A2 - Star left 3/4 (8).
   - Look away from the star for your partner to gypsy 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella (8).
   - Take hands, balance, and spin one place to the right (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Reenter the dance in A2 with ladies on the left.

Dances


raDar Love                                   Cary Ravitz   3-02, 10-08

Becket

A1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Neighbors allemande left 1 (4).
   - Hands across star left 3/4 (8).
   - Men allemande left 1 (4).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Inverted version, can be medleyed

A1 - On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4).
   - Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Partners allemande left 1 (4).
   - Hands across star left 3/4 (8).
   - Men allemande left 1 (4).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Rat Race                                            Cary Ravitz  12-98

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

A1 - Pass through across and face your partner (4).
   - Ladies stand still while men pass your partner by the right to
     join a new group of four (4).
   - Hands across star left 7/8 (3+1/2 places) so that ladies are in
     the middle (8).

A2 - Next ladies allemande right 1+1/2 while men allemande left 1+1/2
     (8).
   - Hands across star left 3/4 with the handy group of four (8).

B1 - Next men allemande right 1+1/2 while ladies allemande left 1+1/2
     (8).
   - Hands across star left 7/8 with the handy group of four.

B2 - Look away from the star for your partner to balance and swing
     (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Reel Easy                                           Cary Ravitz  10-95

Improper contra
Easy

A1 - Neighbors do-si-do (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Partners balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors allemande right 1 (6).
   - Neighbors pull by by the right (2).

To change from a Becket dance to Reel Easy in a medley, change Reel
Easy's first figure to circle left 3/4. From a counter-clockwise
Becket dance, change it to men allemande left 1+1/2.

Dances


Reel to Reel                                        Cary Ravitz   5-03

Improper contra

Start with the final figure, neighbors do-si-do 1+1/4, to put the
ladies in the middle, ones facing down, twos facing up.

A1 - Neighbors allemande right 1/2 (2).
   - Men allemande left 1 while ladies orbit 1/2 clockwise (6).
   - Partners allemande right 1/2 (2).
   - Ladies allemande left 1 while men orbit 1/2 clockwise (6).

A2 - Neighbor gypsy and swing (16).

B1 - Give and take, ladies take partners back (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors do-si-do 1+1/4 (8).

Dances


Reflections                                         Cary Ravitz   6-01

Improper/reverse improper contra, double/single progression
Complex

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B1 - Promenade across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

B2 - Pass through across (4).
   - Ones look down and twos look up.
   - Circle left (8).
   - Neighbors pass by the right (4).

Alternate B1

B1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

Be alert on the ends. It is important that the people out at the ends
reenter the dance as needed by the people in the dance.

Odd cycles of this dance start improper, double progress, and end
reverse improper. Even cycles start reverse improper, progress singly,
and end improper.

The alternate B1 stops the alternating orientation and leaves the
dance as either improper (single progression) or reverse improper
(double progression). You can use this as the basic B1 and use the
original B1 to change orientations on any cycle of the dance.

Dances


Riding Whisky                                       Cary Ravitz  03-07

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Pass through across and turn alone to face in (4).
   - Star left (8).
   - Look for a new neighbor to box the gnat (4).

B1 - Ladies allemande left 1 while men orbit 1/2 clockwise (6).
   - Partners swing (10).

B2 - Men trade places by the right and face in (4).
   - Circle left (8).
   - Pass through across and face your neighbor (4).

Alternate B2, simpler

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors do-si-do (8).

Reenter the dance with ladies on the left.

The box the gnat to orbit transition is from A Good Feeling by Bill
Pope.

Dances


Roadkill                                            Cary Ravitz   1-98

Becket
Complex

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your shadow is in the
other hand.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and with your shadow, men roll
     away with a half sashay (8).
   - Right and left through across with your shadow (8).

A2 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Right and left through across with your neighbor (8).
   - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     and turn alone to face your partner (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (or just swing) (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Rocky Road                                          Cary Ravitz   7-99

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Men's shadows are in their right hand, ladies' shadows are in
     their left hand, your first neighbor is directly across the set.
   - With your shadow right and left through across (8).

A2 - With your shadow and first neighbor star left 3/4 (8).
   - Look away from the star for a second neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - With your second neighbor and shadow circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Shadows allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Look away from your shadow for your partner to balance and swing
     (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

Note the similarity to Whitewater. Replacing the star with a
positionally equivalent circle, the only difference is the second
figure of A1 and the direction of progression.

Dances


Roll Around                                         Cary Ravitz   1-01

Improper contra

A1 - Take hands in a circle and balance (4).
   - Partners (across the set) roll away with a half sashay (4).
   - Take hands in a circle and balance (4).
   - Neighbors (on the side) roll away with a half sashay (4).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

Dances


Run Around Susie                                     Cary Ravitz  4-07

Becket, counter-clockwise, double progression
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Stand back to back with your partner to face your shadow.
   - Shadows do-si-do 1+1/4 (8).

A2 - Ladies turn around and take inside hands with your shadow.
   - Walk forward to meet the next couple across the set (2).
   - Ladies allemande right 1 while men orbit clockwise 1/2 (6).
   - Neighbors take inside hands.
   - Walk forward to meet the next couple across the set (2).
   - Ladies allemande right 1 while men orbit clockwise 1/2 (6).

B1 - Partners take inside hands.
   - Walk forward to meet the next couple across the set (2).
   - Partners gate (whirl) to face across (6).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Alternate B1, takes a little more time, can be called as dancers' choice

B1 - Partners take inside hands.
   - Walk forward to meet the next couple across the set (2).
   - Partners gate (whirl) to face across (4).
   - Partners roll away with a half sashay (2).
   - Men pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Sealed with a Keith                                 Cary Ravitz   7-97

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies
     chain (8).

A2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - Partners gypsy 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Look away from your partner for your shadow to allemande left
     1+1/2 (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

In this dance you lose your partner, find them for a gypsy, lose them
again, and find them for a balance and swing.

Dances


Slip and Slide                                      Cary Ravitz  12-99

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Neighbors pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Pass through across to a wave (across) with ladies in the middle
     (4).
   - Balance right and left (4).
   - Slide right with a Rory O'More spin to a fleeting wave (4).
   - Walk forward to a new wave (across) (4).

B2 - Balance RIGHT and left (4).
   - MEN slide RIGHT with a Rory O'More spin (4).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Snake in the Garden                                 Cary Ravitz   7-08

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - With NEW neighbors men allemande left 3/4 to a long wavy line in
     the middle (4).
   - Balance (4).
   - Men back out and ladies walk forward into a long wavy line in the
     middle (4).
   - Balance (4).

B1 - Ladies allemande right 3/4 (4).
   - Partners swing (12).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Circle left 3/4 (8).

Alternate version, can be medleyed

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - With NEW neighbors ladies allemande right 3/4 to a long wavy line
     in the middle (4).
   - Balance (4).
   - Ladies back out and men walk forward into a long wavy line in the
     middle (4).
   - Balance (4).

B1 - Men allemande left 3/4 (4).
   - Partners swing (12).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors do-si-do (8).

After the allemande in B1, partners can swat the flea (first version)
or box the gnat (second version) before the swing.

For either version, the first wavy line can stay in place while the
second wavy line forms. Then the back out for one line happens at the
same time as the allemande for the other.

Dances


Snake in the Hey                                    Cary Ravitz   1-98

Improper contra

A1 - Ladies allemande right 3/4 to a long wavy line in the middle (4).
   - Balance (4).
   - Ladies back out while men walk forward to a long wavy line in the
     middle (4).
   - Balance (4).

A2 - Men allemande left 3/4 (4).
   - Partners box the gnat (4).
   - Partners pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Partners balance and swing (16).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

Dances


The Squeaking Reel                                   Cary Ravitz  5-05

Reverse improper contra (from proper line, twos cross)

A1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella (8).
   - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).

Dances


The Squeaking Wheel                                 Cary Ravitz   4-02

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Go down the hall (6).
   - Keeping hands, twos turn back to back to face up while ones
     take hands behind the twos (2).
   - Go up the hall (6).
   - Twos duck and ones bring joined hands over the twos to form
     a four leaf clover (2).

B1 - Turn the clover left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies chain across (8).

This dance is a simple setting of the creation of a four leaf clover
as in Symmetrical Force by Fred Feild and the transition from the
clover to a swing as in Corners at Dawn by Peter Stix. Also see
Lalah's TriskadekaMania by Seth Tepfer and The Connectrix by Rick
Mohr.

Dances


Star Trick                                          Cary Ravitz  10-97

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors allemande right 1+1/2 (8).
   - Star right 3/4 using a wrist hold star (8).

A2 - Ladies turn in and partners gypsy and swing (16).

B1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella (8).
   - Take hands, balance, and spin one place to the right (8).

B2 - Star left 3/4 using a wrist hold star (8).
   - Neighbors allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

Dances


Star's End                                          Cary Ravitz   3-02

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Star left 3/4 using a hands across star (8).

A2 - Men allemande left 1 while ladies loop to the right to face in
     (4).
   - Neighbors swing (12).

B1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Star right 3/4 (8).

B2 - Next ladies allemande left 1 while men walk forward to meet your
     partner (4).
   - Partners swing (12).

Dances


Starburst                                           Cary Ravitz   7-95

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors take right hands and balance (4).
   - Neighbors box the gnat (4).
   - Star right using a hands across star (8).

A2 - Ladies chain across to your partner (8).
   - Star left using a hands across star (8).

B1 - Ladies turn out and partners gypsy and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors do-si-do (8).

Alternate B1, can be called as ladies' choice

B1 - Ladies turn in and partners gypsy by the left (4).
   - Partners turn alone clockwise and swing (12).

Dances


Starcrossed                                         Cary Ravitz   3-98

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Look away from your partner for your shadow.
   - With your shadow and first neighbor star right 3/4 using a wrist
     hold star (8).
   - Form wavy lines at the sides with men facing in.

A2 - Balance right and left (4).
   - Slide to the right with a Rory O'More spin (4).
   - Look for a new neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Star right 3/4 using a wrist hold star (8).
   - Form wavy lines at the sides with ladies facing in.
   - Balance right and left (4).
   - Slide to the right (4).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (or just swing) (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Stardust                                            Cary Ravitz  12-08

Becket
Complex

In long lines, your partner is in one hand, your first shadow is in
the other hand, your second shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Men allemande left 3/4 to meet a new neighbor man in the middle
     (4).
   - Next men allemande right 3/4 (4).
   - Hands across star right 3/4 (men are behind first shadows) (6).
   - Shadows pass by the right (up and down) (2).

A2 - Partner gypsy 1+1/2 (8).
   - Look away from your partner for your second shadow to allemande
     left 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Star left 3/4 (6).
   - Second shadows pass by the left (up and down) (2).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Starfire                                            Cary Ravitz  12-08

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Look for new neighbors for a hands across star left 1 (8).

B2 - Ladies turn alone and take right hands while men keep left hands
     to make a gypsy star.
   - Ladies go forward and men go backward to turn the star 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Strawberry Swirl                                    Cary Ravitz   5-98

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Right and left through across (8).

A2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Star left (8).
   - With a new couple star right 3/4 using a hands across star (8).

B2 - Men turn in and partners gypsy and swing (16).

Dances


Streetsboro Daisies                                 Cary Ravitz  10-95

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B1 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

This dance was designed to medley with Streetsboro Reel by Becky Hill
and Delphiniums and Daisies by Tanya Rotenberg. All of these dances
start and end the same.

Dances


Susan's Snafu                                       Cary Ravitz   3-00

Becket, counter-clockwise
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Take hands in a circle, balance, and spin one place to the right,
     as in Petronella, and turn alone to face a new neighbor (8).
   - Take hands with the new couple, balance, and spin one place to
     the right, and turn alone to face your shadow (8).

A2 - Star right 3/4 (8).
   - Ladies turn in and neighbors swing (8).

B1 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Star left (8).

B2 - Look away from the star for your partner to balance and swing
     (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

Dances


Susan's Swing                                        Cary Ravitz  3-08

Becket, counter-clockwise

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Long lines go forward and back and with partners ladies roll
     right while men half sashay left (8) (you are now at home).

A2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Turn alone to your right to find a new neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Reenter the dance with ladies on the left.

Dances


Tara's Trip                                          Cary Ravitz  2-08

Becket

A1 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Long lines go forward and back (8).
   - Star left (8).

B1 - Look away from the star for a new neighbor to box the gnat (4).
   - Men pass left to start a 3/4 hey, ending on your home side with
     your partner (12).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Terry and Sherry                                    Cary Ravitz  10-08

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward, neighbors gypsy 1/2, and long lines go
     back (3+2+3).
   - Long lines go forward, neighbors gypsy 1/2, and men take
     neighbors back to the side (3+2+3).

A2 - Neighbors balance and swing (16) (or gypsy and swing).

B1 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).

B2 - Next ladies allemande left 1/2 (4).
   - Partners swing (12).

Dances


Through the Looking Glass                           Cary Ravitz  10-00

Becket

A1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Men pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Trillium                                            Cary Ravitz   7-08

Becket

A1 - Men allemande left 1 (6).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in while shifting to the right one
     place, to face a new couple (10).

A2 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

This variation of Wildflowers uses the butterfly whirl to progress,
borrowed from Charley Harvey's Amy Asked for a Gypsy. Also see
Chicory.

Dances


Trinity 2                                           Cary Ravitz   9-03

Becket, double progression

A1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Partners do-si-do (across the set) (8).
   - Look for another new neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Star left 1 using a hands across star (8).

B2 - Ladies turn alone and take right hands while men keep left hands
     to make a gypsy star.
   - Ladies go forward and men go backward to turn the star 1 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

This is a variation of Trinity by Gene Hubert, replacing long lines
forward and back with do-si-do across the set, star right with a gypsy
star, and shifting the phrases to end with the partner swing.

Dances


Vicki's Dance                                       Cary Ravitz   5-95

Becket
Complex

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and while backing up start a
     partner gypsy (8).
   - Partners gypsy 1+3/4 to a wavy line across the set with ladies in
     the middle (8).

A2 - Balance (4).
   - Men note your position.
   - Ladies allemande left 1/4 while men turn in to make a hands
     across star left (2).
   - Star left (8).
   - Men drop out and turn back to where you started while ladies turn
     another 1/4 (2).
   - Form a wavy line across the set.

B1 - Balance (4).
   - Walk forward to the next couple (4).
   - Ladies allemande left 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

In A2, if the men pretend that there is a flagpole in their right
hand, they can turn around the flagpole into the star and back out of
the star.

Dances


Waterfall                                            Cary Ravitz  3-08

Becket

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Circle RIGHT 3/4 (8).

A2 - Turn alone to your left to find a new neighbor to allemande left
     1+1/2 (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

B2 - Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

Dances


Wavefront                                           Cary Ravitz   9-02

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Pass through across (4).
   - Neighbors allemande right 3/4 to a wave across with men in the
     middle (4).
   - Balance right and left (4).
   - Slide right with a Rory O'More spin (4).

B1 - Ladies allemande right 1/2 (4).
   - Partners swing (12).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Balance (4).
   - California twirl (4).

The start of A2 could be called pass through across to a wave /
neighbors allemande right 1/2. This orients people better for the
allemande. But it is easier to teach as noted above.

Dances


Wedding Contra for Debbie and John                  Cary Ravitz   5-96

Becket, double progression
Complex

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Star left using a hands across star (8).

A2 - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, ladies pass
     right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Partners gypsy left 1+1/2 (8).
   - Men pass right to start a 1/2 hey across (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Alternate Version, can be medleyed

A1 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Star right using a hands across star (8).

A2 - Ladies keep right hands, pick up your partner, star promenade
     across, and butterfly whirl to face in (men go forward, ladies go
     backward) (8).
   - On the left diagonal, only if there is someone there, men pass
     left to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Partners gypsy 1+1/2 (8).
   - Ladies pass left to start a 1/2 hey across (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Whim's Gym                                          Cary Ravitz   9-02

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors do-si-do (8).
   - Neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Right and left through across (8).
   - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8)

B1 - Partners balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (7).
   - Neighbors pull by by the right (3).
   - Partners pull by by the left (3).
   - Neighbors pull by by the right (3).

Easy B2, makes a good no walk through dance

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Balance (4).
   - California twirl (4).

The B2 in this dance is from Jim's Whim by Rich MacMath.

Dances


Whirl of Fortune                                    Cary Ravitz   4-99

Becket
Complex

A1 - Partners roll away with a half sashay into a butterfly whirl hold
     (4).
   - Butterfly whirl 3/4 (ladies go backward, men go forward) (3).
   - Star promenade across (ladies in the middle) (4).
   - Butterfly whirl 1+1/4 to face in (ladies go backward, men go
     forward) (5).

A2 - Men pass right to start a 1/2 hey, ladies push off in the middle
     to trade roles in the hey (men do a 1/2 hey while ladies do a 1/2
     push off hey) (8).
   - Continue the hey, men push off in the middle to trade roles in
     the hey, ladies finish an ordinary hey (men do a 1/2 push off hey
     while ladies do a 1/2 hey) (8).

B1 - Partners balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (7).
   - Pass through up and down (2).
   - With a new couple circle RIGHT 3/4 (7).

B2 here is taken from Gene Hubert's Reunion.

Dances


Whirlaway                                           Cary Ravitz   5-01

Becket

A1 - Slide left to a new couple (2).
   - Circle left 3/4 (6).
   - Circle right (8).

A2 - With neighbors men roll away with a half sashay into a butterfly
     whirl hold (4).
   - Butterfly whirl 3/4 (ladies go forward, men go backward) so that
     men are in the middle (4).
   - Star promenade across and butterfly whirl to face in (8).

B1 - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).
   - Ladies allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Dances


Whitewater                                          Cary Ravitz   2-97

Becket
Complex

Face your partner, your shadow is beyond your partner.

A1 - Long lines go forward and back and partners roll away with a half
     sashay (8).
   - Men's shadows are in their right hand, ladies' shadows are in
     their left hand, your first neighbor is directly across the set.
   - Long lines go forward and back and shadows roll away with a half
     sashay (8).

A2 - Circle RIGHT 3/4 with your shadow and first neighbor (8).
   - Look away from the circle for a second neighbor to swing (8).

B1 - Circle left 3/4 with your second neighbor and shadow (8).
   - Shadows allemande right 1+1/2 (8).

B2 - Look away from your shadow for your partner to balance and
     swing (16).

This dance has multiple individual progressions. Be alert on the ends.

There are three progressions in this dance. First, men unprogress and
women progress with first neighbors in the middle of A1. Then men and
women progress with a shadow in the middle of A2. And finally, men
progress and women unprogress with second neighbors at the end of B1.
The second neighbor becomes the new first neighbor.

Dances


Wildcats                                            Cary Ravitz   1-05

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners allemande right 1+3/4 to put the men in the middle (8).

B1 - Men allemande left 1 while ladies loop left or allemande left
     with a lady in the next line (6).
   - Partners swing (10).

B2 - Men pass left to start a 3/4 hey, ending at home (12).
   - Neighbors gyspy by the right 1/2 (4).

Dances


Wildflowers                                         Cary Ravitz   7-08

Becket

A1 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors swing (8).

A2 - Men allemande left 1 (6).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your neighbor, star promenade
     across, and butterfly whirl to face in (10).

B1 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B2 - Partners balance and swing (16).

Inverted version, can be medleyed

A1 - Men allemande left 1 (6).
   - Men keep left hands, pick up your partner, star promenade across,
     and butterfly whirl to face in (10).

A2 - Ladies chain across (8).
   - Ladies pass right to start a 1/2 hey (8).

B1 - Look for a NEW neighbor to balance and swing (16).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

This is similar to Heart of Glass but modifies the entry to the star
promenade to relax the timing. The chain / 1/2 hey combination is also
more relaxed than a full hey.

A nice variation for the first version is to remove the pass through
up and down from A1 and make the ladies chain to the left diagonal.
Also see Chicory, Galax, and Trillium.

Dances


Woven Waves                                         Cary Ravitz   5-99

Improper contra

A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16).

A2 - Ladies walk forward to a wavy line in the middle (4).
   - Balance (4).
   - Ladies stay in place while men walk forward to a wavy line in the
     middle (4) (there are now two interlinked but separate wavy
     lines).
   - Balance (4).

B1 - Men drop left hands and ladies drop right hands to form a gypsy
     star.
   - Men go forward and ladies go backward to turn the star 3/4 (8).
   - Partners swing (8).

B2 - Circle left 3/4 and pass through up and down (8).
   - New neighbors do-si-do (8).

I suggest that dancers look into their partner's eyes during the wavy
line balances (rather than looking in the direction of the balance).

In A2, men taking (right) hands below the ladies' hands makes the
eventual transition to a swing easier (a good tip from Jackie Green).

Also see Gypsy Star.

Dances