Paper Plate #8: Ring of Fire
Longways, Becket (09/2008, Wendy Graham)
A Johnny Cash tribute inspired by Hannah Naiman to honor the ring of four.
Suggested tune: Ring of Fire/I Walk The Line (medleyed)
A1: Balance the Ring of Fire, Petronella Twirl to the right (1 place)
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Balance the Ring, Pass Through up and down the set (to new neighbors)
A2: Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl to the right (1 place)
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Balance the Ring, Pass Through across the set
B1: Single file promenade, clock-wise, once around (gent “chases” partner)
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Partner Swing (end facing down the hall, in the line of 4)
B2: Walk the line down the hall (turn as a couple), return
The Big Day in Big Indian
Longways, Improper (08/25/07, Wendy Graham)
For Gary and Amy from my heart
A1: 1’s Right-shoulder gypsy (8)
But, neighbor swing (8) [end facing down the hall, line of four]*
A2: Down the hall, turn as a couple, come back (8) [bend the line to a ring]
B1: Balance the ring (4)
Give and take (4) [Gents take partner to his side]
Partner swing (8)
B2: Ladies Chain [½ way] (8)
Circle Left (8)
*A1 borrowed from Tom Hinds "The Tease"
Watch the dance online now on youtube. Click here.
Sledding "Over the Hill"
Longways, Becket (04/2005, Wendy Graham)
In honor of Adley Gartenstein's 40th Birthday
A1: Right hands-across star (all the way around) (8)
Ladies chain to neighbor (8)
A2: Neighbor left shoulder gypsy (8)
Ladies chain back to partner (8)
B1: Partner salsa or cha-cha in place (16)*
B2: Circle left (8)
Slide left to progress (4), Balance the Star (4)
*Ok to substitute balance and swing
A straight-forward dance with smooth transitions that incorporates latin social dance.
The first ladies chain flows into the left-shouldered gypsy when neighbors turn to face towards each other up and down the line after the courtesy turn.
The second ladies chain flows into the interaction when partners turn to face towards each other up and down the line after the courtesy turn.
To help dancers remember the "balance the star" after the progression, I suggest that it is a nice way to "shake hands and say hello" to the new neighbors they will be dancing with next.
Mrs. Saxton’s Magic Carpet Ride
Improper, Contra (2/28/2011, Wendy Graham)
Commissioned by Chuck Saxton in honor of his mother in a silent auction for Stellar Days and Nights youth scholarship fund. Premiered at the Mar 13, 2010 Denver Zesty contra dance (Chuck’s birthday).
< Start the dance lesson with a neighbor swing, end facing up the hall in line of four with gent’s neighbor on his right>
A1: (16) Dance up the hall (4 in line), turn as a couple, return (bend the line in)
A2: (4) Ladies right-hand pull by
(12) Partner right-shoulder gypsy meltdown to a swing
B1: (6) Circle left ¾
(6) Zig-Zag to progress (left 4 steps, right 2 steps)
(4) Circle right ½ with new neighbors
B2: (4) Dip n Dive (1’s arch, 2’s dive under)
(4) California twirl to face these new neighbors
(8) New neighbor swing [end facing up in a line of four, gent’s neighbor on the right]
Dance notes:
- The “up the hall” represents the school bus with seats on each side and an aisle in-between
- It’s ok if the ladies want to pull by at the end of the A1 (instead of the beginning of A2) for a longer gypsy–swing meltdown
- The zig-zag gives the floating magic carpet ride feeling
Carla's Stellar Day
Longways, Improper (6/5/2011, Wendy Graham)
Commissioned by Michael Saunders to benefit the Stellar Days and Night scholarship fund and as a gift to Carla on her birthday.
A1: Balance a right-hand star (4)
Ladies trade with a right-hand allemande 1/2 (4) while gents push off and turn single over left shoulder (counter clock-wise)
Neighbor left-hand balance (4) and swat the Flea (4)
A2: Neighbor pull by across the set (4), partner swing on the side (12)
B1: Hey (ladies pass right to start) (16)
B2: Ladies chain over (8), left-hand star once around to progress (8)
Carla's Stellar Night
Longways, Improper (6/5/2011, Wendy Graham)
Commissioned by Michael Saunders to benefit the Stellar Days and Night scholarship fund and as a gift to Carla on her birthday.
A1: Right-hand star once around (8)
Balance the star (4)
Ladies trade with a right-hand allemande 1/2 (4) while gents push off and turn single over left shoulder (counter clock-wise)
A2: Neighbor swat the flea (4) and pull by across the set (4), partner swing on the side (8)
B1: Hey (ladies pass right to start) (16)
B2: Ladies chain over (8), left-hand star once around to progress (8)
Augusta Heritage Reel
Longways, Improper (8/13/2011)
Tune: Elkins
Written by Hilton Baxter, Pamela Moe, Susannah Gal, and Walter Daves in a dance writing workshop led by Wendy Graham at Augusta Dance Week 2011.
A1: "Arch and Under"* once (8)
Neighbor swing (8)
A2: Gents left-hand pull by across the set (4)
Partner swing (12)
B1: Ladies walk forward to balance long wavy lines to the right and left (8)
Ladies allemande left to face partner, about three-quarters around (4), partner gypsy (4)B2: Gents walk forward to balance long wavy lines to the right and left (8)
Gents do si do once and a half to trade places and progress
*Couples move forward, 1's arching over 2's. Without turning around, couples step backward to place, 2's arching over 1's. Also known as "sow the wheat, mow the clover"
The dance was inspired by the tune "Elkins," written during a tune-writing class in Elkins, WV, at the 2007 Augusta Heritage Festival led by Larry Unger and Eden MacAdam-Somer. Their band, Notorious, later recorded it on the album by the same name, "Elkins." The liner notes state: "Larry came up with the first few notes and Charlotte Cobos, Mark Goldstein, Patti Goldstein, and Jim Stahler all contributed ideas while Eden tied them all together." The figures honor West Virginia's geographic properties, especially the mountains, tunnels, and rivers, as well as the southern traditional dance culture.
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