The following dances are by Peter Jorgensen, formerly of Syracuse, NY. Before leaving us, Peter was a fixture in the Syracuse dance community for many years. He is one of the founders the Syracuse contra dance, and was its first caller. Peter was also a founding member of the Bassett Street Hounds, a Syracuse Morris dance team.
If you'd like to see dances by other authors, return to David's Dance Caller's Home Page.
Scollay's Reel
a duple improper contra dance
| A1 |
Actives down the center, 2 by 2, turn alone Return and cast off |
| A2 |
"Wave the ocean" (actives under the arch first) Repeat |
| B1 | Balance and swing neighbor |
| B2 | Actives balance and swing |
A vigorous dance. As in the traditional dance, Haymaker's, active dancers spend approximately 50% of their time swinging. To "wave the ocean" in this dance, all join inside hands with your partner (note that it is not the usual hand: gent's LH with lady's RH) and face the neighbor with whom you just cast off. The second couple makes an arch and goes over the first couple. The first couple then makes an arch and backs over the second couple. Repeat the whole business again before the balance and swing with neighbors. Both the couple making the arch and the couple ducking under should move forward or backward as necessary (i.e., both couples move throughout). The wave movement is also in and out as well as up and down; that is, the figure is smoothest if dancers think about getting close to their partner when going under and separating when going over.
Keith's Banjo
a duple proper contra dance
| A1 |
Actives cast down the outside 1 place and cross the set, passing partner by
the right shoulder Allemande left opposite 3/4 and balance in a wavy line |
| A2 | Hey-for-4 (starts with actives passing right shoulders) |
| B1 | Actives balance and swing (end facing up) |
| B2 |
Same 4, circle L And back to the R |
In A1 the active dancers cast (unassisted) below one place. They cross the set to allemande left with an opposite sex neighbor. Then they hang onto that LH and join RH's with each other to form a wavy line and balance. Actives can assist each other into the hey with a gentle "pull-by" of the right hand. The "Keith" of the title is Keith Hunt, a regular dancer and caller at the Syracuse contra dance and at international dancing. Keith used to bring a banjo to dances which had an electric light bulb installed behind the head.
This page last updated 8-2-05