Contra for midnight New Year's Eve
William R. Noack
A Dance in Sicilian Circle Formation
by
William Noack
Created to call just before midnight on New Year's Eve, so that at the end
of a complete cycle, all participants would be holding hands in a circle
facing towards each other in the center, creating a sense of community.
First called December 31, 1991 in Ojai, California, by Susan Michaels.
Later called in L.A.
A1 Swing your Partner. End swing facing the next couple in Sicilian
Circle fashion. (8)
Swing your Opposite. End facing in or out of the large circle
in the hall. (8)
A2 Ladies Chain (8)
Circle once around with this couple. (8)
B1 Shift to the left along the set. (2)
Circle alone with your partner. (4)
Shift to the left along the set. (2)
Circle to the left with a new couple, unwinding the circle of four
into one large circle. (This is the place where mistakes could be
made. Man with his back to the center of the room circles only half way
around, drops hands with his opposite, and shifts to the left, taking the
hand of his previous opposite. Man with his back to the center is the
only man who breaks the circle of four to create the large room circle!)
(8)
B2 Large Circle circles to the left. (8)
Everyone in to the Center with a shout. (4)
Back out from the Center. (4)
(Optional: final call through at midnight on New Year's Eve - kiss
your partner.)
I wrote this dance because I could not find any progressive Contra which
ended in a whole room circle, and the tradition at the Ojai Arts Center
was to be facing the center in a circle so balloons could fall from the
ceiling at midnight.
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In January: no...@west.net