Woosh (2017)

This dance is terribly similar to "Swoosh" by Lynn Ackerson.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor One Right Hand Pull by (2) - Neighbor Two Left Hand Pull by (2) Neighbor Three Left Hand Pull by (2) - Neighbor Four Left Hand Allemande Once (6) - Neighbor Three Right Hand Pull by (2) - Neighbor Two Left Hand Turn .5 (2) 

A2  Long Wave (Neighbor one right hand; neighbor two left hand; larks face in; robins face out) Balance (4) - Larks Cross (4) / Partner Swing (8)

B1  Circle Left Three Places (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)

B2  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Left Hand Star Once to New Neighbor One (8)

Wind in the Trees (2016)

This dance was written in honor of John Amneus, whose partner, Anita Gale, sponsered a dance for him as part of the December 2016 fundraiser for Portland Intown Contra Dance. As I wrote the first "...Wind in the Trees" dance, two more came out to make them a suite of dances. The other two in the suite are "Walking Wind in the Trees" and "Flying Wind in the Trees".

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Long Lines Forward & Back (8) / New Neighbor Swing (8)

A2  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Partner Do-si-do (8)

B1  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

B2  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Neighbor Star Promenade (4) - Neighbor Butterfly Whirl (4)

Whispering Bees (2017)

This dance is terribly similar to "The Bee Whisperer" by John Coffman.  It is also terribly similar to "John's Bees," also written by me.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Right Hand Balance (4) - Neighbor Box the Gnat (4) / Right Hand Star Once (8)

A2  Larks Turn Right to Neighbor Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)

B1  Circle Left Three Places (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2  Robins Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Left Hand Star Once Around to New Neighbor (8)

The Wild Woman from Chicagoland (2016)

This dance is a variation of "The Wild Woman from North Carolina" by Bill Olson that I developed as a tribute to my wife, Dela Murphy.  It is also similar to "Wild Women of Northern Massachusetts" by Ron Blechner.   In all three dances,the circle-rollaway-circle-rollaway figure in A2 is danced as one flowing movement.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

A2  Circle Left Three Places (6) - Larks Rollaway Partner Away While Larks Half Sashay on the Side (2) / Circle Left Two Places (5) - GeLarksnts Rollaway Neighbor Away While Larks Half Sashay Across (3)

B1  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

B2  Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Left Hand Star Once Around to New Neighbor (8)

Walking Wind in the Trees (2016)

This dance was written in honor of John Amneus, whose partner, Anita Gale, sponsored a dance for him as part of the December 2016 fundraiser for Portland Intown Contra Dance. As I wrote the first "...Wind in the Trees" dance, two more came out to make them a suite of dances. The other two in the suite are "Wind in the Trees" and "Flying Wind in the Trees".

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Long Lines Forward & Back (8) / New Neighbor Swing (8)

A2  Circle Left 3 Places (6) - As a Couple with Neighbor Weave Left Past Partner (2) / Weave Right (2) - Shadow Left Hand Turn Once (6)

B1  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

B2  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Neighbor Star Promenade (4) - Neighbor Butterfly Whirl (4)

Tumbler (2017)

This dance is essentially a variation of "Rollin' and Tumblin'" by Cis Hinkle.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

A2 Long Lines Forward and on the Way Back Larks Roll Neighbor Away while Larks Half-Sashay (8) / Long Lines Forward and on the Way Back Ravens Roll Neighbor Away while Ravens Half-Sashay (8)

B1  Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (6) - Pass Through Up/Down (2) / New Neighbor Do-Si-Do (8)

Trip Up the Stairs (2017)

This dance has similarities to "Trip to Lambertville" by Steve Zakon-Anderson as well as "Rock Creek" by David Harris.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Ravens Forward into the Center (4) - Long Wavy Line of Ravens in Center Balance (4) / Ravens Back Up While Larks Dance Forward into the Center (4) - Long Wavy Line of Larks in Center Balance (4)

A2  Larks Left Hand Turn Once (6) - Partner Swing (10)

B1  Right and Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

B2  Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

Tony's Talent (2018)

This dance started as a variation of "Ben's Brilliance" by Tony Parkes and ended up a new composition.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1 Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

A2 Neighbor Promenade Up/Down the Set (Counterclockwise with larks on the inside and ravens on the outside, continuing around the ends of the set) (6) - Turn as Couples (2) / Neighbor Promenade the Other Way Back (8)

B1 Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2 Circle Left Three Places (6) - Pass Through Up and Down the Set (2) / New Neighbor Di-si-do (8)

Tickets to Lakewood (2016)

I wrote this dance as a single-progression alternative to "The Lakewood Six" by Becky Hill.  I don't know which Lakewood Becky had in mind when she wrote her dance, but the title of mine pays homage to Lakewood Theatre in Madison, Maine, which is the oldest summer theatre in the United States in continuous operation.  I originally published this dance with the star in A1, the neighbor swing in A2, the partner swing in B1, and the yearn in B2, which made the dance progress counterclockwise and also seemed to be more confusing for the dancers.  In March 2018, I reordered the choreography and have found the dance to be more intuitive as a result.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1 Left Diagonal Yearn to New Couple and Back up Straight Across (8) / Right & Left Through Across (8)

A2 Hands Across Left Hand Start Once Around (8) / Larks Drop Out and Ravens Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

B1 Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

B2 Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing (8)

Three's Plenty (2020)

This dance is inspired by “Three’s Company by Lisa Greenleaf and Paul Balliet.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

A2  Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Ones Swing in the Middle (8)

B1  Ones and Lark 2 Circle Left Until Lark 2 Faces Partner - Ones Arch and Lark 2 Dives Through (8) / All Partner Swing on Side Across from Neighbors (8)

B2  Circle Left Three Places (8) / Balance the Ring (4) - Partner California Twirl (4)

This One Works, Right? (2017)

I wrote this dance for Lisa Greenleaf as a thank-you for donating toward the December 2016 fundraiser for Portland Intown Contra Dance.  Callers may find it helpful to encourage dancers in the raven's role to lead their partners into the circle while coming out of the courtesy turn in B2.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Balance the Ring (4) - Pass Through Up and Down the Set (2) - New Neighbor Swing (10)

A2  Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

B1  Partner Balance and Swing (16)

B2  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Circle Right Three Places (8)

Thank You for Your Patience (2016)

A combination of "Thanks to the Gene" by Tom Hinds and "Patience" by Chris Page.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Long Lines Forward & Back (8) / New Larks Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

A2  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8)

B2  Ravens Right Shoulder U-Turn (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)

Tanner's Night Out (2017)

Written for a cat by this name.  Also see "Patch's Night Out."

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8)

A2  Ring of Four Balance (4) - Pass the Ocean (4) / Short Wave Across (Ravens left hand in the middle; neighbor right hand) Balance (4) - Dance Forward Up & Down the Set (4)

B1  New Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

B2  Give and Take to Lark's Side (8) / Partner Swing (8)

Tanner & Patch (2017)

Written for two cats by these names.  

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

A2  Short Wave Across (Ravens right hand in the middle; neighbor left hand) Balance (4) - Dance Forward Up & Down the Set (4) / New Neighbor Swing (8)

B1  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

B2  Partner Balance and Swing (16)

A Swim at the Gym (2016)

This dance was born around the same time as "Passion Gym." It's heavily derivative of "Whim's Gym" by Cary Ravitz.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  New Neighbor Right Shoulder Round & Swing (16)

A2  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

B1  Partner Right Shoulder Round & Swing (16)

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Neighbor Pass Right (Side) - Partner Pass Left (Across) - Neighbor Pass Right (Side) (8)

Summer of Ellerbe (2015)

Written in honor of Ellerbe Cole, a pillar of the Maine contra community who died in 2015. This is part of a suite of three dances, the others being "Ellerbe's Ride" and "Ellerbe's 34 Pages." 

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Yearn to New Couple (8) / Ravens Pass Right to Start Half Hey (When larks meet they take right hands and turn half way to give left hand to partner) (8)

A2  Short Wave Across (Larks have right hands in middle; partner left hand) Balance Toward Partner then Away (4) - Slide Left One Place as in Rory O'More (4) / Short Wave Across (Ravens have left hands in middle; partner right hand) Balance Toward Partner then Away (4) - Slide Right as in Rory O'More (Ravens slide one place while larks slide 2 places past each other to cross set) (4)

B1  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Partner Swing (8)

Stop, Drop, & Roll (2012)

This dance started as a variation of "Roll Around" by Cary Ravitz, written so dancers have a different way to find new neighbors.  I found later that it is also very similar to "Marshmallows in Flight" by Rich Goss.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Form a Ring and Balance (4) - Larks Roll Partner Away (Across) while Larks Half-Sashay (4) / Ring Balance (4) - Larks Roll Neighbor Away (Side) while Larks Half-Sashay (4)

A2  Ring Balance (4) / Neighbor Swing (12)

B1  Give & Take to Raven's Side (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Balance Ring (4) - Ones Arch, Twos Dive to Face New Couple (4)

Stir the Punch (2017)

This dance is essentially "Fruit Punch" by Diane Silver with a different way to find new neighbors to swing.  

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Circle Left Three Places (8) / Neighbor Di-Si-So (8)

A2  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Ring of Four Balance (4) - Pass Through to the Ocean Wave (4) / Short Wave Across (Ravens in middle by left hand; neighbor right hand) Balance Right then Left (4) - Neighbor Right Hand Turn Half Way (2) - Larks Left Hand Turn Half Way (2)

B2  Partner Balance & Swing (16) (Slide left to find new couple)

Spring Flurry (2017)

Suspiciously similar to "Spring Snow" by Bill Olson.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  New Couple Left Hand Star Once (8) / Neighbor Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

A2  Ravens Pass Right to Start Half Hey (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)

B1  Give and Take to Lark's Side (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2  Larks Left Hand Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Right Hand Star Once to Find New Neighbors (8)

Sparkler (2017)

This dance is inspired by "Shining Sparkle" by Don Veino.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

A2  Give and Take to Lark's Side (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B1  Circle Left Three Places (8) / Neighbor Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

B2  Long Wavy Lines (Larks facing in; current neighbor in right hand; next neighbor in left hand) Balance Right then Left (4) - Slide Right Past Neighbor as in Rory O'More (4) / Long Wavy Lines (Larks facing in; current neighbor in left hand; previous neighbor in right hand) Balance Left then Right (4) - Slide Left Past Neighbor as in Rory O'More and Turn Away to Next Neighbor (4)