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 Devon Dream
I wrote this Contra for the 50th anniversary of the Sidmouth folk festival in 2004. They asked for submissions of dances and having never written a dance before I thought I had nothing to lose. Contras have been growing in popularity at sidmouth thanks to amzing callers such as John Meachan and Cis Hinkle and bands Fiddling around and Rodney Miller's Airdance and I think it will be an important part of the jigsaw of folk dance is going to continue for another 50 years.
The moves are supposed to be inspired by waves and swirling sea water and it was very important to me to end with a swing since it alway feels slightly odd to end with pretty much anything else.
The name is a riff on the popular contra Devil's Dream and the fact the festival is in Devon.
Devon Dream
Longways Improper contra
A1 1/2 ladies chain up and down the set
3/4 promenade with neighbour to end on sidelines in progressed places
A2 Ladies cross right to start whole reel for 4
B1 Ladies in to make ocean wave down centre of the set, Balance
Ladies stay still, Men in to make woven waves, All balance
B2 All swing, end facing up and down
Comments
My local Folk Club has nicknamed this dance Devon nightmare but I don't think it should prove any real problem for a contra Dancer. The similarity of the name with Devil's dream is starting to feel like a liability since the difference is only relaly noticeable when it is written down.
Since the woven waves figure seems to prevent the sets spreading out, the swing is quite friendly. I don't consider this is a problem since it encourages you to get closer to your partner but I think the dance can be re-written fairly easily to eliminate the squash.
Dreaming of Devon
Longways Becket contra
A1 1/2 ladies chain across the set
1/2 promenade with neighbour to end on sidelines
A2 Ladies cross right to start whole reel for 4
B1 Ladies in to make ocean wave down centre of the set, Balance
Ladies stay still, Men in to make woven waves, All balance
B2 in new fours, gypsy star 3/4 Men going backwards, to progressed places
All swing, end facing up and down
Unphased by Halsway,
We spent a lovely Contra weekend at Halsway Manor (2005 I think) which was enlivened by two power cuts. First the lights in the main dancing dining hall went and then about 6 hours after they were fixed the power in the accomodation and bar went. Different phases apparently.
The dance has lots of nice curvy sinosoidal bits which you could think of as AC current, best not to whilst dancing it as it needs some thought.
Unphased by Halsway
Longways improper contra
A1 Mirror do-si-do on the sides (1s in and down)
Mirror allemande on the side (1s in and down)
A2 1s Mirror allemande with 2s above (1s in and up)
1s cross over and cast left round one person to end in a line in the centre of the set (ladies facing down, men facing up)
B1 1s only - Pass the one you face L, pass the next (your partner) right, gypsy the third L
pass your partner R, and the next L
B2 Swing original neighbour on the sides
Comments
The figure in b1 is basically interlocking reels of 4 which should be very familiar to scottish dancers.
This is slight old fashioned in that the ones do a lot more of the work than the 2s. Also it commits that great sin of contra dances in that it doesn't have a partner swing. Oh well variety is the spice of life and all that!
You can't get Laid at Halsway
I wrote this Contra to include my current favorite move, give and take. When it works well you feel a little resistance from the person you are taking and then they fall into your arms. The name reflects the current change inpolicy at Halsway Manor in Somerset whereby you are no longer allowed to lay the tables for meals due to health and safety concerns. Nothing at all to do with the amount of flirting and pulling this dance includes!
You can't get Laid at Halsway
Longways becket contra
A1 Long lines forward and back
Ladies chain across the set
A2 Square through 2
Gypsy the next Left 1 1/2
B1 With the next neighbour gypsy (R) meltdown
B2 End facing across the set for a give and take (lead in as couples, ladies take their partner home)
Swing on the sides
Comments
This works well but you do spend quite a bit of time away from your partner and original 4 so you need to be awake
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