Alan's tiny set dances
FOWL PLAY
Dance for three people in a circle
Lark Camp 2017

Tune possibilities: Dover Pier (super legible), Shandy Hall (really fun)

Appoint a number 1 to start.

A1: 1-2: Tight circle left
    3-4: Turn single left (finish wide)
    5-8: Into the center and back

A2: 1-8: As above, to the right

B1: 1-8: #1 cuts through the others to start a left-shulder hey for three.

B2: 1-2: #1 and first hey partner arm left
    3-4: #1 turns single to face other hey partner
    5-6: On the other end, right arm turn
    7-8: #1 turn single, ready to start

Next person is #1

About six times.

Named by Michelle Levy.


LARK DUO Two-person dance, 32-bar tune, 4x Symmetrical Sprigs of Laurel works really well Figures are: USSA (eg, shoulder siding AND swirl siding) A1: 1-4: up a double and back / rsh side / lsh swirl side / arm R 5-8: set and turn single A2: 1-4: down a double and back / lsh side / rsh swirl side / arm l 5-8: set and turn single B1: 1-2: RH turn halfway (changing sides) 3-4: L turn single 5-6: LH turn halfway (back to own side) 7-8: R turn single, face partner B2: 1-4: Partners back to back 5-8: Partners two-hand turn.
LARK TRIO Three people abreast facing up Tune: Bare Necessities Lark Camp, 2016 A1: 1-2: Lead up 3-4: Fall back 5-6: Middle person raises right hand; ends swap with left-hand end going under the arch. (Right hand high, left hand low) 7-8: All facing down, set right and left in waltz time A2: 1-2: Lead down 3-4: Fall back 5-6: Right hand high, left hand low 7-8: Fold into a ring with middle facing up B1: 1-2: Balance the ring (forward and back) 3-4: Ends face down and switch hands, balance f&b in a wavy line 5-6: Those holding right hands, turn right hands halfway 7-8: new middle and other end, left hand turn half (putting left hand end in the middle) B2: 1-8: New new middle and new right hand end pass right shoulder to start expansive hey for three; all face up in line for next round.
LARK'S HEALTH Trio, three people in circle/triangle, #1 is closest to band "Jack's Health / Bolt the Door" about 90bpm. Lark Camp, 2016 vetted at Woodshed September 2016 1 2 3 (The As are sort of a canon - 1 2 and 3 do the same sequence starting two bars apart, and do as much as fits before the end of the strain.) A1: 1-4 #1 sets and turns single into 5-8 orbit 3-6 #2 sets and turns single into 7-8 orbit (following 1) 5-8 #3 sets and turns single (along line of circle) A2: 1-8: Same thing left shoulder, so they finish in original order. B1: 1-4: Into the center and back (no hands) 5-8: #1 and #2 RH turn 1.5 B2: 1-4: Into the center and back (no hands) 5-8: #1 and #3 LH turn 1.5 #2 is now #1, #3 is #2, #1 ia #3. TEACHING POINTS 1 and 2 will be swapped at the end of A1 and back in order at end of A2. Those hand turns are ONE AND A HALF!
MIDNIGHT AMBLE Lark 2016 Trio; three people in largish no-hands ring "Midnight Ramble" or "Hop Ground" Six times through is plenty #1 is at top (closest to band). Number clockwise. A1: 1-2: Set forward R&L 3-4: Turn single R back to place 5-8: Right-hand star, letting go after six steps and retreating to sideline and closing feet. A2: 1-2: Set forward L&R 3-4: Turn single L back to palce 5-8: Left-hand star. B1: #1, solo figure 8 between the others. (Doesn't matter which one first, but if you care, go left first.) B2: 1: With hands in a ring, balance in 2: and out to the left ( like "Come Let's Be merry", but in duple time) 3-4: And that again, having traveled 2/3 of the way around the ring 5-8: Circle L and settle with old #3 in first place.
SELLENGER'S WHEEL Alan Winston, 11/16/2003 cut-down version of Sellenger's Round for 3-7 people, no partners needed. Formation: circle of people facing in Tune in Barnes, 5x. I: A: Slipping circle (*really* slipping) left and back to the right. B: Chorus (same each time). Set forward right and left fall back straight still facing in, set right and left turn single Repeat II: A: Lead into the center and back Repeat B: As above III: A: right hand star (contra style wrist grip keeps you from having a mess) left hands back B: As above IV: A: Basket left and _keep going_, not back to the right. B: As above (Finish with slipping circle again, but if you're repeating don't do slipping circle twice in a row - it's lame).
PROMENADE FOUR Two couples facing, improper, up and down. duple-meter 32 bar music Alan Winston, 9.10.2016 (Came up with at Civil War Dance when I had only two couples left.) Beginner-ish. A1: forward to meet the other couple and retire 1s cast down, 2s lead up, face other couple again (now indecent) A2: Repeat with the 2s casting down. B1: Ladies chain up and down the set B2: From courtesy turn with partner continue into a promenade and wheel to face the other couple from new places, improper. If time, swing partner.
TRIPLICATE By Peggy Roe 32-bar tune (eg, Corelli's maggot) three-person dance Transcribed from Youtube Three people arranged vertically; originally the middle and top are first corner, middle and bottom are second corner. A1: first corners set and turn single; right shoulder around (all the way), middle faces second corner A2: second corners as above. B1: First corners start left shoulder whole hey for three. B2: First corners left hand turn all the way around Second corner turn left halfway
KJ's Birthday Waltz Source: Composed by John Sweeney, Karen Sweeney & Lani Graham Formation: Three Dancers in a Circle A1 Chevron CW x3 (#1 work out who #2 is - on your right) (6) Shoot the Owl: #2 & #3 Arch - everyone dance forwards, #1 curving to the right (2) A2 All: Turn Single Right (2) - #1 goes 1 & 1/4 and flows into a CW Orbit Allemande Orbit x3 (6): #2 & #3 Allemande Left while #1 Orbits CW #1 & #2 Allemande Right while #3 Orbits AC - #1 passes #3 then #1 & #3 Allemande Left while #2 Orbits CW - #1 offers Right to Right with #2 to finish in a Wave B1 Wave: Balance F/B (2) Twirl to a Line of Three (2): Ends change hands, bringing their spare hand under #1's hand and raising it to twirl under it - you turn towards each other, following the hand that you are raising Line of Three: Balance F/B (2) Wrap & Touch (2): Keep hold in a line of three, Ends roll in to wrap themselves inside #1s arms and place the palms of their free hands together on the last beat of the music B2 Ends Unwrap to a Line of Three (2); Balance F/B (2) #1: Right Hand High, Left Hand Low (2): #3 dances through the arch followed by #1 while #2 dances around the outside #1: Left Hand High, Right Hand Low (2): #2 dances through the arch followed by #1 while #3 dances around the outside - finish in a Circle Music: 32 bar waltz. I use ECDB's track "Waltzes; Green Valley, Louis Beaudoin's, White Rose" from the album TAK, available at ecdb.bandcamp.com. John Sweeney's notes Notes: I had some ideas for a new three-person dance, so while Karen and I were staying with Lani Graham in Colorado, we worked on the ideas and together came up with this dance. We practiced it in Lani's kitchen and finished refining it on KJ's birthday (KJ is my nickname for Karen). Chevron: Balance the Ring, going in and out diagonally so that you move one space to the left. During the Chevrons, decide who is the new #1 (normally the old #2) and that person works out who is their #2, the person on their right. Remember them; in the Allemande Orbits #1s first Allemande is right hand to their right hand person (#2). Emphasise that the Turn Single is at the start of the next music; don't rush it. AC means anti-clockwise, known by some people at counter-clockwise. When you "Wrap" make sure you keep your spare hand above your other arm. The orientation of the lines and the facing of the active dancer are undefined - dance whichever way you are facing and make it flow. Throughout the dance, each #1 can make everything flow more smoothly if they lead many of the moves with their fingertips. But this takes a lot longer to learn and the details of lead and follow are not included here. The dance is written above with the individual dancers each taking their own initiative to make the dance work.