Tuesday, March 27, 2012

That's Not Your Goose

Final installment in the Goose series:


That's Not Your Goose by Stohl & Rob
Becket, Duple Improper

A1: Partner Balance & Swing (16)
A2: Partners Cross Trails (8)
      See-Saw the one you meet 1 time then back to Partner (8)
B1: Gents Cross (4)
       Neighbor Swing (12)

B2: Balance the Circle (4) and Gents Partner Roll away with a 1/2 Sashay across the set (4)
       All march Clockwise 3/4 & Progress up the side (8)


*B2 Notes: Maybe I think too much when writing dances but this dance seems to tell a story.  Sure you start the dance with your partner but that Gent seems to spend an awful lot of time with other Ladies (sure the Lady does too but that's her prerogative).  Then the Gent "ditches" the Lady in B1 to swing the Neighbor Lady.  So in B2 the Lady is back to her Gent and then marches after in admonishment.  The whole dance seems to imitate the geese that run around where I live.


A convoluted and complex idea for B2 that's probably too strange and fits the "indecent" progression:
      Ladies cross the set by the Right (4)
      In your current set Everyone March 1 place Clockwise (2)
      Gents look Left to new set, with new set Everyone March 1 place Counterclockwise (2)
      Star Left 1/2 way (4) Partner Swat the Flea (4)






Where's Your Goose?

Another variation on the cross trails and goose theme:

Where's Your Goose? by Stohl & Rob
Improper, Duple Minor

*A1:  Partner Cross Trails (8)
       Left Shoulder Gypsy your Shadow 3/4 then back to Partner (8)
A2: Partner Right Shoulder Gypsy & Swing (16)
B1: Long Lines Forward, Gent steal the Neighbor Lady (8)
      Neighbor Swing (8)
*B2: Neighbors Cross Trails to a new set (8)
      Ladies Chain with the new Lady to your Partner for a Courtesy Turn (8)

*Progression is Improper, start the dance with sets rotated one space to the left though or start improper line up and chain the lady across the set and tell them the music starts from there.

Your Goose is Cooked

I was told by a good dancer that they "liked" this dance and I overheard a not-so new dancer commenting to a beginner that it was more challenging, and it made you think.  It may need at least a medium level for complexity.  Then again, it could just be my lack of calling experience that led to any confusion (I wouldn't put it past me).

Your Goose is Cooked by Stohl & Rob
Indecent (Improper but with the Lady on the Left), Duple Minor

*A1: Partners Pass Thru across the set and Swing (16)
A2: Partners Cross Trails (8)
      Right Shoulder Gypsy your Shadow 3/4 and walk forward to your partner (and your set) (8)
B1: Circle Left 3/4 (8)
      Neighbor Swing (8)
*B2: Neighbors Pass Thru and Turn away from Neighbor to new set (8)
      Star Left 3/4 (8)

* Progression happens at the beginning of B2.  So either start the walk through with the "Star LEFT" or rotate the sets 1 space to the left so that partners are on the same side of the set with the lady on the LEFT.

When I called this dance it was later suggested that the Gypsy with the shadow felt too much like it needed to go into a swing.  I had originally wrote it "Gypsy 1-time" and that's how I called it so I think that "3/4" is better so that folks break the eye contact in time to return to their partner.  Turning over the shoulder in B2 works best if the Ladies turn right and then Gents turn left.  Perhaps a push off with the neighbor might get people going the right direction.

I read Geesetown Crossing by Heiner Fischle in which a cross trails occurred.  I decided to experiment with the move.  My efforts produced a dance that didn't work.  But a little more work spawned three that are viable and the goose theme stuck.

This first dance is non-stop movement:

Monday, March 26, 2012

Bob's Boogied


I read Bob's Boogie by Barb Kirchner and liked part of the dance but wanted the balances to happen at a different timing.  At first I tried to rotate the moves around to change the balances but unlike subbing an allemande for a do-si-do too many moves needed to be changed to get the progression to work.  Ultimately a dance that is similar but different and a name fitting it so that it is similar but different enough.

Bob's Boogied by Stohl & Rob
Becket, Duple Minor

A1: Balance the Ocean Wave (4)*
      Partner Right Allemande 1/2 way (4)
      Balance the Ocean Wave (4)
      Partner Right Allemande 3/4 ((4)
A2: Shadow Left Allemande 1 time (8)
       Partner Do-Si-Do 1 time (8)
B1: Partner Balance and Swing (16)
B2: Ladies lead by the Right a Right Diagonal Half-Hey (8)
       Ladies Left Allemande 1-1/2 times while Gents Orbits Clockwise 1/2 way (8)

*Dance is Becket but it starts with the Ocean Wave format so the balances happen when I wanted them too.  The Ladies are in the center holding Left Hands and Right Hands with their Partner.  Instructions should probably start with the second half of B2 to get the dancers lined up then teach from there.

It's All in the Eyes

This dance was written to give ample opportunity for couples to stare deeply into each other's eyes as well as someone else's (just enough to torment your partner).

It's All in the Eyes by Stohl & Rob
Becket, Duple Minor

A1: Balance the Ring (4)
      Partner Pass Thru across set to form a Gypsy Star (4)
      Gypsy Star Clockwise 1 time (Lady walking backwards) (8)
A2: Partner Balance and Swing (16)
B1:  Ladies Pass Right to Cross the set to your Neighbor (2)
       Neighbor Gypsy Right (6)
       Neighbor Swing (8)
B2:  Ladies Chain to Partner with a Courtesy Turn (8)
       Lady lead by the Right a Right Diagonal Half-Hey (8)

I called this dance once and it was approved by the dancers.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Goin' Steady

Caution: Dance only has one swing, but at least it's with your Partner!


Goin' Steady by Stohl & Rob 12/19/11
Improper, Duple Minor

A1: Long Lines Forward, Gent take the Lady back (8)
      Couple Do-si-do in your current set of four (8)
A2: Partner Balance & Swing (16)
B1: Ladies Chain with Courtesy Turn (8)
      Gents lead a Mad Robin (8)
B2: Balance and Square Thru your set x2  (to progress)(16)

Roll Away


A simple dance that might just help Gents learn to let the Lady "roll" them as it gives both the "roller" and "rollee" feeling.

Roll Away by Stohl & Rob 12/09/11
Becket, Duple Minor
A1: Gents lead Half-hey by the Left Ladies Ricochet (8)
      Neighbor Swing (8)
A2: Ladies Chain with a Courtsey Turn (8)
      Ladies Right Allemande 1 time (8)
B1: Partner Balance and Swing (16)
B2: Circle Left half-way and Balance Circle (8)
      Gent Roll the Lady, Lady Roll the Gent (to progress) (8)*

*Note: Rolls do not include Sashays (that's an extra charge).