This was first danced on 12 March 2024 at Bedford Tuesday Playford. A Playford group was not really an appropriate venue, but having been coerced on the night into calling a few dances to cover for a mix-up in the caller schedule, I took it as an opportunity to try out this dance, admittedly to quite gently paced music!
The 'line twirl around' figure given in bars 3 to 6 of A2 probably can not be labelled a "Dixie Twirl". It is certainly not the standard figure that is used in dances such as "Dixie Twirl Contra" (whose web page has a concise explanation), nor is it covered by the more extended definition given in the Caller's Box glossary. In those descriptions people follow each other under the same arch holding hands. For the figure given below, the two people duck through different arches simultaneously.
Duple minor with 1st couples improper. Folk dance
Any 32 bar reel or jig suitable for a contra dance. A dancer takes two steps to each bar of music.
Here is an appropriate track which is at 112bpm
The tune "March of Saint Timothy" is by Judi Morningstar and is used with her permission. A score is available on The Session.
bars | |
A1 1‑4 | Long lines forward and back, |
5‑8 | 1st couple swing, ending in the centre of a line of four all holding hands and facing down. |
A2 1‑2 | The line (W2 M1 W1 M2) moves down, |
3‑6 | The line twirls around by:
|
7‑8 | Line of four moves up and "bends the line" to make a circle of four. |
B1 1‑8 | Circle left, circle right. |
B2 1‑4 | 1st couple half figure of 8 up through 2nd couple, |
5‑8 | 2nd couple half figure of 8 down through 1st couple. |