Missouri Dance Writers
One of the pleasant surprises of our Calling Parties is that several members of the greater St. Louis dance community began to write dances, many of which are really good! Along the way, we've researched some earlier dances written by St Louis dance writers, and dances written by other Missouri dancers. The project turned into two books called MO DANCES, two sets of calling cards, and DVDs and CDs, which you can purchase at dances or by contacting Bob Green at bobgreen @ swbell.net.
Bob has also been working on a Dance Video Archive which now has over 300 videos on it, and counting. The dance video archives have garnered over 25,000 views online - and callers from around the country have let us know how much they appreciate this resource!
- Judy Bass - Click here to see Judy's dance.
- Billy Boyer - Click here to see more of Billy's dances.
- Chrystal Gallacci Jones - Click here to see more of Chrystal's dances.
- Bob Green - Click here to see more of Bob's dances.
- Dale Wilson
- Jim Hemphill - Click here to see more of Jim's dances.
- Joe Felsen
- Ted Steele - Click here to see more of Ted's dances.
- John Ramsay
- John Coffman - Click here to see John's dances.
- Jerome Grisanti - Clilck here to see Jerome's dances
The Dances in the MO DANCES Collection
Here is a Word Doc with MO DANCES Volume I and a Word Doc with MO DANCES Volume II ready to be printed on 4X6 cards.
Here are the dances and the beginnings of our video clip library. Enjoy!
Starry Starry Night by Judy Bass (2011) Contra Becket (progression is clockwise)
A1 (8) Star RIGHT 1 x round(hands across star)
(8 )Ladies Chain (to neighbor)
A2 (4) Ladies Gypsy right shoulder (to Partner)
(12) Partner Swing
B1 (8) Long Lines F/B
(8) Right & Left Thru across
B2 (8) 1/2 hey (ladies pass right shoulder) (should be back where you originally started dance)
(8) gypsy right shoulder w/partner and slide left to face a new couple
Easier than Pie by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper
A1 Neighbor balance & swing
A2 Down the hall, turn alone
Come on back
B1 Circle left,
Ladies dosido
B2 Gents dosido
Balance the circle, pass through to new neighbor
Flip a Coin by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper
A1 Neighbor balance & swing
A2 Circle left 3 places,
Partner dosido
B1 Partner balance & swing
B2 Ladies chain
Balance the circle, (4)
with neighbor clap right hands once (1),
left hands once (1), both hands once (1),
then flip around to face new neighbor (1).
(Author’s note: Suggested call for last 5 beats of B2 is “neighbor, right, left, both, reverse”, called on the beat rather than ahead of time.)
Got Nice Neighbors by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper Beckett (cw)
A1 Down the hall, turn as couple
Come on back
A2 Circle left 3 places,
Neighbor swing
B1 Long lines,
New neighbor swing
B2 Ladies allemande right 1 1/2
Partner swing
(Author’s note: You may wish to start the walkthrough with the partner swing in B2)
The Millwheel by Billy Boyer (2008)Contra Improper Beckett (cw)
A1 Circle left
2. Ladies* allemande Right 1 1/2
Neighbor balance & swing
B1 Circle left
Ladies* dosido 1 1/2
B2 Partner balance & swing, (4, 8) Slide left (4)
(*Author’s note: For added interest try changing the dance by having the gents do the allemande in A1 and the dosido in B1, instead of the ladies.)
Mountain Ridge by Billy Boyer (2008) contra improper
A1 Neighbor Balance and swing
A2 Circle left 3 places
Partner swing
B1 Long lines forward and back
Ones make a ridge*, everyone pass through across,
California twirl with your partner
B2 Balance the circle, spin right (petronella twirl)
Balance the circle, California twirl (to face new neighbor)
(*ridge = Ones keep hands in long lines and raise arms to make arches. Twos drop hands. Everyone walks across the set, passing neighbor by the right, so that each “two” has a separate arch to duck under)
Palindrome by Billy Boyer (2008) Contra Improper Becket
A1 Circle Left 3 places
Neighbor Swing
A2 1/2 hey (gents pass left shoulders.)
Neighbor gypsy
B1 1/2 hey (gents pass left shoulders.)
Neighbor Swing
B2 Circle left 3 places
Partner swing* as you slide left
*(or two hand turn)
Author’s note: The order of moves in this dance is the same backwards as it forwards. The partner swing while sliding left may be tricky for some.
Wandering Gypsies by Billy Boyer (2008) Scatter mixer, 1 couple facing 1 couple
A1 Neighbor gypsy and swing
A2 Partner gypsy and swing
B1 Circle left, Neighbor allemande right *
B2 That neighbor promenade; this is your new partner
Find another couple and wait for the call
*or dosido, or arm right
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
A Little Ramsay Divey by Bob Green Improper Double Progression
A1 Neighbour do-si-do (8)
Right-hand star 1 X around (8)
A2 Turn single over left shoulder and set to partner (8)
Partners go back-to back (8)
B1 Poussette halfway, men backing up (8)
Poussette halfway, men backing up (8) (ricochet )
B2 1s arch - 2s dive, then 2s arch-1s dive thru backwards (8)
1s arch - 2s dive, then with NEXT neighbours,
2s arch - 1s dive, to face still another new neighbour (8)
Becket to the Future by Bob Green (proper Becket) Tune: The Buffens
A1 Face your partner, set and turn single (8)
Pass thru up & down, circle left halfway with new neighbors (8)
A2 Set to this neighbor & pass thru up & down (8)
Partner two hand turn 1X, (ending Women on top, Men on bottom (8)
B1 Couples fall back a double (4) forward turning single (4)
Circle left half & slide left (8)
B2 Back to back across the set with new neighbor (8)
Back to back with partner (8)
Teaching notes: Take hands four in proper formation, then circle on place to the left. This leaves you with a hands four with men on the top facing down and women on the bottom facing up. The important thing in A2 is that after the turn, the women are above and the men below. If you are sent out at the end of the set at the end of A1, trade places. When you are waiting to come back in at the top the woman is on the left, the man is on the right. When you come in at the bottom, the man is on the left and the woman is on the right.
Caped Crusader - by Bob Green Couple Mixer –couple facing couple
A1 Neighbor do-si-do (8)
Partner do-si-do (8)
A2 Partner balance & swing (16)
B1 Circle left, (8)
Neighbor swing (8)
B2 Promenade with new partner to find another couple & circle left (16)
Written for a dance in Cape Girardeau, MO with a large percentage of new dancers
The Castigated Neighbor - by Bob Green (2008) English Proper
A1 Ones cast below the twos, twos move up (4) All cloverleaf turn single (4)
Two's gate the ones
A2 Twos cast below the ones, ones move up (4) All cloverleaf turn single
Ones gate the twos
B1 Double figure of 8 (Ones cast, two cross to start)
B2 Ones two-hand turn once and a half (8)
Ones cast below the twos (4)
Ones two-hand turn halfway to place (4)
Author’s Note: in B1, if the dancers are not highly experienced, substitute set-and-turn single for the 2s, then for the 1s, for the double figure of eight. A1 & A2 can also be done with a 8-count cast, eliminating the cloverleaf turn single.
Gypsy Camp by Bob Green (2006) duple PROPER
A1 Ones gypsy your partner,
Swing your first corner
A2 Ones gypsy your partner
Swing your second corner
B1 Ones gypsy and swing
B2 Down the hall four in line (ones between the twos)
Ones turn as a couple, twos turn alone
Come back, twos cast the ones down to progressed place
Ionia Breakout by Bob Green (2009) - duple improper
A1 Neighbor gypsy (8)
Ladies start half a hey (8)
A2 Neighbor balance & swing (16)
B1 Pass thru & California twirl (8)
Twos do-si-do across the set (8)
B2 Long lines forward (4)
Twos back out while ones swing, end facing down (12
Note: if the lines are very long, alternate the ones swinging with
the twos (i.e., ones back out while the twos swing, end facing up)
Jack’s Sparrow by Bob Green 4-Couple Longways Sets
A1 Lines at the sides advance and retreat (8)
1st man & 4th woman change places (8)
A2 1st woman & 4th man change places (8)
Center four 2 changes of rights and lefts (8)
B1 Top four turn right hands across 1X around (8)
Bottom four right turn hands across 1X around
B2 All set and turn single (8)
1st couple (now at bottom) 2–hand turn 1 1/2 to end proper
while top six circle halfway
Part I - The original Jefferson & Liberty traditional duple PROPER
A1 Circle left 1X
Circle Right 1X
A2 Hands-across star by the right
Hands-across star by the left
B1 Ones down the middle and turn alone, twos move up
Ones back up the middle, twos gate the ones
B2 Four changes of rights and lefts
Part II - Jefferson's Remorse by Bob Green (2008) duple improper
A1 Circle left 1X
Circle Right 1X
A2 Hands-across star by the right
Hands-across star by the left
B1 Ones down the middle and turn alone, twos move up
Ones back up the middle, twos gate the ones
B2 Ones swing in the middle, end facing down
Part III - Jefferson Gone Wild by Bob Green (2008) English improper
(all the men in the ladies’ line, and all the ladies in the men’s line)
A1 Balance the ring, roll away with a half-sashay (gents roll the ladies)
Circle left 1X
A2 Hands-across star by the right
Hands-across star by the left
B1 Ones go down the middle and turn alone, twos move up
Ones come back up the middle, twos gate the ones
B2 Ones balance and swing, twos cross & face up; ones end their swing facing down
Mage Up A Creek by Bob Green (2008) Square Formation
A1 Gents to the center, back to the bar, partner balance & box the gnat
A2 Ladies to the center & back to the bar, balance and box the gnat
B1 Gents in the center circle left, neighbor swing
B2 Ladies to the ceter, partner swing at home
A1 w/partner left allemande halfway, back by the right, balance & box the gnat
A2 w/partner left allemande halfway, back by the right, balance & box the gnat
B1 Gents weave half way, ladies to the center and back
B2 Gents finish the weave, ladies to the center and back
A1 w/ partner arm by the right, balance & box the gnat
A2 w/ partner arm by the left, balance & box the gnat
B1 Gents swing your corner, swing your opposite
B2 Swing your neighbor, swing your partner
Star Hey Night by Bob Green
duple Becket
A1 Circle left 1/2 (4), Ladies pull by right (4)
Neighbor swing (8)
A2 Long lines forward and back (8)
Ladies right allemande 1 1/2 (8)
B1 Right hand star (men join behind neighbor) (8)
New men start left shoulder diagonal 1/2 hey (8)
B2 Gypsy and swing your partner (16)
Wagon Wheel by Bob Green (1996) Becket
A1 Circle left
Star by the left
A2 Gents allemande right 1 1/2
Neighbor swing
B1 Ladies allemande by the right 1 1/2
Partner swing
B2 Star by the right
Circle left half way, slide left to new neighbor
XYZ by Bob Green (2008) Contra Improper
A1 Ladies Allemande by the Right 1 1/2
Partner Swing
A2 Ladies Chain
Long Lines, Forward and Back
B1 Partner pull by L (3), face back in (1), pull by R, same
Pull by L, same, pull by R, same
B2 (Reverse) Pull by R, face back in, pull by L, same
Pull by R, same; pull by L (to back where you started the zipper)
Note: You’re never out on the ends. You’ll be in the zipper. If there’s no one to pull by with, stay put!
Back on the Interstate by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper
A1 Circle Left
1s arch, 2s go under around neighbor & back to place
A2 Circle Balance, Neighbors balance & swing
B1 Ladies Allemande R 1 1/2
Partner swing
B2 Long Lines
Circle Left 3 places & pass thru
Author's Notes: Based on Exit 33 but this one has a partner swing!.
Blue Persuasion by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper
A1 Ladies RH Balance & pull by
Gypsy shadow (the next man down the line from your partner)
A2 Partners Balance and Swing
B1 Lines Forward and Back
Circle L 3/4
B2 Partners take left hand and turn 3/4, ending in single line along set (men in middle, ladies on the outside)(4)
Men turn by the right hand 1½; outside two continue (8)
Partners turn by the left 3/4 into progressed place (4)
Chrystal Saylor by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) English Proper
A1 1s half figure of eight own around their 2s
1s lead up(around 2s above you) & cast back to place
A2 2s lead up around your own 1s & cast back to place
All RH turn
B1 Corners back to back (corners are currently in your neighbors’ position)
Corners two-hand turn
B2 Partners back to back
1s cross & cast while the 2s do a two-hand turn moving up to progressed positions
Exit 33 by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper
A1 Circle Left
1s arch, 2s go under, around neighbor & back to place
A2 Circle Balance, Neighbors balance & swing
B1 Down the Hall & turn as a couple
Come back & face across
B2 Ladies Chain over
Ladies Chain back
Author's Note: There is no partner swing in this dance
Just Another Whim by Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008) contra improper
A1 Neighbors Do-Si-Do
Neighbors Swing
A2 Ladies Right Allemande 1 1/2
Partner Swing
B1 Ladies Chain
Long Lines
B2 Balance & Square thru
Author's Notes: The last last pull by on the square thru is the progression. Dancers pull by and keep moving to their next neighbor.
Wednesday’s Whim (Inspired by Griffith’s Whim) English proper
By Chrystal Gallacci Jones (2008)
A1 1s RH turn halfway & set
1s lead down & cast back to place (1s are improper)
A2 2s RH turn halfway & set
2s lead up & cast back to place (All are improper)
B1 Neighbors fall back a double, Come forward setting
RH star halfway, turn single Left
B2 4 changes of Rights & Lefts
Fly Around, My Pretty Little Miss by Dale Wilson (2008)
Contra Improper
A1: Star left one time around (hands across star)
Men drop left hands and make a big turn out to the right, meanwhile Ladies continue the star 'til you get to your partner.
Partner allemande right all the way. (all this in 8 counts!)
A2: Ladies start a hey with left shoulders in the center
B1: Gypsy your partner
Swing your partner
B2: Right and Left through, courtesy turn (3/4) to the star
Star right (Ladies first, Men fall in behind), 3 places
Last B2: R&L through, swing your partner
Monday by Jim Hemphill improper
A1 Neighbor allemande right once and a half
Men allemande left once and a half
A2 Partner Gypsy, then swing
B1 Circle left 3 places
Neighbor swing
B2 Right left thru
Star left
Earthshine Reel by Jim Hemphill Becket
A1 Partner balance and swing
A2 Down the hall in lines of 4
Turn as couples and come on back
B1 Bend the line circle left 3 places
Neighbor swing
B2 Next neighbor allemande left 1 1/2
Ladies allemande right 1 1/2
Orbiting Gypsies by Jim Hemphill Becket
A1 Long lines forward and back
Star left 3 places
A2 Next neighbor gypsy then swing
B1 Ladies chain
Ladies gypsy once and a half in the middle, Men orbit to the right across the set
B2 Partner balance and swing
Caller's note: Dancers out at the top and bottom will re-enter the dance with the lady on the left side.
The Courtesy Fling by Jim Hemphill Becket
A1 Long lines forward and back
Ladies chain with a courtesy fling
A2 Neighbor left hand balance and swing
B1 Next neighbor allemande left once and a half
Ladies chain with a courtesy fling
B2 Partner left hand balance and swing
Caller's note: The Courtesy fling is a variation of the courtesy turn. The move begins like a regular courtesy turn. Gents will turn til they are facing up or down the set, then send the ladies out while keeping the left hand grip. Ladies turn out to face the gent, so the move ends with ladie and gent holding left hands facing each other on the side of the set rather than side by side facing the center as in a normal courtesy turn.
The Bothersome Bug Becket by Jim Hemphill Becket
A1 Partner left hand balance and swat the flea
Star left 3 places
A2 Next neighbor box the Gnat then swing
B1 Men allemande left 1 1/2
Partner swing
B2 Long lines forward and back
Right left thru with a courtesy fling
Caller's note: In B2, The Courtesy fling is a variation of the courtesy turn. The move begins like a regular courtesy turn. Gents will turn til they are facing up or down the set, then send the ladies out while keeping the left hand grip. Ladies turn out to face the gent, so the move ends with ladie and gent holding left hands facing each other on the side of the set rather than side by side facing the center as in a normal courtesy turn.
Huru’s Reel by Joe Felsen (2009) Duple Improper
A1 Long lines forward (4)
On the way back , Gents roll the Ladies away with a half sashay (4)
Promenade with your neighbor across the set (8)
A2 Ladies chain across (8)
Ladies do-si-do once, back to your partner. (8)
B1 Gypsy and swing your partner. (16)
B2 Gents allemande left, once and a half. (8)
Swing your neighbor. (8) End that swing to open out in long lines.
Proctor’s Reel by Joe Felsen (2008) Duple Improper
A1 Neighbor balance and swing.
A2 Gents start a full hey by the left. (Gypsy hey.)
B1 Gents pass by the left; Gypsy by the right and swing your partner
B2 Right and left through across the set
Circle left three places and Pass through
First Star by Ted Steele - Duple Improper
A1: Balance & Swing neighbor
A2: Circle left, Circle right
B1: Ladies chain, over & back
B2: Left-hand star, right-hand star
An easy dance, but no partner swing.
Second Star By Ted Steele - Duple Improper
A1 Balance & Swing neighbor
A2 Ladies Chain
Swing partner
B1 Long Lines Forward and Back
Right and Left Thru & Roll-away Partner
B2 Right Hand Star 3/4
Left Hand Star
Written after “First Star” to add a partner swing
Heat Wave by Ted Steele - Becket
A1 Right-hand Star
Allemande Right Partner 1 1/4 to wavy line of four (men in ctr.)
A2 Balance Forward and Back, Men pull by
Swing Neighbor
B1 Ladies chain halfway
Promenade across
B2 Balance & swing partner
Slide Left
John Birch Reel by Ted Steele - Becket
A1 Right Diagonal Right and Left Thru
Circle right 3/4
A2 Allemande Right Neighbor
Right-hand Star 1 1/4 (5 places)
B1 Hey for Four (Ladies pass Right shoulders)
B2 Balance & Swing Partner
Comments: All moves are to the Right. (The John Birch Society was a radical right-wing political movement in the 1960-70s.)
Hey your Corner By Ted Steele -Square (H-S-H-S)
Head couples Forward and Back; Side couples Forward and Back
Head couples Right and Left Thru & roll away with a half sashay
Head couples Forward & Swing Opposite (face the sides)
Hey for Four (pass corner by right shoulder)
Box the Gnat with your corner & Pull by
Swing partner & Promenade Home
Based on “A Delicate Operation” by Sue Elbenger
Birthday Canon by John Ramsay Tune: by Pablo l Russo FORMATION: Longways Duple minor
PATTERN: Men begin the sequence, ladies respond with same sequence four beats later
Note: A turn becomes a star and a turn single becomes a gypsy when
men and women integrate the turns and turn singles.
Bar Count MEN LADIES JOINT
1 4 Men advance Turn single (men approach as ladies turn)
2 4 Men retire Ladies advance (ladies "chase" partners)
3 4 Men advance Ladies retire (men become the aggressors)
4 4 Men advan.w/arch Ladies advance (ladies duck under M arch)
5 4 Men turn and return Ladies cont.advance(Men follow the L)
6 4 Men advance Ladies turn and arch (men under ladies arch)
7 4 First man advance Ladies continue and (makes an L on its side)
turn on diag. between 2nd couple
8 4 First man passes 1st lady advances diag. (1st couple change
partner by left to her place between 2nd couple)
9 4 Men clap:rat tat-a-tat tat 1st lady advance to 1st man's home place
10 4 Men 1/2 right hand turn Ladies clap: rat tat-a-tat tat
11 4 Men 1/2 right hand turn Ladies 1/2 right hand turn (makes ½ right
hand star)
12 4 Men cast left Ladies 1/2 right hand turn (end 1st cu. Improper,
2nd cu. home)
4 Men begin left gypsy Ladies casting left (the contrary left gypsies
with contrary lady into a gypsy are 1 1/2 in 8 counts)
14 4 Finish gypsy to end facing partners (lft. gypsy flows to 15)
15 4 Right gypsy with partner Right gypsy with partner
16 4 Finish gypsy in progressed places, women turning single to place*
(1) 4 Men advance as in Bar 1 Women turn single*(musicians repeat at bar 2)
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