The Heron has Landed (2017)

This dance is basically a variation of "Little Green Heron" by Joseph Pimentel.  

DUPLE IMPROPER

DOUBLE PROGRESSION

A1  With Partner and Current Neighbor Couple Right Hand Star Once (8) / With Partner and Previous Neighbor Couple Left Hand Star Once (8)

A2  Current Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

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

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (7) - Partners as a Couple Weave Left Past Neighbors (3) - Weave Right Past Couple 2 (3) - Weave Left to Face Neighbor 3 on the Side (3)

Heartbreak Contra (2011)

Written in the tradition of simple dances with a Petronella figure into a balance and swing in the A section, like "Heartbeat Contra" by Don Flaherty. This dance started as a variation of a variation of Don's dance, popularized by a video of George Marshall calling in Tacoma, Washington.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Ring Balance & Slide Right as in Petronella (8) / Ring Balance & Slide Right as in Petronella (8)

A2  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Balance Ring - Pass Through to New Couple (8)

Hanging Out in Portland (2017)

This dance is sort of like "Valerie's Trip to Portland" by Erik Weberg meets "Leave them Hanging" by Luke Donforth.

DUPLE IMPROPER

DOUBLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)

A2  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Pass Right to Start Half Hey Across (8)

B1  Partner Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)

B2  Circle Left 3 Places (7) - Partners as a Couple Weave Left Past Neighbors (3) - Weave Right Past Couple 2 (3) - Weave Left to Face Neighbor 3 on the Side (3)

Flying 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 three dances. The other two in the suite are "Wind in the Trees" and "Walking Wind in the Trees".

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

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

A2  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / As a Couple with Neighbor Weave Left Past Partner - Weave Right Past Shadow 1 - Weave Left to Shadow 2 (8)

B1  Shadow 2 Right Hand Turn Once (6) - Shadow 1 Left Hand Pull by (2) / Partner Swing (8)

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

Flying Back (2020)

This dance is inspired by “Zag it Back” by Jacqui Grennan, which is similar to “Walking Wind in the Trees” by me but probably better. “Flying Back” is a combination of “Zag it Back” and “Flying Wind in the Trees” by me.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Left Diagonal Slice (8) / Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8)

A2  Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

B1 Circle Left 3 Places (8) / As a Couple with Neighbor Weave Left Past Partner - As a Couple with Neighbor Weave Left Past Partner - Weave Right Past Shadow 1 - Weave Left to Shadow 2 (8)

B2  Shadow 2 Right Hand Turn Once (6) - Shadow 1 Left Hand Pull by (2) / Partner Swing (8)

Fewer Bananas (2012)

Started as a variation of "Bananas"  by Becky Hill to include a neighbor swing.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

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

A2  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Left Diagonal Ravens Chain to Shadow (8) / Ravens Pass Right to Start Half Hey (8)

B2  (Turn Away from Shadow) Partner Balance & Swing (16)

Ellerbe's Ride (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 I wrote, the others being "Ellerbe's 34 Pages" and "Summer of Ellerbe." A1 I first encountered in "The Boys from Urbana" by John Coffman, but have since seen in many other dances.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Partners as a Couple Weave Left Past Neighbors (2) - Weave Right (2) - New Larks Left Hand Turn Half Way or so (to give a right hand to the new neighbor) (4)

A2  Short Wave Across (Larks left hands in middle; neighbor right hand) Balance Toward Neighbor then Away (4) - Slide Right as in Rory O'More (4) / Short Wave Across (Ravens right hands in middle; neighbor left hand) Balance Toward Neighbor then Away (4) - Slide Left as in Rory O'More (4)

B1  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

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

Ellerbe's 34 Pages (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 I wrote, the others being "Ellerbe's Ride" and "Summer of Ellerbe."  The configuration of the wavy lines and Rory O'More sliding is intentionally reversed in honor of Ellerbe, who didn't always dance every figure exactly how the caller intended.  Thus, callers may emphasize who is in whose hand and which direction to balance the wave.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Ravens Pass Right to Start Full Hey (Last time larks meet in the middle, catch right hands, turn halfway to give left hand to partner) (16)

A2  Short Wave Across (Larks right hands in middle; partner left hand) Balance (Toward partner: left, then away) (4) - Slide Left One Place as in Rory O'More (4) / Short Wave Across (Ravens left hands in middle; partner right hand) Balance (Toward partner: right, then away) (4) - Slide Right (Ravens slide one place while larks slide two places to pass each other across the set)  as in Rory O'More (4)

B1  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B2  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing and Slide Left to Find New Ravens (8)

Don's Pet Llama (2017)

This dance is terribly similar to "Llama Llama Ding Dong" by Don Flaherty.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Short Wave Across (Ravens left hands in middle; neighbor right hand) Balance Towards Neighbor then Away (4) - Neighbor Right Hand Turn .75 (4) / Long Wave on the Side (Larks face out; neighbor right hand) Balance Towards Neighbor then Back (4) - Ravens Pass Right to Cross (4)

A2  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)

B2  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Left Hand Star Once to Form a Short Wave with a New Couple (8)

Diane's Been There (2017)

This dance is essentially a combination of "Fruit Punch" by Diane Silver and "Haven't Been There Yet" by Katy Heine, hence the title.  

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

A2  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)

B1  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

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

Dela Says Yippee (2017)

Dela, my partner in life, really likes "Beneficial Tradition" by Dan Pearl. She asked me to write a dance that cut the zipper figure (B2 of "Beneficial Tradition")  in half and put it in a more choreographically spacious environment.  As in "Beneficial Tradition," if there's no one there to pull by, turn around and stay put.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Neighbor Left Hand Pull by Across the Set (hopping and shouting recommended on the fourth beat) (4) - New Same-Role Dancer Across the Set Right Hand Pull by Across the Set (hopping and shouting recommended on the fourth beat) (4)

A2  New Ravens (not the one just pulled by) Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Neighbor Swing

B1  Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Partner Di-Si-Do (8)

B2  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

David's Romance (2017/20)

This is a revised version of this dance, originally written in 2017. This dance is inspired by "Country Dance Romance" by David Smukler.  Experienced dancers tend to take less than 8 beats for a mad robin, which might mean that they execute A2 a little ahead of schedule and get to the partner swing a little early and that's fine.  At the end of the walk through I like to point out new neighbors for the mad robin the second time around.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Ravens Front and Right to Start Mad Robin (8)

A2  Partner Half Pousette with Ravens Forward to Start (6) - Larks Pass Left to Start .75 Hey (10) 

B1  Partner Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)

B2  Circle Left Three Places (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)

Dancing in Northampton (2017)

This dance is terribly similar to "Northampton Dancing" by Linda Leslie.  At the end of the walk through, I like to point out to dancers where their new neighbors are so they know to engage them in the star the next time through.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Partner Right Hand Balance (4) and Box the Gnat (4) / Right Hand Star Once

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

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

B2  Right & Left Through Across (8) / Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8)

Cutler Coast (2016)

This is a partner to another dance I wrote called "Bold Coast." The names come from a trail in Downeast Maine that bears both monikers.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Short Wave Across (Ravens left hands in middle; neighbor right hand) Balance Toward Neighbor then Away (4) - Slide Right as in Rory O'More (4) / Short Wave Across (larks right hands in middle; neighbor left hand) Balance Toward Neighbor then Away (4) - Slide Left as in Rory O'More (Ravens slide 2 places past each other across the set to meet partner) (4)

A2  Partner Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Larks Left Hand Allemande Once 1/2 (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)

B2  Ring Balance (4) - Cross Trails: Partner Pass Right (Across) (2) - Neighbor Pass Left (Side) (2) / New Neighbor Do-si-do Once 1/4 (8)

Concentric Rotation (2012)

This is a fun choice for family and community dances. If anybody is left out when the concentric circles break for swings, tell them to go to the middle to find other lost-and-founds.  As with any dance, you can also use other role terms to denote dancers in the raven's role and the lark's role.

CIRCLE - MIXER

RANDOM PROGRESSION

A1  All into Middle & Back (8) / All into Middle & Back (8)

A2 Ravens into Middle & Back (8) / Larks into Middle - Turn, Form Circle with Larks Facing Out (8)

B1  Concentric Circles (Larks' inside circle facing out and ravens' outside circle facing in) Circle Left (16)

B2  Find a New Partner (in front of you in the other circle) to Swing (16)

Change of Heart (2017)

This dance came out of an exploration of reversing the roles in "Heart of Glass" by Cary Ravitz.

CLOCKWISE BECKET

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Ravens Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Ravens Pick Up Neighbor to Star Promenade Across and Butterfly Whirl to Face Across (8)

A2  Larks Pass Left to Start Full Hey (16)

B1  Neighbor Balance and Swing (8)

B2  Give and Take to Raven's Side (8) / Partner Swing - Slide Left to Find New Neighbors (8)

Catch these Turrets (2017)

This dance is something of a simplification of "Abolish Mop Snarl" by Nils Fredland, which itself is a variation of "Banish Moral Slop" by Dan Pearl.  Nils's and Dan's dances are both anagrams for "Spanish Ballroom," the famed dance venue in Glen Echo Park near Washington DC.  Mine is an anagram for "State Street Church," where I help organize a weekly Thursday contra dance in Portland, Maine.  As in a push-off hey, ravens slide left while larks push off in the middle so larks can take their place after the push-off.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Short Wave (Neighbor in right hand; ravens left hand in the middle) Balance (4) - Dance Forward (4) / New Short Wave (Next neighbor in right hand; new ravens left hand in the middle) Balance (4) - This Neighbor Right Hand Turn .75 (4) 

A2  Original Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)

B1  Larks Push Off - Ravens Pass Left (8) / Partner Swing (8)

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

Cary's Campaign (2018)

This dance is essentially a variation of "Judy's Journey" by Cary Ravitz.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1   Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

A2 Circle L 3 Places (8) / Neighbor Right Hand Pull By (Across) - Partner Left Hand Pull By (Side) - Neighbor Right Hand Pull By (Across) (8)

B1  Partner Balance and Swing (16)

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

Callie & David Chase Good Feelings (2015)

I wrote this dance in honor of Callie & David Chase, as a prize for an incredibly difficult word search puzzle my wife, Dela Murphy, created for the July 2015 issue of DownEast Friends of the Folk Arts newsletter. The A section is taken from "A Good Feeling" by Bill Pope. I revised the half-hey a bit after getting feedback from Will Mentor. 

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Neighbor Right Hand Balance & Box the Gnat (8) / Larks Left Hand Allemande 1 1/2 *while* Ravens Orbit Clockwise 1/2 (8)

A2  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Half Hey with Push Off: Larks Push off (to trade places with neighbor on side) - Ravens Pass Left (8) / Partner Swing (8)

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

Bold Coast (2016)

This is a partner to another dance I wrote called "Cutler Coast." The names come from a trail in Downeast Maine that bears both monikers.

DUPLE IMPROPER

SINGLE PROGRESSION

A1  Short Wave Across (Ravens left hands in middle; neighbor right hand) Balance Towards Neighbor then Away (4) - Slide Right as in Rory O'More (4) / Short Wave Across (Larks right hands in middle; neighbor left hand) Balance Towards Neighbor then Away (4) - Slide Left as in Rory O'More (4)

A2  Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)

B1  Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing (8)

B2  Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Ring Balance (4) - Cross Trail: Partner Pass Right (Across) (2) - Neighbor Pass Left (Side) to New Neighbors (2)