Colin's Carnival Ride
By Rick Mohr; January 2008
Contra, Duple Improper
Level: Intermediate

A1: Half hey (men pass left shoulders to start) (6)
    Allemande right with neighbor 1 1/2 (8)
    Men pull across by the left (2)

A2: Balance and swing partner (16)
B1: Circle left 7/8 (leaving men at the sides and women in the center) (8)
    Women allemande right 3/4 (4)
    (Join left hands with neighbor to form a wave of four)
    Balance the wave (4)

B2: Allemande left with neighbor 3/4 (4)
    Swing next neighbor (12)

Rick writes:
A  good all-moving dance with some nice moments, like the just-in-time balance
and swing in A2 and the uncommon swing progression in B2.

This dance is particularly great if the band knows a tune with a balance at the
end of the B1. Many rags (such as Beaumont Rag) have a "stop" in just the right
place, as does Bowin' the Strings (recorded by Rodney Miller and Airdance on
"Flying On Home").

Technically this dance doesn't start in the normal "improper" formation, but
don't tell the dancers. Begin the first walk-through with a neighbor swing;
then when you're ready to start the dance leave everyone next to the neighbor
they've just swung rather than backing up to original places.

For Colin Davidson of Georgetown Ontario; commissioned by his wife Sandy
Cameron in a Pinewoods auction.