This post was migrated from a collection of contra dances I wrote. The post date is mostly accurate, but the post time is not.

Difficulty

hard

Comment

I wrote this for an English Literature project on Barbara Kingsolver’s novel The Poisonwood Bible. The choreography is meant to resemble a hunt in which Leah Price kills an impala, but Gbenye thinks it was his kill before Nelson proves that Leah had killed the animal.

The active lady is Leah, the active gent is Nelson, the inactive gent is the impala, and the inactive lady is Gbenye.

Position

proper

Progression

single

Choreography

A1

16 beats: active lady and inactive gent gypsy and meltdown into a swing in the center, ending facing down

A2

16 beats: active lady and inactive gent down the center, turn alone, and come back

B1

4 beats: cast around with partner

12 beats: active lady and inactive gent push off in center and return to swing partner

B2

8 beats: ½ ladies’ chain

4 beats: roll the ladies away with a half sashay

4 beats: inactives California twirl