Useful dances
Beginner-level teaching dances, or good finishers, or in some other way just a thing I needed. Since these are often trying to do a thing I as a caller find useful and do it in the simplest way possible, it’s almost certain some of them will have also been written by other people.
Go-to beginner and intermediate dances
The first step beyond
A very gentle introduction to dancing outside your group of 4, with a chain to N. Useful if we’ve just done Simplicity Swing and I’m thinking “What I really want is for the beginners to dance Simplicity Swing again immediately to consolidate”
Becket
A1: Slice L. 𝄋 Chain.
A2: Star L. With next 4, star R.
B1: Go back to N. Balance and swing.
B2: Circle L ¾. P swing.
The B1 balance and swing is nice as the high point of the tune.
Circuit breaker
No-circle no-courtesy-turn. For when I need a break from those moves.
A1: N alm R 1 ¼. Robins alm L 1 ½.
A2: P balance and swing.
B1: Larks alm L 1 ½. N swing.
B2: LLFB. P R-hand balance, square thru.
Safeway slice
Lab-engineered to be a legally distinct dance from Midwest Folklore
Becket
A1: Slice L. 𝄋 Robins alm R 1½.
A2: N balance and swing.
B1: Circle L ¾. P dosido.
B2: P balance and swing.
So incredibly quick to teach, even to beginners, but dancers seem to have a fun time with it. A good second-half opener for a beginner-heavy crowd.
Break glass for Hommage
Midwest Folklore with a lines down the hall B1
Becket, or start walkthrough with N dosido.
A1: Circle L ¾. Pass thru, next N dosido.
A2: N balance and swing.
B1: Lines down the hall. Turn as couples. Come back.
B2: Circle L ¾. P swing.
Simple petronellas
Petronella cast
Introduction for duple minor, for a beginner's session
As: Balance and petronella x4.
B1: N balance and swing, face down.
B2: Lines down, turn alone, come back, 1s cast to face next N and make new rings.
Systolic stomp
A generic petronella As dance
A1: Balance and petronella x2.
A2: N balance and swing.
B1: Larks alm L 1 ½. P swing.
B2: Circle L ¾. Pass thru, N dosido.
To the left
Easy dance with petronella Bs and a slight gimmick
From Becket, identify Ns then shift R so they’re on your L diagonal.
A1: On L diagonal, larks alm L 1 ½ and N swing.
A2: Slice L. Chain.
B1: Balance + petronella. Balance + petronella.
B2: P balance and swing.
Simple mad robins
I found I was avoiding intermediate/advanced mad robin dances in the 2nd half because I didn’t have enough 1st half dances to introduce the figure, so these are some solutions to that.
Redbreast Midwest
Midwest folklore starting with mad robin
Becket
A1: Mad robin (6). Circle L ¾ (8). Pass thru (2).
A2: New N balance and swing.
B1: Circle L ¾. P dosido.
B2: P balance and swing.
Another butter substitute
Whole hey and mad robin
Becket
A1: Mad robin (6). Circle L ¾ (8). P twirl (2).
A2: New N balance and swing.
B1: Hey (larks L).
B2: Larks cross L, P swing.
The obvious assumption for this dance would be flowy tunes, but I generally ask for more notey high-energy tunes with a lift into the B1 hey.
Spurn and return
Rory O’Mores and mad robin and unusual next-N interaction
From improper, alm L this N ½ to waves.
A1: Balance waves R/L. Slide R. Balance waves L/R. Slide L.
A2: Original N balance and swing.
B1: Circle L ¾. P swing.
B2: Mad robin (6). Circle L ¾ (6). Pass this N, alm L the next ½.
The B2 is fast; frame it as a challenge for the dancers to get that satisfying balance at the start of the dance.
Discourteous dances
Sometimes (for example, when lots of inexperienced dancers are wandering in and out of an event) I find it useful to have a good repertoire of dances that don’t have a courtesy turn or any other tricky move in, and ideally start improper. These are some of the dances I'd reach for in that situation but there's better options if you can use courtesy turns.
Parachute (untested)
Sometimes I've wanted a foolproof improper Petronella Bs dance, so this is now in my cards just in case
A1: N balance and swing.
A2: Robins alm R 1 ½. P swing.
B1: Balance and petronella x2.
B2: Balance and petronella, balance and P twirl.
Late night last bus
Half pousettes to swings
Becket
A1: Slice L. 𝄋 Circle L ¾.
A2: P half pousette. N swing.
B1: Slice L, N rollaway. Circle R ¾.
B2: N half pousette round shadows. P swing.
All-Star Swing
Reunion zigzag where the difficult stuff is with N and there's loads of time
A1: N balance and swing
A2: Slice L, N rollaway. Circle R ¾.
B1: Zig R, zag L. P swing.
B2: Circle L ¾. Pass thru, new N dosido.
Written for Blue Mulley's birthday.
The timing on the A2 / B1 is very, very generous. Probably just let a long swing happen, and ask the band not to really emphasise the A2 to B1 transition?