St Louis Region Dance Choreographies

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St Louis Dance Writers

One of the pleasant surprises of our Calling Parties is that several members of the St. Louis dance community began to write dances, many of which are really good! Along the way, we've researched some earlier dances written by St Louis dance writers, and, when they've give permission, we've included them here.


The Dances

Here is a Word Doc with most of the dances ready to be printed on 4X6 cards. And here are the dances:

Easier than Pie by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper

A1 1&2. Neighbor balance & swing
A2 3. Down the hall, turn alone
    4. Come on back
B1 5.Circle left,
    6. Ladies dosido
B2 7. Gents dosido
    8. Balance the circle, pass through to new neighbor

Flip a Coin by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper

A1 1&2. Neighbor bal & swing
A2 3. Circle left 3 places,
    4. Partner dosido
B1 5&6. Partner bal & swing
B2 7. Ladies chain
    8. Balance the circle, (4)
    w/ neighbor clap right hands once (1),
    left hands once (1), both hands once (1),
    then flip around to face new neighbor (1).

(Author’s note: Suggested call for last 5 beats of B2 is “neighbor, right, left, both, reverse”, called on the beat rather than ahead of time.

Got Nice Neighbors by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper Beckett (cw)

A1 1. Down the hall, turn as couple
    2. Come on back
A2 3. Circle left 3 places,
    4. neighbor swing
B1 5. Long lines,
    6. new neighbor swing
B2 7. Ladies allemande right 1½
    8. Partner swing

(Author’s note: You may wish to start the walkthrough with the partner swing in B2)

The Millwheel by Billy Boyer (2008)Contra Improper Beckett (cw)

A1 1. Circle left
    2. Ladies* allemande R 1½
A2 3&4. Neighbor bal & swing
B1 5. Circle left
    6. Ladies* dosido 1½
B2 7&8.Partner bal & swing, (4, 8) Slide left(4)

(*Author’s note: For added interest try changing the dance by having the gents do the allemande in A1 and the dosido in B1, instead of the ladies.)

Mountain Ridge by Billy Boyer (2008) contra improper

A1 1&2. Neighbor Balance and swing
A2 3. Circle left 3 places
    4. Partner swing
B1 5. Long lines forward and back
    6. Ones make a ridge*, everyone pass through across,
    California twirl (w/ partner)
B2 7. Balance the circle, spin right (petronella twirl)
    8. Balance the circle, California twirl (to face new neighbor)

*ridge = “Ones” keep hands in long lines and raise arms to make arches. “Twos” drop hands. Everyone walks across the set, passing neighbor by the right, so that each “two” has a separate arch to duck under)

Palindrome by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper Becket

A1 1. Circle Left 3 places
    2. Neighbor Swing
A2 3. 1/2 hey (gents pass left shoulders.)
    4. Neighbor gypsy
B1 5. 1/2 hey (gents pass left shoulders.)
    6. Neighbor Swing
B2 7. Circle left 3 places
    8. Partner swing* as you slide left

*(or two hand turn)
Author’s note: The order of moves in this dance is the same backwards as it forwards. The partner swing while sliding left may be tricky for some)

Wandering Gypsies by Billy Boyer (2008)
Scatter mixer, 1 couple facing 1 couple
A1 Neighbor gypsy and swing
A2 Partner gypsy and swing
B1 Circle left, Neighbor allemande right *
B2 That neighbor promenade; this is your new partner
Find another couple and wait for the call

*or dosido, or arm right

The Castigated Neighbor - by Bob Green (2008) English Proper

A1 1. Ones cast below the twos, twos move up
    2. Two's gate the ones
A2 3. Twos cast below the ones, ones move up
    4. Ones gate the twos
B1 5&6. Double figure of 8 (Ones cast, two cross to start)
B2 7&8 Ones two-hand turn half way (4)
    Cast below the twos (4)
    Ones two-hand turn once and a half around to place (8)

Author’s Note: in B1, if the dancers are not highly experienced, substitute set-and-turn single for the 2s, then for the 1s, for the double figure of eight.

Gypsy Camp by Bob Green (2006) duple PROPER

A1 1. Ones gypsy your partner,
2. Swing your first corner
A2 3. Ones gypsy your partner
    4. Swing your second corner
B1. 5.&6 Ones gypsy and swing
B2 7. Down the hall four in line (ones between the twos)
Ones turn as a couple, twos turn alone
    8. Come back, twos cast the ones down to progressed place

Ionia Break out by Bob Green (2009) - duple improper

A1 Neighbor gypsy (8)
     Ladies start a hey halfway (8)

A2 Neighbor balance & swing (16)

B1 Pass thru & California twirl (8)
     Twos do-si-do across the set (8)

B2 Long lines fwd & back (8)
     Ones swing, end facing down (8)

Part I - The original Jefferson & Liberty traditional duple PROPER

A1 1. Circle left 1X
    2. Circle Right 1X
A2 3. Hands-across star by the right
     4. Hands-across star by the left
B1 5. Ones down the middle and turn alone, twos move up
    6. Ones back up the middle, twos gate the ones
B2 7&8. Four changes of rights and lefts

Part II - Jefferson's Remorse by Bob Green (2008) duple improper

A1 1. Circle left 1X
    2. Circle Right 1X
A2 3. Hands-across star by the right
    4. Hands-across star by the left
B1 5.Ones down the middle and turn alone, twos move up
    6.Ones back up the middle, twos gate the ones
B2 7&8. Ones swing in the middle, end facing down

Part III - Jefferson Gone Wild by Bob Green (2008) English improper
(all the men in the ladies’ line, and all the ladies in the men’s line)

A1 1. Balance the ring, roll away with a half-sashay (gents roll the ladies)
    2. Circle left 1X
A2 3. Hands-across star by the right
    4. Hands-across star by the left
B1 5. Ones go down the middle and turn alone, twos move up
    6. Ones come back up the middle, twos gate the ones
B2 7&8. Ones balance and swing, twos cross & face up; ones end their swing facing down

Mage Up A Creek by Bob Green (2008) Square Formation

A1 Gents to the center, back to the bar, partner balance & box the gnat
A2 Ladies to the center & back to the bar, balance and box the gnat
B1 Gents in the center circle left, neighbor swing
B2 Ladies to the ceter, partner swing at home

A1 w/partner left allemande halfway, back by the right, balance & box the gnat
A2 w/partner left allemande halfway, back by the right, balance & box the gnat
B1 Gents weave half way, ladies to the center and back
B2 Gents finish the weave, ladies to the center and back

A1 w/ partner arm by the right, balance & box the gnat
A2 w/ partner arm by the left, balance & box the gnat
B1 Gents swing your corner, swing your opposite
B2 Swing your neighbor, swing your partner

Wagon Wheel by Bob Green (1996)    Becket

A1 1.Circle left
    2. Star by the left
A2 3. Gents allemande right 1½
    4. Neighbor swing
B1 5. Ladies allemande by the right 1½
    6. Partner swing
B2 7. Star by the right
    8. Circle left half way, slide left to new neighbor

XYZ by Bob Green (2008) Contra Improper

A1 1. Ladies Allemande by the Right 1½
    2. Partner Swing
A2 3. Ladies Chain
    4. Long Lines, Forward and Back
B1 5. Partner pull by L (3), face back in (1), pull by R, same
    6. Pull by L, same, pull by R, same
B2 7. (Reverse) Pull by R, face back in, pull by L, same
    8. Pull by R, same; pull by L (to back where you started the zipper)

Note: You’re never out on the ends. You’ll be in the zipper. If there’s no one to pull by with, stay put!

Back on the Interstate by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper

A1 1. Circle Left
    2. 1’s arch, 2’s go under around neighbor & back to place
A2 3&4. Circle Balance, Neighbor’s balance & swing
B1 5. Ladies Allemande R 1½
    6. Partner swing
B2 7. Long Lines
    8. Circle Left 3 places & pass thru

Author's Notes: Based on Exit 33 but this one has a partner swing!.

Blue Persuasion by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper

A1 1. Ladies RH Balance & pull by
    2. Gypsy shadow (the next man down the line from your partner)
A2 3&4. Partners Balance and Swing
B1 5. Lines Forward and Back
    6. Circle L 3/4
B2 7&8. (4) Partners take left hand and turn 3/4, ending in single line along set (men in middle, ladies on the outside.)
    (8) Men turn by the right hand 1½; outside two continue
    (4) Partners turn by the left 3/4 into progressed place

Chrystal Saylor by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) English Proper

A1 1. 1’s half figure of eight own around their 2’s
    2. 1’s lead up(around 2’s above you) & cast back to place
A2 3. 2’s lead up around your own 1’s & cast back to place
    4. All RH turn
B1 5. Corners back to back (corners are currently in your neighbors’ position)
    6. Corners two-hand turn
B2 7. Partner’s back to back
    8. 1’s cross & cast while the 2’s do a two-hand turn moving up to progressed positions

Exit 33 by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper

A1 1. Circle L
    2. 1’s arch, 2’s go under, around neighbor & back to place
A2 3&4. Circle Balance, Neighbor’s balance & swing
B1 5. Down the Hall & turn as a couple
    6. Come back & face across
B2 7. Ladies Chain over
    8. Ladies Chain back

Author's Note: Downside to this dance is the lack of a partner swing.

Just Another Whim by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper

A1 1.Neighbors Do-Si-Do
    2. Neighbors Swing
A2 3. Ladies R Allemande 1½
    4. Partner Swing
B1 5. Ladies Chain
    6. Long Lines
B2 7&8. Balance & Square thru

Author's Notes: The last last pull by on the square thru is the progression. Dancers pull by and keep moving to their next neighbor.

Wednesday’s Whim (Inspired by Griffith’s Whim) English proper
By Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008)

A1 1. 1’s RH turn ½ way & set
    2. 1’s lead down & cast back to place (1’s are improper)
A2 3. 2’s RH turn ½ way & set
    4. 2’s lead up & cast back to place (All are improper)
B1 5. Neighbors fall back a double, Come forward setting
    6. RH star ½ way, turn single Left
B2 7&8. 4 changes of Rights & Lefts

Fly Around, My Pretty Little Miss by Dale Wilson (2008)
Contra Improper
A1: 1. Star left one time around (hands across star)
       2. Men drop left hands and make a big turn out to the right, meanwhile Ladies continue the star 'til you get to your partner.  
           Partner allemande right all the way. (all this in 8 counts!)
A2: 3&4. Ladies start a hey with left shoulders in the center
B1: 5. Gypsy your partner
      6. Swing your partner
B2: 7. Right and Left through, courtesy turn (3/4) to the star
      8. Star right (Ladies first, Men fall in behind), 3 places

Last B2: R&L through, swing your partner

Huru’s Reel  by Joe Felsen (2009)          Duple  Improper

A1   Long lines forward (4)
       On the way back , Gents roll the Ladies away with a half sashay (4)                
       Promenade with your neighbor across the set (8)
A2   Ladies chain across (8)
       Ladies do-si-do once, back to your partner. (8)
B1   Gypsy and swing your partner. (16)
B2   Gents allemande left, once and a half. (8)
       Swing your neighbor. (8) End that swing to open out in long lines.

Proctor’s Reel by Joe Felsen     (2008) Duple Improper

A1  1&2. Neighbor balance and swing.
A2  3&4. Gents start a full hey by the left. (Gypsy hey.)
B1  5&6. Gents pass by the left; Gypsy by the right and swing your partner
B2  7. Right and left through across the set
      8. Circle left three places and Pass through       

First Star Improper by Ted Steele - Duple Improper

A1: Balance & Swing neighbor
A2: Circle-L, Circle-R
B1: Ladies chain, over & back
B2: LH-Star, RH-Star

An easy dance, but no partner swing.

Second Star Improper By Ted Steele - Duple Improper

A1 Balance & Swing neighbor
A2 Ladies Chain
     Swing partner
B1 Long Lines Forward and Back
     Right and Left Thru & Roll-away Partner
B2 Right Hand Star ¾
     Left Hand Star

Written after “First Star” to add a partner swing

Heat Wave by Ted Steele - Becket

A1 Right-hand Star
     Allemande Right Partner 1 ¼ to wavy line of four (men in ctr.)
A2 Balance Forward and Back, Men pull-by
     Swing Neighbor
B1 Ladies chain ½
     Promenade across
B2 Balance & swing partner
    Slide Left

 

John Birch Reel by Ted Steele - Becket

A1 Right Diagonal Right and Left Thru
     Circle-Right ¾
A2 Allemande Right Neighbor
    Right-hand Star 1¼ (5 places)
B1 Hey for Four (Ladies pass Right shoulders)
B2 Balance & Swing Partner

Comments: All moves are to the Right. (The John Birch Society was a radical right-wing political movement in the 1960-70s.)


Hey your Corner By Ted Steele -Square (H-S-H-S)

Head couples Forward and Back; Side couples Forward and Back
Head couples Right and Left Thru & roll-away with ½-sashay
Head couples Forward & Swing Opposite (face the sides)
Hey-for-Four (pass corner by Right-shoulder)
Box the Gnat with your corner & Pull-by
Swing partner & Promenade Home

Based on “A Delicate Operation” by Sue Elbenger

Click here for the dances printable on 4x6 cards.