The contra dances on this page are formatted roughly similiar to "Dancing for Busy People" HTML has several limitations that make exact formatting impossible. The book also contains many useful diagrams on various contra formations that are difficult to reproduce. The key to reading the descriptions:
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
1-8 - - - -, All Pass Thru, - U-turn Back
9-16 - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
17-24 - - - -, All Pass Thru & U-turn Back
25-32 - - - -, Top couple Slide Down (Others Arch)
33-40 - - - -, Lady up inside,man up outside
41-48 - - - -, Man down inside,lady down outside
49-56 - - - -, - - Everybody Swing
57-64 - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
The prompts shown below are abbreviated and should be used only after the dancers are completely familiar with the dance.
1-8 - - - -, - - - Cross
9-16 - - - -, - - - Forward
17-24 - - - -, - - - Cross
25-32 - - - -, - - Top Cpcouple down
33-40 - - - -, - - Lady up inside
41-48 - - - -, - - Man down inside
49-56 - - - -, - - - Swing
57-64 - - - -, - - - Forward
Description
1-8 Lines walk Forward & Back.
9-16 Pass Thru the opposite line in 4 steps and U-turn Back in 4 steps
to end standing where opposite line started.
17-24 Both lines walk Forward & Back.
25-32 Pass Thru the opposite line in 4 steps and U-turn Back in 4 steps
to end standing back in the home line.
33-40 The couple nearest the prompter join both hands with the opposite
person and slide (sashay) to the foot of the set. The rest of the couples form
a two hand arch as the active couple passes by to form a long tunnel.
41-48 The lady walks up through the tunnel as the man walks up the outside
of the man's line.
49-56 The man walks down through the tunnel as the lady walks down the
outside of the lady's line. The active couple then step into their home line
at the foot of the set.
57-64 Everybody Swing their partner and then step back into their home
lines.
Note: If you find the active couple cannot go through the tunnel within16 counts, eliminate the final 8-count Swing and wait the 8 extra beats of music before prompting the Forward & Back. The tunnel can also be eliminated, if needed, for dancers with physical limitations.
Prompts
Intro - - - -, With your corner allemande left
1-8 - - - -, Everybody swing your own
9-16 - - - -, Slant left and right and left thru
17-24 - - - -, Straight across right & left thru
25-32 - - - -, Same four two ladies chain
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain back
41-48 - - - -, Same four star Left
49-56 - - - -, - - Star right
57-64 - - - -, With your corner allemande left
Description
1-8 Allemande Left with the corner.
9-16 Swing your partner and finish facing across the set.
17-24 As a couple, face diagonally to the left and Right & Left Thru
with the facing couple. Two couples, one on each end of the set, will have no
couple diagonally to the left. They face across the set and wait in place for
8 beats of music.
25-32 Right & Left Thru with the couple across the set. The two couples
left idle, during the previous move, will change sides of the set during the
Right & Left Thru and have a new home line.
33-40 2 Ladies Chain across the set.
41-48 Chain the ladies back across the set.
49-56 Same four Star Left.
57-64 Same four Star Right back to the home lines.
Prompts
Intro: Top Couple Sashay Down, Bottom Couple Sashay Up
1-8 New top couple Sashay down, New bottom couple Sashay up
9-16 - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
17-24 - - - -, - - Circles & Stars
25-32 - - - -, Reverse the Circles & Stars
33-40 - - - -, All face up & Promenade to the Foot
41-48 - - - -, First couple arch and others duck thru
49-54 Promenade to the head of the set, - - - -
57-64 Top couple sashay down,bottom couple up
Description
1-8 First couple joins hands and sashay or walk to the foot of the
set down the inside while the bottom couple separate and walk or sashay up the
outside to the head of the set.
9-16 The new first couple joins hands and sashay or walk to the foot
of the set down the inside while the new bottom couple separate and walk or
sashay up the outside to the head of the set.
17-24 Everybody Forward & Back.
25-32 The top two couples Circle Left, the middle two couples Star Left
and the bottom two couples Circle Left.
33-40 Everyone reverses direction to Right Hand Circle on the ends and
Star Right in the middle.
41-48 Everyone faces the head of the set, separates and promenades single
file to the foot of the set.
49-64 The first couple forms an arch and the other couples dive thru
the arch and promenade to the head of the set.
Intro - - - -, Actives DoSaDo in the Center
1-8 - - - -, - - Corner Swing
9-16 - - - -, Put her on the right & Half Promenade
17-24 - - - -, Same four Right & Left Thru
25-32 - - - -, - - Left Hand Star
33-40 - - - -, - - Right Hand Star
41-48 - - - -, The men drop Out & the Ladies Chain
49-54 - - - -, - - Chain Back
56-64 - - - -, Actives DoSaDo in the center
Description
1-8 Active couples DoSaDo their partner across the set.
9-16 Swing the lady on the man's left hand side (corner).
17-24 Promenade half across the set with the corner lady, men passing
left shoulders. (The man can just keep his arm around the waist of his partner.)
25-32 Same four Right & Left Thru back to the orginal line.
33-40 Same four Star Left. (It helps if the man holds the lady's left
hand as they blend into the Left Hand Star.)
41-48 Same four Star Right.
49-56 The men stop at home position and the Ladies Chain across the set
to their partners. (The man can add a small left hand roll out in four counts
as the ladies are chaining toward them.)
57-64 Chain the ladies back across the set.
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Face the Corner & DoSaDo
1-8 - - - -, - - Corner Swing
9 -16 - - - -, Put her on your right & Star left
17-24 - - - -, - - Star Right
25-32 - - - -, Men drop out & Two Ladies Chain across
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain back
41-48 - - - -, All Pass Thru & U-turn Back
49-56 - - - -, With the new lady on the right Promenade Half
57-64 - - - -, Face a new corner & DoSaDo
Description
1-8 All DoSaDo the corner
9-16 Swing the corner. Place the lady on the man's right hand side and
face across the set as a couple.
17-24 Star Left with the couple across the set.
25-32 Same four reverse direction and Star Right.
33-40 The men drop out of the Star when they reach their home line. The
two ladies continue to hold hands and 2 Ladies Chain across the set. The man
will Courtesy Turn their partner.
41-48 Same 2 Ladies Chain back to their home line.
49-56 The two facing lines Pass Thru & U-turn Back.
57-64 The man takes the new right hand lady in Couple Promenade position
and Promenade Half back to the home line. (The active couples move down the
set two positions. A new couple becomes active at the head of the set and a
new couple becomes inactive at the foot of the set.)
Note: The first few times through the dance some people may be confused about which person to Promenade Half in counts 57-64. Have the men look to their right and the ladies look to their left.
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
1-8 - - - -, - - Corner DoSaDo
9 -16 - - - -, - Promenade Single File
17-24 - - - -, U-turn Back & return to place
25-32 - - - -, Allemande Left & the Ladies Chain
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain back
41-48 - - - -, All Pass Thru & U-turn Back
49-56 - - - -, With the new lady on the right Promenade Half
57-64 - - - -, Long lines Forward & Back
Description
1-8 The long lines go Forward & Back.
9-16 Face the Corner & DoSaDo. Be sure to finish the DoSaDo facing
the corner.
17-24 Promenade Single File by the corner, passing right shoulders. All
the men, on each side, will Promenade Single File. All the ladies, on each side,
will Promenade Single File.
25-32 All U-turn Back and return Single File back to the corner.
33-40 Do a quick Allemande Left with the corner and then 2 Ladies Chain
across the set. The man will Courtesy Turn his partner.
41-48 Chain the Ladies back across the set.
49-56 The two facing lines Pass Thru and U-turn Back.
57-64 The man takes the new lady on the right in Couple Promenade position
and Promenade Half across back to the home line. (The active couples have moved
down the set two positions. A new couple becomes active at the head of the set
and a new couple becomes inactive at the foot of the set.)
Note: The first few times through the dance some people may be confused about which person to Promenade Half in counts 57-64. Have the men look to their right and the ladies look to their left. Don's original terminology for the action U-Turn Back is Turn Alone.
Prompts
Intro - - - - , Across Two Ladies Chain
1-8 - - - -, - - Ladies DoSaDo
9-16 - - - -, - - Men DoSaDo
17-24 - - - -, Ladies Chain turn a quarter more
25-32 - - - -, Promenade go up & down
33-40 - - Wheel Around, - - Come back
41-48 - - - - , Find those two & Half Promenade
49-56 - - - -, Slant right & Right & Left Thru
57-64 - - - -, Straight across Two Ladies Chain
Description
1-8 Two Ladies Chain across the set.
9-16 Same two ladies DoSaDo.
17-24 Opposite men DoSaDo.
25-32 Two Ladies Chain and the men Courtesy Turn the ladies 1/4 more
to face up or down the floor. The line on the prompter's left will be facing
away and the line on the caller's right witll be facing the prompter.
33-40 Promenade the direction you are facing for six short steps. Wheel
Around as a couple and walk the opposite direction.
41-48 When each couple is across from the original opposite couple in
the foursome the two couples Half Promenade across.
49-56 Each couple faces the couple diagonally to the right and does a
Right & Left Thru. Two couples, one at each end of the set will have no
couple diagonally to their right. They should face across the set and wait in
place for 8 counts.
57-64 All couples face across the set and Chain the Ladies.
Notes Allynn's original dance "Snow Mountain Reel", uses a Hey for Four instead of the ladies & men DoSaDo.
Formation: Contra lines. Couples 1, 4, 7, etc., active & NOT crossed.
(Proper triple)
Record: LS 1008 "Market Lass"
Prompts
Intro Actives Down the Outside (Intro misic is only four beats)
1-8 - - Below two couples, - - Cross Over
9-16 Up the outside pass one Couple, in & Forward six & Back
17-24 - - - -, Right Hand to partners turn 3/4
25-32 - - - -, Forward Six & Back again
33-40 - - - -, Right Hand to partners turn 3/4
41-48 - - - -, With the couple above Right & Left Thru
49-56 - - - -, - - Right & Left Back
57-64 - - - -, Actives down the outside
Description
1-8 The active couples 1,4, 7, etc. walk down the outside of the set
below two inactive couples and step into the center of the set.
9-16 The active couples cross over to opposite side of the set &
proceed up the outside of the set past one couple and step into the long lines.
17-24 Join hands with the couple on either side & walk Forward &
Back.
25-32 Actives turn their partner right hand 3/4 as the inactives face
to join lines of three facing across the hall. The right hand turns should be
done in the old style with the man holding the lady's hand at shoulder level
with his arm bent at the elbow.
33-40 The lines of three move Forward & Back.
41-48 Actives turn partner right 3/4 as the inactives face across the
hall. The actives finish back in their original lines. Men with men & ladies
with ladies.
49-56 Right & Left Thru with the couple above. Since this is a same
sex Right & Left Thru, it is really executed as a Pass Thru followed by
a Wheel Around and not with a Courtesy Turn.
57-64 Right & Left Back.
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Face the corner DoSaDo
1-8 - - - -, The same one Swing
9-16 - - - -, Promenade down in fours
17-24 - - - -, Wheel Around & Promenade up
25-32 - - - -, Bend the line & Circle Left 3/4
33-40 - - - -, With the one you face Swing
41-48 - - - -, Face across & 2 Ladies Chain
49-56 - - - -, Same four Star Left
57-64 - - - -, Face the corner DoSaDo
Description
1-8 All face corners and DoSaDo
9-16 Swing the same corner and finish facing down the set in lines of
four.
17-24 Promenade away from the prompter 6 steps and Wheel Around as a
couple.
25-32 Finish the Wheel Around and Promenade toward the prompter, Bend
the Line and finish facing across the set as a couple.
33-40 Circle Four with the couple across 3/4 around.
41-48 Swing the one you are facing. This is your original partner. Finish
facing across the set with your partner.
49-56 2 Ladies Chain across the set.
57-64 Star Left once around to the next corner position.
Prompts
Intro - - - -, With the one below DoSaDo
1-8 - - - -, - - Same Lady Swing
9-16 - - - -, - - Right & Left Thru across
17-24 - - - -, - - Right & Left Back
25-32 - - - -, - - 2 Ladies Chain
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain Back
41-48 - - - -, - - Star Left
49-56 - - - -, - - Star Right
57-64 - - - -, With the one below DoSaDo
Description
1-8 DoSaDo with the corner
9-16 Swing the same corner and face across the set with the lady on the
man's right.
17-24 Right & Left Thru with the couple across the set.
25-32 Same four Right & Left Thru back to their home line.
33-40 2 Ladies Chain across the set.
41-48 Same 2 Ladies Chain back..
49-56 Same four Star Left.
57-64 Same four Star Right.
