Quern of the Century

By Rick Mohr; June 2014

Contra, Duple Improper, Reverse-progression Caller's Box

Level: Intermediate

A1:

Balance the ring (4)

California twirl with partner (4)

Swing next neighbor (8)

A2:

Circle left 3/4 (face partner) (7)

Pass through up and down (2)

Dosido shadow (7)

B1:

Balance the ring (with shadow and neighbor) (4)

California twirl with neighbor (4)

Swing partner (8)

B2:

Down the center, four in line (6)

Ladies trade places as gent between them does "right hand high, left-hand low" (3)

Return, bend the line (7)

Surprise swings flow from California twirls, and balances punctuate the tops of the parts.

For a smooth walk-through I start with the neighbor swing (skipping the initial balance and California twirl reverse-progression) so everyone is dancing and progresses in the expected direction. I end the walkthrough with the balance and California twirl (saying "This is actually the beginning of the dance), and start the dance with a long neighbor swing.

In B2, dancers going down the hall should start their turns sooner than usual. Gents between two ladies raise your right arm as the ladies trade places (with the left-hand lady ducking under the arch) and then duck under that arm as all face the music to return up the hall.

For Bill Quern, multi-instrumentalist with a twinkle in his eye, giant heart, and unlimited capacity for playing tunes. ("Quern" sounds like "Kwirn".)

Animation, courtesy of Dance Kaleidescope.

Video: Rick Mohr with Genticorum at the 2015 Flurry Festival, Saratoga Springs NY: