String of Swings
By Rick Mohr and Bob Isaacs; April 2009
Contra, Duple Improper Caller's Box
Level: Easy/Intermediate
(1's step between 2's) |
|
A1: |
Down the center, four in line (turn alone) (8) Return (8) (face neighbor, 1's back to back in the center) |
A2: |
Hey (neighbors pass left shoulders to start) (16) |
B1: |
Allemande left with neighbor 1 1/2 (8) 2's swing (8) |
B2: |
Swing neighbor (8) 1's swing (8) |
The sequence of swings can be a thrill, especially if dancers end each of them with their back to the person they're going to swing next and then continue momentum to whirl 180° to the right and immediately into the next swing. (The gents in particular need extra encouragement to turn right out of each swing.)
Here's how I do that part of the walk-through: 2's—finish your swing facing each other in the center, with your back to your neighbor. 1's be ready to catch them! 2's whirl right, right into a swing with your neighbor. End that swing facing your neighbor, with the 1's back-to-back in the center. 1's—whirl right, right into a swing with your partner.
The neighbor swing in B2 ends in the middle of the phrase, something I usually avoid because dancers are so used to swinging until the end of the phrase. But this dance has always worked well, maybe because the series of short swings is a clear focus.
Thanks to co-author Bob Isaacs for greatly improving the sequence of surrounding figures for the string of swings.
Video:
Cis Hinkle & Mean Lids at Mountain Madness 2012, Jonesborough TN (posted by David Frantz):