Dugan has written a bunch of contra dances. Not all of them are awesome. Most of them are clearly inspired by others’ works. Some are great.
Note:
The role terms are written out as "larks" and "robins" rather than "gents" and "ladies." You can use whatever role terms work for you and your dance communities.
"Right/left shoulder round" is used here as callers traditionally have used "gypsy right/left." You can use whatever terms work for you.
"U-turn" is used to indicate a “right/left shoulder round once and return to __" figure. You can use whatever terms work for you.
Experienced dancers tend to circle left 3 places in only 6 beats; the figure is often notated here as 8 beats anyway.
Please share any feedback you have from calling or dancing any of these dances!
Choreography in Categories
Choreography in Alphabetical Order
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)
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)
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 Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Left Hand Star Once Around to New Neighbor (8)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
This dance was inspired by "Solar Nebula" by Cary Ravitz and Janet Bertog, in which dancers in the raven role are active in the revolving door figure. In the original published version of this dance, the revolving door figure continued from the second half of A1 into the first four beats of A2. I found so many dancers getting the neighbor swing as early at the top of A2 that I updated the choreography in April 2018.
DUPLE IMPROPER
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 New Neighbor Right Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Larks Left Hand Turn .5 (2) - Partner Star Promenade Across (4) - Larks Left Hand Turn .5 (2)
A2 Neighbor Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)
B1 Larks Pass Left - Partner Pass Right - Ravens Push Off (8) / Partner Swing (8)
B2 Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Left Hand Star Once to Face New Neighbor (8)
I wrote this in honor of my friends in Indianapolis. Debuted when I called at Gypsy Moon Ball dance weekend in 2013.
CLOCKWISE BECKET
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 New Ravens Chain Across to Neighbor (8) / Ravens Pass Right to Start Half Hey (8)
A2 Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)
B1 Long Lines Forward & Back (8) / Larks Pull by Left (2) - Partner Pull by Right (2) - Ravens Allemande Left Once (4)
B2 Partner Balance & Swing (16) (New ravens find each other by sliding left with partner on the side)
This dance is essentially a variation of "Wrinkled Ribbon" by Melanie Axel-Lute.
DUPLE IMPROPER
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 Neighbor Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Ravens Pass Right to Start Half Hey (8)
A2 Neighbor Balance and Swing (16)
B1 Give and Take to Raven's Side (8) / Partner Swing (8)
B2 Partner Promenade Across and Shift Right Along the Side (8) / New Couple Circle Right 3 Places (8)
B2 and A1 are taken from "Mad Slice" by Rick Mohr.
DUPLE IMPROPER
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 Ravens Left Hand Allemande Once (5) - Neighbor Swing (11)
A2 Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Pass Right to Start Half Hey (8)
B1 Partner Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)
B2 Circle Left Three Places (6) - Pass Through Up and Down the Set (2) / Mad Robin (Ravens slide right in front of new neighbors) (8)
This dance is essentially a combination of "Fruit Punch" by Diane Silver and "West by Midwest" by Carol Ormand, 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 Circle Left Three Places (6) - Pass Through Up and Down the Set (2) / New Neighbor Do-si-do (8)
Inspired by “Sealed with a Keith” by Cary Ravitz. During long lines at the start of the dance, dancers have a partner in one hand and their shadow in the other. Dancers need to pay attention at the ends to navigate end effects. For the half hey, larks look for the lark who is allemanding the neighbor from the chain in A1.
CLOCKWISE BECKET
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Left Diagonal Ravens Chain to New Neighbor (8)
A2 Circle Right 3 Places (8) / Partner (on the Side in Adjacent Minor Set) Right Shoulder Round 1.5 (8)
B1 Shadow (on the Side in Adjacent Minor Set) Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Larks Across the Set Pass Right to Start Half Hey Across (8)
B2 With Partner (on the Side in Adjacent Minor) Set Balance and Swing (16)
Written for a cat by this name. Also see "Tanner's Night Out."
CLOCKWISE BECKET
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 Long Lines Forward and Back (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 Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)
B2 Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Partner Swing (8)
This dance is a combination of "Passion Breakdown" by Cary Ravitz and "A Swim at the Gym" by me.
DUPLE IMPROPER
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 New Neighbor Right Shoulder Round & Swing (16)
A2 Ravens Pass Right to Start Half Hey (8) / Mad Robin (Ravens slide left in front of neighbor) (8)
B1 Ravens Pass Left (4) - Partner Swing (12)
B2 Circle Left 3 Places (8) / Neighbor Pass Right (Side) - Partner Pass Left (Across) - Neighbor Pass Right (Side) (8)
This dance was inspired by “Panacea” by Frank Buschelmann.
COUNTRT CLOCKWISE BECKET
SINGLE PROGRESSION
A1 Larks Left Hand Allemande 1.5 (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)
A2 Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Ravens Chain to Across Partner (8)
B1 Single File March Right 3 Places in Minor Set (8) / In a New Minor Set March Left 3 Places (8)
B2 Partner Right Shoulder Round and Swing (16)
This dance is terribly similar to "Lost and Found" by Tom Hinds. I find that the end of the walk through is a good spot to notify the dancers that this dance is double progression and that their new neighbors for the circle are straight across - larks can identify the lerk from the last .75 right hand turn in that couple.
COUNTER CLOCKWISE BECKET
DOUBLE PROGRESSION
A1 Circle Left Three Places (8) / Neighbor Swing (8)
A2 Long Lines Forward and Back (8) / Left Diagonal Ravens Chain to a New Neighbor (8)
B1 Larks Forward into the Middle (4) - Long Wavy Line of Larks Balance (4) / Larks Right Hand Turn .5 (2) - Next Larks Left Hand Turn .5 (2) - Next Larks Right Hand Turn .75 (4)
B2 Partner Balance and Swing (16)