MENDOCINO REEL
longways for 5-8 couples, 32-bar duple meter.


LEA SMITH WRITES
I've been calling "the Mendocino Reel" for years. Written in 2002 by the
group process at Lark Camp by Erik Hoffman and the Contra dance workshop
attendees.
I do not know if this dance has been recorded anywhere, but I use it all
the time and it is always fun. Great for a mostly non-dancer group.


Mendocino Reel
longways for 5 to 8 couples.

A1 Long lines forward and back, top couple cross the set and go down the
outside below 2 (or 3) couples and squeeze in to the line (those couples
move up a bit)

A2 Long lines forward and back, same two people (actives) cross the set
and go down the outside to the bottom.

B1 They meet and sashay up the center to the top, then cast off and all
others follow them. (Peel the Banana)

B2 They (actives) make an arch at the bottom, all others meet their
partner and come up through the arch to reform the lines with a new
couple at the top. (Swing partner if there is time, though there usually
isn't. The B parts rarely stick to the musical phrase, but the lines
forward and back fix all that.)