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:

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.

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).

Shoo Fly

Shoo Fly  by Stohl & Rob 1/20/2012
Becket, Duple Minor

A1: Partner Allemande Right into a Swing (16)
A2: Partner Box the Gnat (4) then Swat the Flea (4)
      Star Left 1 time (8)
B1: Balance the Ring (4) Petronella (4)
      Neighbor Swing (8)
B2: Partner Balance across the set (4) Box the Gnat (4)
      Star Right 3/4 and Progress (8)

You're My Biggest Fan

This dance is pretty simple with twirls written to provide a built in flurish into a swing. I think most dancers will realize this but noting it for newbies may help them to learn that moves can lead immediately into the next without a pause. This dance doesn't let anyone sleep.  Everyone is always moving!

You're My Biggest Fan by Stohl & Rob
Improper, Duple Minor

A1: Ladies pull by across by the right and Gent put Right arm around Lady to Butterfly whirl into place. (8)
        Face your Partner on the side of the set and Pass Thru across the set (4)  
        Partner Star Thru (4)
A2:  Partner Balance and Swing (16)
B1:  Gents lead a Full Hey by the Left, on the Second time through the
        Ladies Ricochet to stay with their Neighbor (Ladies end Ricochet to the Right of their Neighbor) (16)
B2 : Face your Neighbor on the side of the set and Pass Thru across the set (4)
       Neighbor Fan Thru (4)*
       Neighbor Swing (8) (Turn to new couple out of the Neighbor Swing)    

*A "Fan Thru" is a "Star Thru" but with opposite hands:  Lady's Right to Gent's Left with the Lady turning under the arch 1/4 clockwise while the Gent walks forward with a 1/4 turn counterclockwise.  I have recently read this to also be called a "Reverse Star Thru"

The Pass Thrus are hands free so that the dancers have the correct hands available to do the Star & Fan Thru.

The "Fan Thru" move keeps the correct hands together with your neighbor to do a flurish right into the 8-count swing.  I couldn't find a name for it so I made up "Fan Thru" because a definition for "star" gave "fan" as an antonym: star = lead in a play, fan = audience member.

Very Touching

I set out to write a dance that included a basket swing and I think this works well.  In walking through the dance by myself I noticed that it seemed as if you were touching someone for almost the entire dance.  All but a brief moment when the basket swing is formed that is, as well as two other possible breaks in contact following the first Star Thru when the couples turn back into the set individually and when the couples progress out of the neighbor swing.  Still... that's why the dance is "Very Touching" and not "Perpetual Contact" though I'm working on that dance!

Very Touching by Stohl & Rob 1/20/12
Improper, Duple Minor

A1: Balance the Ring (4)
      Lady Roll Partner Gent diagonally across set to Her Right {No Sashay}(4)
      Partner Swing (8)
A2: Partner Star Thru and turn back into set individually(4)
      Circle Left 1/2 way (4)
      Gent Roll Partner Lady diagonally across set {No Sashay}(4)
      Partner California Twirl to face previous couple(4)
B1: Basket Swing back to place (16)
B2: Partner Butterfly Whirl to other couple (4)
      Balance the ring {Partner can stay arm and arm around each other for the balance}(4)
      Neighbor Swing (8) progress to new couple out of the swing

Allemande Lande

Allemande Lande  by Stohl & Rob 2/12/12
Reverse Becket, Duple Minor

A1: Ladies Right Allemande 1-1/2 times (8)
      Neighbor Left Allemande 1 1/2 times (8)
A2: Gents Right Allemande 1 time (8)
      Neighbor Swing (8)
B1: Gents Left Allemande 1/2 time (4)
      Partner Swing (12)
B2: On the Left Diagonal Right and Left Thru with a Courtesy Turn. (8)
      Every put Left hands in high for a Left Hand All Allemande 1x(8)
     {Gents fall out and Ladies will keep going when the Dance starts over.}


Vickie Stohl and I were in a bit of a silly mood due to having contra danced the night before, staying awake until nearly 4 AM, and then returning to consciousness a few hours later. Of course the subject of contra dances came up and Vickie mentioned a dance that came to her on one of her epic work-related driving days.  At the time she'd recorded part of it into her phone under the title Allemande Land.

I still don't know how her original dance was intended to go but after hearing the name I jumped up and we just started allemanding until it worked out. I asked Vickie if there were too many allemandes in the dance. Her reply:

"Not if the dance is called 'Allemande Lande'!"

 This was the result of our combined brain power.
(Called this from original format and edited 5/14/12)

Substitute Fisch

Substitute Fisch by Stohl & Rob
Inspired by Substitute Contra by Heniner Fischle
Improper, Duple Minor

A1: Balance the Ring (4)
      Neighbor Swing (12)
A2: Long Line Forward and Back (8)
      Ladies Chain across to Partner (8)
B1: Partner Balance and Swing (16)
B2: Circle Left 3/4 (8)
      *Balance Ring (4)
      Dip and Dive (2's Dive Thru to progress) (8)

*Drop the balance of B2 to make it double progression by 2's dive with current couple then 1's dive with next couple to come to new starting couple.

I was looking around the web at various contra dance sites and I came across a page of dances by Heiner Fischle. A few caught my attention as ones that I'd like to call. For good or bad my brain made me tweak a couple just for the fun of it. I tried it with Substitute Contra because I thought getting in a longer partner swing isn't usually frowned upon. In order to get this I nudged the moves around a bit and I think this works as a nice easy contra. It's probably out there already because the moves are so basic, but for whatever it's worth.

*Called it double progression and dance was well received.