Another Swing Into Spring Becket-CW/Int (4/9/2004 Burlington, VT)
A1 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor do si do
A2 Neighbor Balance & Swing
B1 Long lines forward and back
Circle RIGHT three-quarters
B2 Ring Balance
Neighbor roll away across
Partner Swing (face left)
Autumn Leaves Becket-CW/Easy (10/21/2000 Northampton, MA)
A1 Long Lines forward and back
Circle left three-quarters, pass through
A2 Next neighbor do si do and swing
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn as couples, Return
B2 Ring Balance
Gents bring partner home to swing
Berlin Contra Improper/Easy (2/2/2002 Berlin, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2 Long Lines Forward & Back
Ladies do si do once and a half (or alle right)
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Circle Left three-quarters
Ring Balance
Twos Arch, Ones duck (or pass thru)
Big Band Blast Improper/Easy (3/31/2007 Greenfield, MA)
Double Progression
A1 Long Lines forward and back
Neighbor Swing
A2 Circle left three-quarters
Partner do si do
B1 Partner Balance and Swing
B2 Long lines forward and back
Ladies Chain
C1 Hey (ladies center right)
C2 Next neighbor Balance and Swing
Written by request for Big Bandemonium. Lise Brown wanted a 48 bar dance.
Birthday Friends Improper/Easy (1/7/2006 Oak Lawn, RI)
A1 Circle left once
Star left once
A2 (actives in the center) Four in line down the hall, Turn alone, return
B1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B2 Actives Balance and Swing
Written for my friends Nancy and Astrid, for their shared birthday. I wanted a special dance for them, but one that was accessible for non-dancer family members who were in attendance.
Brown University Contra Improper/Easy (2/1/2002 Brown University, Prov, RI)
A1 Actives do si do
Neighbor do si do
A2 Actives Balance and Swing
B1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B2 Promenade over
Right and Left through
For a number of years, the Providence contra dance was held at Brown University. Large numbers of students would attend, sometimes arriving half-way through the evening. I needed dances that were energetic, and accessible.
C & B Reel Improper/Beginner (11/9/2003 Providence, RI)
A1 Circle left
Circle right
A2 Star right
Star left
B1 Partner do si do
Partner swing
B2 Neighbor do si do (or Forward & Back)
2's Arch, 1's duck
Written for the wedding of Charlie and Barbara Seelig. I wanted to have an easy dance, that could be called gender-role free.
Cape Cod Halloween Improper/Int (10/30/1993 Sagamore, MA)
A1 Circle left once
Star left once
A2 Actives down the center, turn as a couple, return and cast off
B1 Contra Corners
B2 Actives Balance and Swing
Cape Cod Stars Improper/Easy (8/27/1994 New Haven, CT)
A1 Neighbor allemande left once and a half
Ladies chain
A2 Star left
Star right
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Long lines forward & back
Ladies chain
Cape Holidays Improper/Int (12/21/2002 Sandwich, MA)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Star right once (women turn)
A2 Neighbor do si do (face P; women in center)
Mad Robin
B1 Actives Balance and Swing
B2 Circle left once
Neighbor Swing
Celebrating 60 Improper/Easy (3/19/2004 Kingston, MA)
A1 (Long lines, ladies face in, gents out) Wave Balance right/left, slide right
Balance left, right, slide left
A2 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 Cirlce left three-quarters
Partner Swing
B2 Ladies allemande right once and a half
Neighbor Allemande left once and about three-quarters
Written for NEFFA's 60th year
Celebrating 70 Improper/Easy (4/27/2014 NEFFA, Mansfield, MA)
A1 Long wave Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More)
Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More)
A2 Neighbor balance and swing
B1 Women allemande Right 1-1/2
Partner swing
B2 Balance the ring and twirl to the right (petronella)
Neighbor allemande Left 1-1/2
Written for NEFFA’s 70th year
Celebrating in Rehoboth Improper/Easy (12/31/2010 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Right and Left over and back
B1 Give & Take to Gent's Side
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Ring Balance
Pass through up and down
Written for New Year's Eve, and to celebrate the marriage of Pat & Ken Fulton
Charismatic Megafauna Becket/Easy-Int (1999)
A1 Give & take Neighbor (gent's side)
A2 Ladies chain
Promenade across, and move one place ccw to face new N's
B1 Ring Balance, Petronella spin
Ring Balance, Petronella spin
B2 Partner B&S
Written for our friends Lucia Watson and Jeff Weiler so they could twirl like crazy in the chain. In 2017, I actually switched the sequences: the dance used to start at the B1. I like this much better!
Clam Chowder Improper/Easy (10/22/1999 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Neighbor do si do
A2 (face partner, women in center first) Mad Robin
Actives Swing
B1 Four in line down the hall
Turn Alone, return
B2 Circle left once
Neighbor swing
I wanted an easy dance to introduce the Mad Robin figure.
Corners in Marstons Mills Improper/Easy-Int (9/10/1993 Marstons Mills, MA)
A1 Four in line down the hall, Actives turn as a couple, ends turn alone
return and cast around with same role
A2 Promenade over
Right and Left back
B1 Contra Corners
B2 Actives Balance and Swing
Dancing with Mike Becket-CW/Easy-Int (5/6/2017 at LCFD camp)
A1 Gent's Give & Take on the Left diagonal (face across to continue)
A2 Promenade across
Mad Robin (ladies start in center, ccw)
B1 Ladies allemande Right once & 1/2
(face P) half hey, starting Left shoulder
B2 Partner Balance & Swing
Written as a tribute to Mike Miller, wonderful dancer and enthusiastic member of the LCFD community and leadership. Mike died in April, and will be missed a great deal.
Dawn Dance 99 Improper/Easy (9/6/1999 Dawn Dance, Brattleboro, VT)
A1 Circle Left 1X
Neighbor swing
A2 Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples)
Return and Bend the line
B1 Men Do-si-do
Women Do-si-do
B2 Actives B & S
The Fabulous Couple /Int (11/15/2008 Rockland, MA)
A1 Pass through to an ocean wave
Balance the wave (look forward to the next wave for shadow, slightly on right)
Shadow do si do (turn around!)
A2 Same wave (but now have partner in your left, and facing the other direction) Balance
Ladies allemande right one half
Balance this wave (and walk forward)
B1 new neighbor gypsy (this neighbor will be a bit to the left) and Swing (face across)
B2 Give and take to the ladies' side
(start dance again with this couple)
Written for the marriage of Chris Ricciotti and John Burrows, and called at their wedding celebration.
This from Bob Golder: "The Fabulous Couple is a useful dance for callers who like to assemble a varied program of dances, without too many shared elements repeated from dance to dance, since it is constructed without any circles, chains, or gents allemandes. Most importantly, it's a very enjoyable dance."
Fly Fisher's Jig Becket-CW/Easy (9/11/1998 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Circle left once
Partner allemande left as much as you will
A2 Hey (any two start! or call for ladies, then gents, etc.)
B1 These same two Balance and Swing in the center
B2 Partner Swing (look on the left diagonal for a new couple)
For Those Who Paired Becket-CW/Adv (3/2/1996 Fiddling Frog Dance Camp, CA)
A1 Circle left once
People below half figure eight above*
A2 These two contra corners
B1 Same Two people allemande right (or gypsy) once and a quarter
Partner Swing (face across)
B2 Ring Balance
Circle left once
Slide left one place
*These two are NOT partners
I was trying for a dance in which non-Partners would do the Contra Corners.
Friendly Sandwich Corners Improper/Int (7/17/1993 Sandwich, MA)
A1 Circle left once
(ones between the twos) Mirror gypsy Neighbor once
A2 Actives down the center, turn as couples, return, cast off
B1 Contra Corners
B2 Actives Balance and Swing
Written for all the friendly dancers in Sandwich, on Cape Cod
Friends Forever Becket-CW/Int (1/4/2010 Concord, MA)
A1 Pass through to an ocean wave and Balance the wave
Women allemande left once and a half
A2 Neighbor star promenade half way and Butterfly whirl
Men start HALF hey (men right center)
B1 NEW (16) Neighbor balance and swing**
B2 Give and Take to Women’s side
**Couples in the women’s line go DOWN to find new neighbors, men's line couples go UP
Written to celebrate my friendship with Frede and Margit Olsen, from Denmark. In August, 2009, they stayed with us after Pinewoods for a few days at Mares Pond on the Cape, and we had a most wonderful time!
Fun with Alex Becket-CW/Int (9/17/2007 Concord, MA)
A1 Long lines forward & back
Circle left three-quarters (Flatten to a wave, women center right)
A2 Balance the wave
Walk forward
New Neighbor swing (face across)
B1 Ring Balance
Partner roll away with a half sashay across the ring
Ring Balance & Petronella twirl
B2 Partner Balance & Swing
Written for my grandson
Giant Robot Dance Becket-CW/Easy (2/14/2009 Dance Flurry, Saratoga Springs, NY)
Double Progression
A1 Circle left three-quarters
Pass through
Next Neighbor do si do
A2 Same Neighbor B & S
B1 Long lines forward and back
NEXT neighbor swing
B2 Give & Take to the Gent’s side
Written for Dance Flurry, 2009 and the Band!
Greenfield Storm Becket-CW/Int (1/28/2008 Concord, MA)
A1 Give and Take Neighbor to gent's side for a swing
(straight across first time, on left diagonal thereafter)
A2 (face straight across; partner is across) Long lines forward and back
Ladies chain
B1 Hey (ladies center right)
B2 Partner Balance and Swing
Written after an enormous storm in western MA.
Gypsy for Amy Improper/Int (8/3/1993 Pinewoods Camp)
A1 Neighbor gypsy and swing
A2 Circle left three-quarters
with partner pass through across (or with N across star through!)
Shadow do si do (or left shoulder gypsy)
B1 Partner Balance and Swing
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Ring Balance, California Twirl
Written for my good buddy, Amy Richardson-Larkin. This is the only dance that I have had published in someone else’s book: Larry Jennings included it in Give & Take.
Gypsy for Chris & Sara Becket-CW/Easy (10/23/1994 Kingston, RI)
A1 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor Swing
A2 Long lines forward and back
Ladies Chain
B1 Gents forward, Wave Balance
Gents back, while Ladies forward And Balance
B2 Ladies allemande left three-quarters
Partner gypsy and swing (face left)
Written for my good friends Sara Kaplow and Chris Spannabel for their 7th Wedding Anniversary dance
Halloween Parade Improper/Easy (10/20/2017)
A1 *Down the hall, four in line (turn alone)
Return and Bend the line
A2 Circle Left 1X & pass thru
(face P) Mad Robin (ladies in center first, cw motion)
B1 Ladies pass L
Partner swing
B2 Gents Give & Take N
*When teaching, have dancers give neighbor a swing and then face down.
Jed's Heartbeat Improper/Easy (4/21/2001 NEFFA Natick, MA)
A1 Circle Balance
Neighbor Swing
A2 Gents Balance, do si do, allemande right once and a half
B1 Partner Balance and Swing
B2 Ring Balance, Petronella twirl
Ring Balance, California twirl
Written for a medley done at NEFFA
Just for NEFFA Becket-CW/Easy-Int (5/6/2000 Chaplin, CT)
A1 Long Lines forward & back
Star Left three-quarters
A2 Next Neighbor Balance & Swing
B1 Ladies chain
Ladies start a half hey (right, center)
B2 Partner Balance & Swing
Larry's Inspiration Contra/Improper/Int (4/24/2004 NEFFA Natick, MA)
A1 Neighbor allemande right once and a half (ladies face out, gents in)
Long Wave Balance
Next neighbor allemande left once
A2 Original Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 Give and Take to gent's side (look a bit to the right!)
B2 Ladies chain
Star left
Manhattan Pattycake Improper/Easy (3/14/2003 LCFD, NYC)
A1 Neighbor Alleamande right
Neighbor Allemande left
A2 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 Give and Take to gent's side
B2 Long Lines forward and back
Ladies Chain
Mansfield Friends Becket-CW/Int (4/27/2007 NEFFA Mansfield, MA)
A1 Pass the ocean, Balance the wave
Ladies allemande left one-half, Balance the wave
A2 Walk forward and do si do and swing this new neighbor (face across)
B1 Ring Balance, Pet Twirl
Ring Balance, Neighbor roll away across
B2 Partner Balance and Swing (or long swing)
Written for the first year NEFFA was held in Mansfield, MA
Mares Pond Improper/Easy (3/14/2000 MIT, Cambridge, MA)
A1 Circle Left once
Neighbor do si do once and a quarter (ladies center left, Neighbor right)
A2 Wave Balance
walk forward
New wave Balance
Allemande right three-quarters
B1 Original Neighbor Balance and swing
B2 Actives Balance and swing
May Flies Improper/Easy (12/29/2005 Greenfield, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Give and take gent's side
B1 Promenade across
Ladies chain
B2 Long lines forward and back
Right and Left through
Midwinter Night’s Dream Improper/Easy (2/10/2001 Mystic, CT)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Give and Take to the Lady's side
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn as couples, return
B2 Ladies Chain
Promenade across`
Midwinter Night's Dream #2 Improper/Easy (2/22/2001, VFW, Cambridge, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing (or do si do and swing)
A2 Give and Take to the Lady's side
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn alone, return
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Star left once
Mystery Dance Improper/Easy (2/17/2001, Sandwich, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Give and take to the Gent's side
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn as couples, Return
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Balance the ring
Twos arch, Ones Duck (or pass thru)
Mystery Dance #2 Improper/Easy (2/17/2001 Sandwich, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Give and take to the Ladies side
B1 Four in line down the hall
Face across, pass through across, face up, return
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Balance the ring
Twos arch, Ones Duck (or pass through)
Mystery Dance #3 Improper/Easy (2/23/2001 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Ring Balance and Neighbor Swing
A2 Give and take to the Lady's side
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn as couples, Return
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Balance the ring
California twirl
Mystery Dance #4 Improper/Easy (3/23/2002 Kittery, ME)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Give and take Ladies side
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn alone, return
B2 Ring Balance, Petronella Twirl
Star left once
Mystic Becket Becket-CW/Easy-Int (12/8/2014 Concord, MA)
A1 Circle left 3/4 Flatten to a wave
Balance, walk forward
A2 Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More)
Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More)
B1 Balance the Wave
N alle R 3/4 (ladies face in) Long wave Balance
Ladies cross the set
B2 Partner balance and swing* (look right a bit)
*Start dance again with the N’s from ROM
NEFFA's Magical Motion Becket-CW/Int (4/20/2001 NEFFA, Natick, MA)
A1 Give & Take Neighbor to Gent's side
A2 Long lines forward and back
Ladies chain
B1 Ring Balance, Petronella twirl and Turn alone!
New Ring Balance, Petronella Twirl
B2 Partner Balance and Swing (start dance again with this couple!)
New Bedford Contra Improper/Easy (6/7/1991 location not recorded)
A1 Circle Left
Circle Right
A2 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 Full Ladies Chain
B2 Actives Balance & Swing
Chances are that I called this at a dance in New Bedford that I ran for about 2 years in the early 1990's
New England Sweethearts Improper/Int (10/9/2004 Concord, MA
A1 Long lines forward and back
Mad Robin (women in the center first)
A2 Ladies cross the set (pass right)
Partner swing
B1 Gents chain
Half hey (gent, center, left)
B2 Neighbor Balance and Swing
I wrote this for Bob's and my 5th wedding anniversary. At the time, choreographers were just introducing the mad robin
New Sweetheart Becket-CW/Int (1/10/2002 VFW Cambridge, MA)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Mad Robin with neighbor (gents into center first)
A2 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor Swing
B1 On right diagonal, ladies chain to shadow*
Star left once across
B2 Partner Balance and Swing
* to find shadow: face partner, pass by, and find shadow
New Year in Woods Hole Improper/Easy (1/1/2011 Woods Hole, MA)
A1 Circle Left once
Neighbor do si do
A2 Neighbor Balance & Swing
B1 Give & Take (lady’s side)
B2 Circle left 3/4
Ring Balance
California Twirl
Nifty Fifty Improper/Easy (12/7/2007 Brown Univ., Providence, RI
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Four in line down the hall, turn alone, return, ends bend in
B1 Actives Balance and Swing (face down)
B2 Circle left once
Balance the Ring
Twos arch, Ones duck (or pass thru)
Northampton Dancing Improper/Easy (11/22/2003 Northampton, MA)
A1 Partner ACROSS Balance, Box the Gnat
Star right once
A2 (gents turn back) Neighbor gypsy and swing
B1 Give and Take to ladies side
B2 Ladies chain
Long lines forward and back
October Colors Improper/Easy-Int (9/26/2013 Concord, MA)
A1 N Do-si-do to long waves (men face out)*
Balance the Wave
Neighbor alle R 3/4 (men center)
A2 Balance the short Wave
Men alle Left 1/2 Pick up P Star prom 1/2
B1 Women gypsy or allemande right once
Partner swing
B2 Circle Left 3/4
Balance the Ring and pass thru
* LOTS of time for the do si do:experienced crowds get antsy,but good for those timing challenged.
The A1 inspired by Philippe’s dance October in the Sun. I changed the other parts to reflect current tastes.
Old Time Elixir #2 Becket-CW/Easy (6/20/1998 Sandwich, MA)
A1 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor Swing
A2 Right and left Through (or promenade)
Ladies Chain (to partner)
B1 Ring Balance, Pet Twirl
Ring Balance, Pet Twirl
B2 Partner Balance and Swing (look of the left diagonal for new cpl)
This dance is a variation of the dance Old Time Elixir by Mike Boerschig, but different enough that I decided to give it a new title. The same dance was written by Dean Snipes, and is called "Tica Tica Timing". I don't have a date for when Dean might have written his.
It is very accessible for new dancers, so I use it often for this purpose.
One for the Ages Proper/Int (12/31/2000 Cotuit, MA)
A1 Actives allemande right once (step back)
Then allemande left once and a half (right to Neighbor)
A2 Wave Balance
Neighbor Swing
B1 Give & Take to the ladies side
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Ring Balance
This dance has a decidedly English/traditional feel.
Osprey Soaring Improper/Easy (10/29/2016 Greenfield, MA)
A1 Ladies to the center, wave Balance
Gents forward as ladies back up and balance
A2 Gents allemande left about once
Pick up partner and star promenade half-way
B1 Ladies do si do once
Partner swing
B2 Circle left 3/4
Neighbor swing
Paloma’s Becket Becket-CW/Easy (8/7/2009 Greenfield, MA)
A1 Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples)
Return and Bend the line
A2 Circle Left 3/4 and pass through along the set
Next neighbor do si do
B1 Same Neighbor balance and swing
B2 Give & Take to gent’s side
Panda Bear Improper/Int (12/30/1999 VFW, Cambridge, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Pass through to an ocean wave
Balance the wave
Ladies allemande left once and a half
B1 Partner Balance and Swing
B2 Ladies chain
Phoebe's Becket Becket-CW/Easy (7/13/2001 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Four in line, turn as couples, return
A2 Circle left three-quarters
Pass through
Do si do the next neighbor
B1 Same neighbor Balance and Swing
B2 Ladies allemande right once and a half
Putney Reel Improper/Easy (11/7/1998 Putney, VT)
A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
A2 Actives Balance and Swing
B1 Actives down the center, turn alone, return, cast off
B2 Promenade across
Right and Left through
Rehoboth Friends Improper/Int (12/12/2003 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Neighbor Balance right and allemande right once
Previous Neighbor Balance by the left, allemande left once
A2 Original Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 Give and Take to the gent's side
B2 Ladies chain
Star left once
Rehoboth's Shining Star Improper/Easy (2006)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Star left once and a quarter
A2 Shadow allemande right once*
Partner swing
B1 Ladies chain
Half Hey (ladies, center, right)
B2 Neighbor Balance and Swing
*To find shadow: Cirle RIGHT one place: shadow next to you in line. Written for Shawn Kendricks, for her tireless devotion to the Rehoboth dance;
Rolling Again Becket-CW/Easy-Int 4/14/2014 Concord, MA)
A1 Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples)
Return and Bend the line
A2 Balance the ring and twirl to the right (petronella)
Neighbor swing
B1 Long lines, forward and back women Roll a NEW N right to left*
Women allemande Right 1-1/2**
B2 Partner balance and swing
The Sailing Son Becket-CCW/Int (11/22/2014 Greenfield, MA) Double Progression
A1 Right and Left through across the set
Left diagonal R & L
A2 Across half hey (women start)
Ladies allemande right once and a half
B1 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B2 Give and take to the women’s side
Serenity & Grace Becket-CW/Easy (5/28/2000 Norwich, VT)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Circle Left three-quarters
Pass through up and down
A2 Next Neighbor Balance & Swing (do si do works better)
B1 Gents allemande left once and a half
(face partner) 1/2 hey
B2 Partner Balance & Swing
Shellie's Gypsy Becket-CW/Easy (3/8/2002 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor do si do once and a quarter into a wave
A2 Wave Balance
Walk forward
New Wave Balance
Ladies allemande left once
B1 Neighbor gypsy and swing
B2 Give and Take (gent's side)
South End Saloon Improper/Int (12/13/2003 Jamaica Plain, MA)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Ladies forward, form a wave
Balance
A2 Partner do si do once and a half
(to change places, but remind the gents they will face the same direction from the long lines)*
Gent's wave Balance
Gents allemande left once
B1 Partner Balance and Swing
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor Swing
*Unusual entry into the wave for both roles. Men need to remember that they will face the same direction as in the long lines (back will be to P. After the dosido, women will have crossed to the other side from their starting side.
Spicy Manhattan Chowder Improper/Easy (4/9/2004 Burlington, VT)
A1 Circle left once
Neighbor do si do (face partner)
A2 Mad Robin
Ones swing
B1 Four in line down the hall, turn alone, Return
B2 Twos Balance and Swing (face up)
Summer in Autumn Improper/Easy (9/25/2010 Greenfield, MA)
A1 Gypsy Neighbor
Neighbor swing (or B & S)
A2 Long lines, forward and back
Ones Half Figure eight up the set
B1 Circle Left 3/4
Partner swing
B2 Women's Chain
Star Left
Susan's Marathon Becket-CW/Easy (5/30/2008 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Long lines forward and back
Pass through to an ocean wave
Balance the Wave
A2 Ladies allemande left once and a half (right to N)
Balance the Wave
Walk forward to new waves
B1 Bal & Swing this new neighbor
B2 Give and Take to Ladles side
Tenth Year in Tommerup Becket-CW/Easy (11/18/2000 Tommerup, Denmark)
A1 Gents allemande left once and a half
Neighbor Swing
A2 Long Lines forward and back
Ladies chain on the left diagonal to shadow*
B1 Ring Balance across, Pet twirl
Ring Balance, Pet Twirl and turn alone
B2 Partner Balance and Swing
*To find shadow: face P, pass by, next in line is shadow.
Written for the anniversary of Ten Years of dancing in Tommerup Denmark.
Thinking of Becky Improper/Easy (1/28/2008 Concord, MA)
A1 Neighbor swing (or do si do and swing)
A2 Gents allemande left once and a half
Partner swing
B1 Long lines forward and back
Right and left through
B2 Ring Balance, Pet Twirl
Ring Balance and Pass through
Thinking of Quinn Improper/Easy 7/8/2013
A1 Long lines, forward and back
Twos gate the Ones down and around
A2 Ones Balance & swing
B1 Circle Left 1X
Neighbor Do-si-do
B2 Neighbor balance and swing
Written for my youngest granddaughter
Tranquility Contra/Becket-CW/Easy (6/17/2000 Sandwich, MA)
A1 Long lines forward & back
Gents allemande left once and a half
A2 Neighbor Balance & Swing
B1 Pass through to an ocean wave
Balance
Walk forward
New Wave Balance
B2 Ladies allemande left one-half (or once and a half)
Partner Swing
Tribute to a Dance Improper/Easy-Int (3/19/2005 Cranston, RI)
A1 Neighbor do si do and swing
A2 Give & take (gent’s side)
B1 Half hey (ladies start R)
Partner Swing again
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Balance the ring
California Twirl
Written for the 10th anniversary of the Cranston Dance.
Trip to Brown University Improper/Easy-Int (8/5/2011 Brown University, Providence, RI)
A1 Women take 4 steps to the center
Center wave Balance, Women back, Men forward and wave balance
A2 Men allemande Left 3/4
Pass (or pull by) N by the right, women cross (pull by) passing left
Partner swing
B1 Circle Left 3/4
Neighbor do si do
B2 N B & S
Trip to Falmouth Becket-CW/Easy (4/7/2000 Worcester, MA)
A1 Circle left three-quarters
This neighbor do si do once and a quarter (form a wave)
A2 Wave Balance, walk forward and new neighbor swing
B1 Long lines forward and back
ladies gypsy once and a half
B2 Partner Balance and Swing
Trip to Mansfield Improper/Easy (4/22/2007 NEFFA Mansfield, MA)
A1 Ladies to the center, Wave Balance
Ladies back up, gents forward
Wave Balance
A2 Gents allemande left once
Partner Swing
B1 Long lines forward and back
Right and left through
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor Swing
Written for the first year that NEFFA moved to Mansfield MA
Trout Rising Improper/Beginner-Easy (11/9/1998 Concord, MA)
A1 Four in line down the hall, turn alone, return
A2 Circle left once
Neighbor do si do
B1 Ladies do si do
Gents do si do
B2 Actives Balance & Swing (face down)
Twenty-five Years of Mischief Improper/Int (3/20/1997 VFW Cambridge, MA)
A1 Neighbor balance and swing
A1 Circle Left 1X
Neighbor do si do
B1 Mad Robin
Ones swing
B2 (Face next neighbors) Mirror image gypsy
Twos swing (start again with these neighbors)
Wedding Wonderland Improper/Int
A1 Neighbor Balance by the right
Two person petronella twirl (gents now back to back in the center, ladies on outside N)
Neighbor Balance by the right
Pull Neighbor by the right
A2 Half hey (ladies center left)
Neighbor Swing
B1 Give and Take to LADIES side
B2 Ladies Chain
Star left
Note: the dancers will get into the hey early here, but the “squishy” nature of this move does not take away from the dance: it just means that the dancers get a longer N swing. I could have made it balance, box the gnat, but I like the original version. So does the couple who got married!
Written for the wedding of Camilla Gallo and Michael Streeter
Winter in Autumn Improper/Easy (11/8/2010 Concord, MA)
A1 Gypsy Neighbor & swing
A2 Long lines, forward and back
Ones Half Figure eight up the set
B1 Balance the ring and twirl to the right (petronella)
Partner swing
B2 Women's Chain
Star Left
Written for a dance in Concord; it snowed for the first time.
The Winter Storm Becket-CW/Int (3/1/2003 Woods Hole, MA)
A1 Circle left three-quarters
Do si do with this neighbor into a wave (women, center by the left, N in your right)
A2 Wave balance
Walk forward to a new neighbor
This new neighbor swing (face across)
B1 Gents allemande left once and a half
(Face partner) Half hey (start Right)
B2 Partner Balance and Swing
Witch's Stars Improper/Easy (11/7/1998 Putney, VT)
A1 Hands across right hand star
Left hands back (gents drop out)
A2 Ladies continue to partner and swing
B1 Long lines forward and back
Ladies chain
B2 Hey (ladies center right)
Women’s Work Improper/Easy (5/22/2009 Rehoboth, MA)
A1 Circle Left 1X
Neighbor swing
A2 Give & Take (Ladies side)
B1 Half Right and left through
Women's Chain
B2 Hey, women passing right shoulders
You Can Get There From Here Improper/Easy (4/10/2005 Natick, MA)
A1 Wave Balance, Slide right
Wave Balance, slide left
A2 Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 Circle left three-quarters
Partner swing
B2 Circle left three-quarters
Flatten to the same beginning wave
Balance and Walk forward to new waves
Written for the role-free medley
Editorial changes since preservation site published:
- 4/5/19 formatting updated
- 10/3/19: Added missing text for "Gypsy for Amy"