Andromeda's Chains, duple improper
by Connie Carringer
I revised this dance on September 7th, 2013, though I don't remember when I wrote the original. I was hoping to create an easy, but slightly more interesting dance that featured a ladies chain and chain back that would be beginner friendly.
A1: Neighbor Gypsy and Swing
A2: Ladies Chain, Chain Back
B1: Ladies cross the set passing Right shoulders
Partner Gypsy and Swing
B2: Circle Left 3/4
Neighbor DSD 1 1/2 to a New Neighbor
Invisible Lady, becket
by Connie Carringer
I wrote this dance on November 12th, 2013 for the weekly Tuesday night dance in Clemmons, NC just half an hour before the dance and quickly walked it through with George, Mark, myself and an invisible lady to make sure it would work.
A1: Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl
Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl
A2: Partner Balance and Swing
B1: Circle Left 3/4
Neighbor Swing
B2: Ladies Chain*
Circle Left 1/2, Slide Left
*I've decided I really hate this transition from Ladies Chain to Circle left! I'm working on a better solution, but nothing so far - let me know if you have any ideas!
Traveler's Twirls, becket
by Connie Carringer
This dance was written on March 5th, 2013 for a dance at Salem College with the band Black Irish (Rhiannon Giddons, Mike Laffan, and Matt Olwell).
A1: Circle Left 1x*
Gents Gypsy 1 1/2
A2: Neighbor Allemande Left 1 1/2
Ladies Chain
B1: Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl
Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl
B2: Partner Balance and Swing
Slide left along the side of the set to a new neighbor.
*It's really important that the ladies get back to their home side.
Fall Festival Mixer, circle of couples facing the middle
by Connie Carringer
This dance was written for the dance during Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School in October of 2012.
A1: Circle Left, Circle Right
A2: Into the middle forward and back
Partner Do Si Do
B1: Partner pull by Right into grand chain (pull by rights and left 4 times, swing 5th - I use "A, E, I, O, U")
New Partner Swing
B2: Promenade
Livin' it up at the Hotel Charlotte, duple improper
by Connie Carringer
This dance was written on July 14, 2012 (Bastille Day!) at Charlotte Crittenden's house. Charlotte was kind enough to let me stay with her for a whole week while taking a dance music class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Charlotte, also a dance caller, asked if I had any easy dances with a star promenade, which I did not, so I wrote one!
A1: Circle Left 1x
Left Hand Star (ladies drop out at home)
A2: Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2
Star Promenade across the set (scoop up partner, while still in Allemande Left with other gent, ladies cross set with partner)
B1: Ladies Allemande Right 1x
Partner Swing
B2: Circle Left 3/4
Balance the ring, pass through
Beetle in the Bed Sheets, duple improper
by Connie Carringer
This dance was written on April 20, 2012 after a delightful nap was interrupted by a Beetle crawling on my leg, which caused me to roll out of bed rather abruptly.
A1: Balance the ring, ladies roll away with a half sashay (to swap places with Neighbor on the side of the set)
Half Hey (ladies start passing right shoulders)
A2: Neighbor Allemande Left 1 1/2
Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2
B1: Partner Balance and Swing
B2: Circle Left 3/4 (to neighbor's place at beginning of dance)
Balance the Ring, California Twirl
Rabbits of Cheese, Becket
by Connie Carringer
This dance was written in June 2016 during a phase when we had to find an alternate term for our daughter's favorite snack (Cheddar Bunnies) because she would have a snack meltdown if she heard us talk about them.
A1: Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2
1/2 Hey (Ladies start passing Neighbor by Left)
A2: Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1: Long Lines Forward and Back
Left Hand Start 3/4
B2: Gents turn out over right shoulder
Partner Gypsy and Swing
Slide Left (new ladies Allemande Right)
Bubbles in the Sandbox, Becket
This is a variation of the dance above, but with a different B.
A1: Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2
1/2 Hey (Ladies start passing Neighbor by Left)
A2: Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1: Balance the Ring, Ladies Roll away with Neighbor (along the side)
Balance Right, twirl one place to the right
B2: Partner Balance and Swing
Slide Left (new ladies Allemande Right)