Perry Shafran wrote:
Don't you think that this will severely limit the fun squares that you 
can do at a dance? Yes, part of the problem of squares is that they have 
longer walk throughs for a shorter dance, and while I don't have a 
problem with shorter square walk thrus, I would hate to see you limit 
what fun squares you can do just because they require more of a walk 
through or they are not "contra-like".

I write:
Seth, thanks for this idea, it's great.  Perry, the idea is not to limit 
the fun of squares, but figure a way to reintroduce them to grumbling 
contra dancers.  As those "grumbling contra dancers," become more 
familiar with square bearings and figures, one can reintroduce more 
challenging squares.  So, I look at Seth's idea as a transition, not a 
"never do those other squares" idea.

And, I still call the one of first squares I learned to Texas Star.  
It's everyone active, can be done in versions with little walkthrus, up 
to versions that need more of a walk thru.

Men star left, right
    While starring:
Pick up someone (partner, next) with arm-around (star promenade)
  STUFF -- below --
Back out and Swing
Allemande left just one, promenade the one you swung.

STUFF
    Men Back Out with a full turn about : go one-and-half with a full 
turn about
    (Can add to "two-and-a-half", then "three-and-a-half" then 
"eighty-seven and a half...")
    Men in the middle: women "twirl" to the gent behind
       (When I do this, I often, after twice
         have the men twirl, then, the last time:
            men back out 1-1/2 women duck in
            women back out 1-1/2 men duck in
            women twirl to the gent behind
            men back out 1-1/2 women duck in
            men twirl to the woman behind
            men back out 1-1/2 women duck in
            women back out 1-1/2 men duck in
            women twirl to the gent behind
            men back out 1-1/2 women duck in
            men twirl to Swing Partner!)

      Can also do a version I learned from Sandy Bradley:
          After star promenade: all women (or men) go find another star 
in another and latch on -- "all over town Texas Star Mixer)

And I'm sure there's lots of other "stuff" done in the STUFF section, 
though to keep it easy, none is necessary.

~ erik hoffman



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