Kimmswick Fixx

by Marilee Standifer 5/23/97

"Kimmswick Fixx" was written in the car while driving from Madison Wisconsin to St. Louis for the Kimmswick Dance weekend. I stole the feature figure (Circle to the right turn alone and circle left with the next neighbors) from the dance "Mr. Fixx's Assignment" by Erma Lynn Bogue. I called the dance the next evening at Kimmswick, and it met with resounding approval. Enjoy!

A1

• Circle left 3/4x
• Partners Swing on the woman's home side.

A2

• Ladies Alleman Right 1 1/2x
• Neighbors swing

B1

• Hey for four (Start with the women passing right shoulder)

B2

• With your neighbor promenade across the set back to your original side
• Circle to the right 1x
• Turn alone to face new neighbors (see note)

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Terry Meets the Gypsy

by Marilee Standifer and Steven Dast

"Terry Meets the Gypsy" is named for our friend Terry. She was in the car while we were writing the dance, and she was going to her first contradance that evening. When we stopped for refreshment, we decided to walk through the dance with the four people in the car. So Terry's very first contra dance ever was this dance without music in a gravel parking lot. The "gypsy" part should be self-explanatory. It works! Really it does! :) "

A1

• Left shoulder Gypsy for four 1.25x (see below) (8)

Partners gypsy on the side, by the left shoulder 1x (8)

A2

• Hey for four (16)

(Gent 1 and Lady 2 start by passing right in the middle (see note))

B1

• Partners balance and swing (16)

B2

• Circle left 3/4 (8 )
• 2s chase "Gent around two and the lady pass through" (8)
• Ones turn to face new neighbors.

"The left Gypsy for Four in A1 is like left-hand star with no hands. Make eye contact with your neighbor diagonally across the set and gypsy them as you normally would. This works best if everyone scooches in to the middle for a cozy gypsy."

"The dancers tend to get a bit confused about who is supposed to start the hey in the A2. It works out quite well for the number1 man and number2 woman start, but if someone else starts, it all works out in the end."

"After the circle left in B2, Gent 2 faces out while lady 2 faces in. The gent then walks around couple 1 and his partner chases him until she can cut through couple 1."

Buzzard in the Hey

by Marilee Standifer

"Buzzard in the Hey" was written to go with the tune "Buzzards Breath" from the String Beings C.D. The build up to the swing in the A part works really well with the music.

A1

• Neighbors Do-si-do (8)
• Neighbors Alleman right 1x (8)

A2

• Neighbors Swing (16)

B1

• 1/2 Hey for 4 (women start passing right shoulders)(8)
• Men cast around neighbors by left (4) (see note below)
• Men pass right in the middle (4)

B2

• Partners left shoulder gypsy 1x (8)
• Women chain (8)

Gypsies at the Gate

by Marilee Standifer

"Gypsies at the Gate" is dedicated to John Bedigian who didn't let me give up. It was the first dance I ever wrote, and the first time I called it nearly ended both my career as a dance caller and as a dance writer. Thanks to John, I have happily continued both. The title is in reference to The Gates of Heaven Synagogue where we dance on Tuesday nights in Madison.

A1

• Neighbors gypsy and swing (16)

A2

• Women pull by the right (4)
• Partners swing (12)

B1

• Women pull by the Right (4) (see notes below)
• Neighbors alleman left 3/4x (4)

(to end with the women facing in and the men facing out)
• Neighbors See Saw 1x (8)

B2

• Hey for 4 (16) (Start with women passing right shoulders.)

Also in the B1, a See Saw is just a left shoulder Do-si-do. This works quite well in this dance because it oozes nicely into the Hey.

Syncytia Reel

by Marilee Standifer

"Syncytia Reel" (pronounced sin-si-sha) was written during a lab meeting where the speaker was discussing syncytia formation as a determinant of virulance in HIV. At the time I didn't know what "syncytia formation" was so I couldn't follow most of the talk. I ended up writing the dance because I didn't want to be caught falling asleep!

A1

• Neighbors Gypsy 1x (8)
• Women SeeSaw 1.5x while Men orbit 1x clockwise (to the left) (8) (see note below)

A2

• Partners Gypsy and Swing on the Men's original side (16)

B1

• Circle left 3/4x (6)
• Neighbors swing (10)

B2

• Hey for 4 (16) Start with the women passing right shoulders.

Grace in Madtown

by Marilee Standifer

"Grace in Madtown" is named for Grace Church where we dance in Madison Wisconsin. It's a glossary dance with no particularly difficult figures. The transition from the gent's Alamand to the Do-si-do with the new neighbor can be a fun transition for experienced dancers while being straight forward enough for new dancers. When I called this dance at the above mentioned locale, it was a hit! The dancers report that it flows really well, and they liked it much more than expected!

A1

• Neighbors Do-si-do 1.5x to trade places.(8)
• Circle left 3/4x to end on the same side as your partner (on the gent's original side)(8)

A2

• Partners ballance and swing.(16)

B1

• Ladies start a right shouldered hey for four.(16)

B2

• Promenade across the set with your partner(8)
• Gents Allemand left 1.5x (8)