4 Nov
2025
4 Nov
'25
1:40 p.m.
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers - there
are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares, scatters,
the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other formations. Triplets
work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A part.
Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at home though,
the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up to the very top
to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've workshopped it with a
few other callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up with
a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it out there
into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers and enjoy
taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with this a
bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
24 Nov
24 Nov
11:05 p.m.
Hi All,
Thanks so so so very much for all the ideas on the triplet B part and great
apologies that I'm only writing back now. As I mentioned to someone who
wrote to me directly, I often get the fall blues with the shorter days and
they snuck up to me in early November. I got a bit mired in the muck and
have just been digging myself out. This all being said....
There are some AWESOME ideas for consideration on a B section.
I'm having a house dance party on Sunday where I'll be workshopping a bunch
of new dances so I'll try a few of these and will report back next week.
:) :) :)
Thank you and again, great apologies for my lack of communication.
Emily in Ottawa
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 1:09 PM Michael Barraclough via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Never too proud to shamelessly borrow from others!
TRIPLET FOR EMILY
Longways set for 3 couples, stand where you want as long as you are
opposite your partner and facing up!
A1 Top four circle left, balance the ring and couples swap, middle
couple arching over top couple (who continue down into)
B1 Symmetrical hey, middle couple start between bottom couple
C1 Bottom four circle left, balance the ring and couples swap, bottom
couple arching over middle couple
A2 Partner balance & swing
You could, of course, do this to any tune, but I choreographed it in my
head to Miss Owen's Fancy from Christopher Gerock's "The Union - an elegant
collection of 24 Fashionable Country Dances for the Year 1818". You can
find an excellent recording of the tune on The Warleggan Assembly CD (also
available digitally) by the Warleggan Village Band (
https://warlegganvillageband.bandcamp.com/album/the-warleggan-assembly).
Michael Barraclough
On 04/11/2025 17:23, Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Contra Callers wrote:
B1 Take hands in a ring, top couple (original #2 couple) make an arch, 1s
duck through the arch and separate, pulling couples 3 and 2 under the arch
as they cast back to place
B2 All swing partners in their new place
Jacob
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 9:54 AM Don Veino via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Fairly simple modification keeping the A parts as
is and maintaining the
very even symmetrical feel:
B1: (Threes splitting the Twos above) Mirror Hey for Three
B2: Partner Balance and Swing (end 1s face down, others up)
Any way that hey goes should still work so long as folks return to their
progressed place.
-Don
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 8:41 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
jandnbloom(a)gmail.com
http://jacobbloom.net/
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Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers -
there are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares,
scatters, the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other formations.
Triplets work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A
part. Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at home
though, the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up to the
very top to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've workshopped it
with a few other callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem
intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up
with a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it out
there into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers and enjoy
taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with this
a bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
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4 Nov
4 Nov
6:08 p.m.
Never too proud to shamelessly borrow from others!
TRIPLET FOR EMILY
Longways set for 3 couples, stand where you want as long as you are
opposite your partner and facing up!
A1 Top four circle left, balance the ring and couples swap, middle
couple arching over top couple (who continue down into)
B1 Symmetrical hey, middle couple start between bottom couple
C1 Bottom four circle left, balance the ring and couples swap, bottom
couple arching over middle couple
A2 Partner balance & swing
You could, of course, do this to any tune, but I choreographed it in my
head to Miss Owen's Fancy from Christopher Gerock's "The Union - an
elegant collection of 24 Fashionable Country Dances for the Year 1818".
You can find an excellent recording of the tune on The Warleggan
Assembly CD (also available digitally) by the Warleggan Village Band
(https://warlegganvillageband.bandcamp.com/album/the-warleggan-assembly).
Michael Barraclough
On 04/11/2025 17:23, Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Contra Callers wrote:
B1 Take hands in a ring, top couple (original #2
couple) make an arch,
1s duck through the arch and separate, pulling couples 3 and 2 under
the arch as they cast back to place
B2 All swing partners in their new place
Jacob
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 9:54 AM Don Veino via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Fairly simple modification keeping the A parts as is and
maintaining the very even symmetrical feel:
B1: (Threes splitting the Twos above) Mirror Hey for Three
B2: Partner Balance and Swing (end 1s face down, others up)
Any way that hey goes should still work so long as folks return to
their progressed place.
-Don
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 8:41 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of
you.... I'm wondering if you might be up for a triplet
composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of
dancers - there are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do
a lot of squares, scatters, the occasional very simple contra,
and mix in other formations. Triplets work really well for
this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love
love the A part. Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've
workshopped it at home though, the B part is fairly tricky to
get the actives to move up to the very top to get to that cast
off. (It should work but I've workshopped it with a few other
callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of
coming up with a fun second part to create a new dance? I
thought I'd throw it out there into the universe as I know
some of you are dance composers and enjoy taking aspects of a
particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might
enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played
with this a bit in terms of how many times around etc... it
never seems to settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
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--
jandnbloom(a)gmail.com
http://jacobbloom.net/
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5:25 p.m.
Hi Emily,
Here is an existing dance with the sequence that you like, albeit in the B
rather than the A:
Trip to the Village
Three Couples Longways; Proper
A1: Partner Dosido; Partner Seesaw (left shoulder Dosido)
A2: Top Couple Gallop* Down & Back
B1: Top Four: Circle Left WHILE #3s Two Hand Turn
Balance the Ring #2s Arch; #1s go through the Arch; #2s Move Up WHILE #3s Swing
B2: Bottom Four: Circle Left WHILE #1s Two Hand Turn
Balance the Ring; #3s Arch; #1s go through the Arch; #3s Move Up WHILE #2s Swing
* Or Weave the Lines/stately walk/visit others/piggy back
You don’t have to do the WHILEs.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England <mailto:john@modernjive.com> john(a)modernjive.com
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
<http://www.contrafusion.co.uk> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
5:23 p.m.
B1 Take hands in a ring, top couple (original #2 couple) make an arch, 1s
duck through the arch and separate, pulling couples 3 and 2 under the arch
as they cast back to place
B2 All swing partners in their new place
Jacob
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 9:54 AM Don Veino via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Fairly simple modification keeping the A parts as is
and maintaining the
very even symmetrical feel:
B1: (Threes splitting the Twos above) Mirror Hey for Three
B2: Partner Balance and Swing (end 1s face down, others up)
Any way that hey goes should still work so long as folks return to their
progressed place.
-Don
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 8:41 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
jandnbloom(a)gmail.com
http://jacobbloom.net/
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers -
there are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares,
scatters, the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other formations.
Triplets work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A
part. Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at home
though, the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up to the
very top to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've workshopped it
with a few other callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem
intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up
with a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it out
there into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers and enjoy
taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with this
a bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
_______________________________________________
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2:53 p.m.
Fairly simple modification keeping the A parts as is and maintaining the
very even symmetrical feel:
B1: (Threes splitting the Twos above) Mirror Hey for Three
B2: Partner Balance and Swing (end 1s face down, others up)
Any way that hey goes should still work so long as folks return to their
progressed place.
-Don
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 8:41 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers -
there are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares,
scatters, the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other formations.
Triplets work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A
part. Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at home
though, the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up to the
very top to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've workshopped it
with a few other callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem
intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up
with a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it out
there into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers and enjoy
taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with this a
bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
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2:43 p.m.
Hi Emily,
Here is my quick and dirty suggestion:
B1: Everyone balance Right Hands (C1 with partner across, C2/3 with facing
neighbor) (4); Grand Right and Left all the way around (6 changes, 12 beats)
B2: Partners do-si-do-across the set (8), and all swing or 2 hand turn (8)
end facing up or new top couple facing down, depending on if the dance is
all proper or ones improper.
Since your group has experience with squares, the Grand R/L should be
familiar. Biggest challenge will be for twos who immediately have to
do-so-do after a pull by, but they would already be turning in, threes
would also have to make a course adjustment. I suppose you could simplify
by having everyone do-si-do the one they right hand balanced, and then
2HT/Swing Partners.
On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers -
there are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares,
scatters, the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other formations.
Triplets work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A
part. Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at home
though, the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up to the
very top to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've workshopped it
with a few other callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem
intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up
with a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it out
there into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers and enjoy
taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with this a
bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
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2:21 p.m.
Strip the Willow is a fun figure but not simple at first. Usually
happens in with 4 couples or more. the timing is odd too because when
the actives L hand turn on th side on has further to go than the other.
Often dances like Drops of Brandy, or Orcadian Strip the willow are
danced without specifying strict timing, letting each set take their own
time. Barley Reel
<https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Barley_Reel> is a good dance
to introduce the figure. When I call it for beginners I don't fuss if
there are more than 4couples either let the sets start again when new 1s
think they are ready, or calling the swing as long as needed for the
slowest set.
I think B1 and B2 in Anne's Dream are all one continuous figure and the
turn / swing at the end uses up any music (tell them to leave it out if
no time)
The triplet I like is *Leaving of Liverpool *not sure who wrote it.
*A1 * Lines forward and Back. Gates up (top 2 couples keep hands, middle
couple walks forward, top couple backward in a circle, to end where they
sterted)
*A2 * Lines forward and Back. Gates down (bottom couple moves backwards,
middles forward)
*B1 *All circle L& R
*B2 *Top couple cross,cast 1 place, cross cast to bottom
I ran a small group (too snall) and have called that for 3, 4,2 couple
and 3 people in a line
On 04/11/2025 13:40, Emily Addison via Contra Callers wrote:
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers -
there are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares,
scatters, the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other
formations. Triplets work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A
part. Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at
home though, the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up
to the very top to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've
workshopped it with a few other callers+ experienced dancers and
doesn't seem intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up
with a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it
out there into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers
and enjoy taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with
this a bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to
settle in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
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2:16 p.m.
How about something as simple as:
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: 1s with #3 neighbor, balance and allemande right 1 1/2, 1s with #2
neighbor, balance and allemande left 1 1/2
B2: 1s cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing to their
original side.
I’m tempted by a mirror allemande in B1, which I think would leave
both 1s facing out at the end of the second allemande, but fear that
would be too complicated.
Lisa
Nelson, NH
On 4 Nov 2025, at 8:40, Emily Addison via Contra Callers wrote:
Hi Folks :)
I have what I think is a fun ask/challenge for a few of you.... I'm
wondering if you might be up for a triplet composition brainstorm?
Here's the situation....
One of the series that I call is to a very novice group of dancers -
there
are VERY few contra dancers in the mix. I do a lot of squares,
scatters,
the occasional very simple contra, and mix in other formations.
Triplets
work really well for this group.
I came across the dance below a while back and I love love love the A
part.
Super simple but quite enjoyable. When I've workshopped it at home
though,
the B part is fairly tricky to get the actives to move up to the very
top
to get to that cast off. (It should work but I've workshopped it with
a
few other callers+ experienced dancers and doesn't seem
intuitive/easy)
So... I was wondering if anyone might enjoy the challenge of coming up
with
a fun second part to create a new dance? I thought I'd throw it out
there
into the universe as I know some of you are dance composers and enjoy
taking aspects of a particular dance and playing with it.
Nooooo pressure - just a fun exploration for those who might enjoy.
:)
Emily in Ottawa
====================
Anne's Dream by Katy Heine
Triplet (can be danced no role if one wants)
A1: Top 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 2s arch & 1s thru.
A2: Bottom 4 circle L all the way. Balance. 3s arch & 1s thru.
B1: Couple 1 strips the willow back up to the top (I've played with
this a
bit in terms of how many times around etc... it never seems to settle
in)
B2: 1s cross and cast to bottom. All step up and 2H turn or swing.
_______________________________________________
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12
days inactive
32
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
8 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
Don Veino -
Emily Addison -
Gregory Frock -
Jacob or Nancy Bloom -
john＠modernjive.com -
Lisa Sieverts -
Michael Barraclough -
Mo Waddington