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

Read more…

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

extreme

Comment

Every progression the women move two and the men move one, so assuming you’re not at the end of the major set, you end up in a completely new set of four every time.

Position

improper

Progression

mixed single (for men) and double (for women)

Choreography

A1

16 beats: swing neighbor

A2

8 beats: women cross the set and gypsy partner

8 beats: ½ hey, starting with men passing left shoulders

B1

16 beats: balance and swing person on left (men) or right (women) NB: this is your new partner

B2

8 beats: circle left ¾ and California twirl partner to face new people

8 beats: balance and pull by new person

Read more…

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

This dance can require a lot of upper body strength because of the flying figures.

Position

improper

Progression

single

Choreography

A1

4 beats: balance ring

12 beats: 4 person swing left with hands behind the backs: men lock hands with each other and women lock hands with each other; women fly: men lift their arms once some speed is built up and the women stay in the air; end in opposite place, as if it was a circle left 1½

A2

2 beats: women go forward and form a wavy line in the center

2 beats: #1 women jump, #2 women support

2 beats: #2 women jump, #1 women support

2 beats: women go back

8 beats: men do the same

B1

4 beats: balance ring

12 beats: 4 person swing left, men flying, ending as if it were a 1½ turn

B2

4 beats: balance ring

8 beats: petronella twice

4 beats: California twirl; end facing new neighbors

Read more…

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

Every figure can be done with a spin.

Position

improper

Progression

single

Choreography

A1

8 beats: do-si-do neighbor

8 beats: ½ hey, starting with women passing right shoulders

A2

8 beats: ½ hey, starting with men passing right shoulders

4 beats: petronella

4 beats: spin in place twice (or more)

B1

8 beats: do-si-do partner

8 beats: ½ hey, starting with women passing right shoulders

B2

4 beats: petronella

12 beats: 1½ do-si-do neighbor

Read more…

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

medium

Comment

You have to fight for a swing or the right to start a hey in this dance.

Position

proper

Progression

single

Choreography

A1

4 beats: men rock, paper, scissors; women watch

12 beats: winner balance and swing with partner

A2

6 beats: 1s promenade down

6 beats: 1s promenade up

4 beats: cast around with same gender

B1

4 beats: women rock, paper, scissors; men watch

8 beats: winner and corner start ½ hey, passing right shoulders

4 beats: California twirl partner

B2

8 beats: circle left

8 beats: left hand star

Read more…

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

easy

Comment

lots of four person moves

Position

improper

Progression

single

Choreography

A1

8 beats: right hand star

8 beats: circle right

A2

8 beats: allemande right neighbor

8 beats: women allemande left in center, form wavy lines

B1

4 beats: balance wavy line

4 beats: sides right allemande ½ and form wavy lines

4 beats: balance wavy line

4 beats: sides right allemande ¼

B2

8 beats: circle left

4 beats: right hand balance neighbor

4 beats: right/left through

Read more…

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

Be careful: this dance is written with the sole purpose of making the dancers dizzy.

Position

becket

Progression

single

Choreography

A1

8 beats: balance ring and petronella

8 beats: balance and California twirl neighbor

A2

6 beats: circle left ¾

8 beats: do-si-do neighbor across the set

2 beats: spin in place

B1

8 beats: do-si-do partner

8 beats: swing partner

B2

16 beats: hey on left diagonal, slowly shifting towards each other; start with women passing right shoulders and men sliding left a little for the progression

Read more…