Sarah Kaiser's Dances

Find More of Sarah's dances at https://skcontradances.wordpress.com/

Bated Breath by Sarah Kaiser      Beckett Contra

A1 Circle L 3 places
     Neighbor Swing
A2 Ladies Allemande by R 1 1/2
     Partner Gypsy
B1 Ladies Chain (Across)
     Ladies Chain - Right Diagonal
B2 Star Left Full with this 4
     Partner Swing
...Circle L 3

Epiphany   by Sarah Kaiser   Improper Contra

A1 Allemande Neighbor by R 1 1/2
     Pull by L 2nd Neighbor, Allemande R 3rd Neighbor
A2 Balance & Swing 2nd Neighbor
B1 Ladies Allemande by R 1 1/2
     Partner Swing
B2 Ladies Chain
     Circle Left Full
... Allemande THIS neighbor R

Faretheewell  by Sarah Kaiser   Improper Contra
A Tribute to David Keller

A1 Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2 Ladies Allemande by R 1 1/2
     Partner Swing
B1 Ladies Chain
     Circle Right Full
B2 Square Through 4
....New Neighbor Bal & Swing

Pancake Day by Sarah Kaiser Improper Contra

A1 Circle R 3 places
     Ladies Chain
A2 1/2 Hey
     Gents Cross again to Partner Swing
B1 Gents Allemande L 1 1/2
     Neighbor Swing
B2 Long Lines Forward & Back
     Circle Left Full
....New Neighbors Circle Right 3/4

Slice of Cake by Sarah Kaiser Beckett Contra

A1 Long Lines Slice & Take
     Neighbor Swing
A2 Gents DoSiDo (1x)
     Ladies Chain
B1 R & L Through
     1/2 Hey (Ladies Start)
B2 Partner Balance & Swing (No Slide)
...Long Lines Slice

NOTE if dancers are habituated to slide left the slice may ride the B2-A1 transition, or be swapped for a give & take

Wash Day by Sarah Kaiser Improper Contra

A1 Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2 Ladies Chain
     Circle Right
B1 Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2
     Circle Left Full
B2 (2s Drop Out) 1s Balance & Swing
...End swing facing down the hall, New Neighbor Bal & Swing

Return of Spring by Sarah Kaiser   Improper Contra 

A1 - In a line of 4 (2s btwn 1s) go down the hall,
       turn as couples and return
A2 - Keep this line and face in, 1s begin a full hey for 4
B1 - 1s meet in the middle, gypsy & swing
B2 - New Neighbor Balance & Swing
.....with these neighbors down the hall

NOTES: Begining the walkthrough with the B2  swing may easy the teaching of the A1 line of 4 with 2s in the center.

By alternating whether you turn as couples or alone, you should be able to trick this dance into alternating the long swing between the 1s and 2s, remember that for the twos, thier new neighbor is up, for the 1s its down.

Red's Robin  by Sarah Kaiser            Improper

A1:    Neighbor Do-si-do, and swing
A2:    Ladies chain
         Ladies start a Mad Robin
B1:    Ladies start half a hey
         Swing your Partner
B2:    Gents Allemande 1½ , (this) Neighbor, See-Saw
         (Turn to face new Neighbor)

Green Grocer    by Sarah Kaiser     Improper Contra            

A1: Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2: Star by Right 3/4
      Partner Swing
B1: Long Lines Forward & Back
      Ladies Chain w/Courtesy Turn
B2: Square Through
... To new neighbor balance & swing

Cup of Joe   by Sarah Kaiser    Improper Becket  

A1: Circle Left 3/4
      Balance, roll Partner away across
A2: Neighbor Balance & Swing
B1: Mad Robin (gents in front)
      Gents Allemande by Left 1 1/2
B2: (Optional Balance) Partner Swing & Slide Left
...to Circle Left

Mr. Roger's Delight   by  Sarah Kaiser   Improper Contra  

A1:  Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2: Long Lines forward,
       Gents give & take, Partner Swing
B1: Long Lines forward & back
      Ladies Alamande 1 1/2
B2: Same Neighbor balance & Swing
...release to New Neighbor for balance & swing

Pocket Change   by Sarah Kaiser                  Improper Becket

A1: Ladies Chain
      Double Swing Through
      (Ladies R, Partner L, Gents R, Neighbor L)
A2: Ladies Pull by Right
       Swing Partner
B1: Right & Left Through
      Circle Left 1/2, Roll Neighbor Away (across set)
B2: Circle Left 1/2, Roll Partner Away
      Circle Left 1/2, Slide Left

...to ladies chain

Summerfly    by Sarah Kaiser    improper Contra

A1: Partner box the gnat, neighbor swat the flea, partner box the gnat, neighbor swat the flea
A2: Neighbor balance & swing
B1: Circle left 3 places
      Partner swing
B2: Long lines forward & back
      Ladies chain
....extend right to partner across for box the gnat

Right of Way    by Sarah Kaiser     Improper Contra

A1 Circle Left Full 
    Neighbor Swing
A2 Pass through to an Ocean Wave
     Balance the Wave
     Ladies Allemande Left 1 1/2 
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2
     Circle Right Full
     Turn to face New Neighbor for Circle Left

Throwed Roll   by Sarah Kaiser  Improper Contra 

Begin in Long Waves with Gents facing out
A1 Long waves balance & Roll (rory o moore w/neighbor)
     To new neighbor swing
A2 Long Lines give & take
     To Partner Swing
B1 Full Hey
B2 Circle L 3/4
     DoSiDo neighbor 1X  to Long waves w/Current Neighbor

....Balance & Roll

NOTE: The progression is at the front of the dance, make long waves with your current neighbor.

Tilt    by Sarah Kaiser    Improper Contra

A1 Neighbor Allemande L 1 1/2
     Ladies Chain
A2 Full Ricochet Hey
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Ladies Dosido 1 1/2
     Neighbor R Balance & Box the Gnat
... Turn to face new Neighbor for Allemande L

 Morwenna    by Sarah Kaiser     Improper Contra

Begin in a short wave
A1 Pass through to Swing New Neighbor
A2 Ladies Chain
Right & Left Through (courtesy fling)
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Circle Left 1 & a bit (5/4), ooze into a wave, balance wave.

Morwenna is Welsh for Ocean Wave
The progression is at the front of the dance and the ocean wave at the end of the dance is with your current set.

Full Moon Fling  by Sarah Kaiser     Improper Contra

A1 Circle Left Full
     Ladies Allemande R 1 1/2
A2 Partner Balance & Swing
B1 Gents Allemande L 1 1/2
     Neighbor Swing
B2 Circle Left Full
     Pass Through to an Ocean Wave (Gents keep going like an orbit)
     Balance the Wave (forward & back) & Walk Forward

...to New Circle Left

This dance features collapsing circles - the first to a chain, the second to a wave.
The circle, wave, circle transition is reminiscent of the moon pulling the tide.

Squirrel Moon Pass   by Sarah Kaiser    Improper Contra

Begin in line of 4 with 1s between 2s (2G1L1G2L)
A1 Down the hall in line of 4 turn as a couple (gate (wheel) your neighbor, don't twirl), return, bend to a ring
A2 Balance & Petronella Turn
     Partner Swing
B1 Gents Allemande 1 1/2
      Neighbor Swing
B2 Pass through across, turn alone & circle 1/2
     Balance the ring, 2s  split & pass up as 1s pass down  between new 2s 
NOTE: 2s will split, move up, and turn alone to go down the hall with new 1s between them

Kaiser's Turnstyle    by Sarah Kaiser    Improper Contra

Begin in Long Wavy Lines Men facing out
A1 Balance waves & slide R, Allemande R the next 1x
A2 Balance & Swing your Neighbor
B1 Circle Left 3/4
     Swing your Partner
B2 Ladies Allemande R 1 1/2
     Allemande Neighbor L 1 (and a bit) 
     to form wavy lines with Men facing Out

Fascinator by Sarah Kaiser  Four facing Four Contra

A1 Forward & Back
Ladies Grand Chain
A2 Centers pass through, separate, go around one, all swing corner 
B1 Allemande Corner by Left, Gents Star Right 1/2 way
B2 Partner Balance & Swing
End swing in your line of 4, facing your direction of travel

 Note: A2: This figure ends in a square,  moving centers meet & swing as remaining Non-centers turn 1/4 to face each other and swing

You And I  by Sarah Kaiser  Beckett Contra

A1 Ladies Chain
Half Hey
A2 Neighbor R Shoulder Gypsy & Swing
B1 Clirle R full
Gents Allemande L 1 1/2
B2 Partner Gypsy & Swing
Slide left ....to Ladies Chain

Teaching Note: for the circle, people are not begining from a home spot, it may help to emphasize this spot to return to when teaching

Caprese  by Sarah Kaiser Improper Contra

A1 Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2 Ladies chain, Allemande R the next along the line 1x  
B1Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Ladies Allemande R 1 1/2
Neighbor Allemande L 1 1/2 (ish)
...to find new neighbor to Balance & Swing

Good Omens  by Sarah Kaiser    Improper Contra   Start in a Short Wave

A1 Balance the Wave, walk to ta new wave & Balance
Swing Through (Neighbor by R, Gents by L)
A2 Partner Balance & Swing
B1 Ladies Allemande R 1 1 /2
Neighbor Swing
B2 Circle L Full
Balance the ring, Pass through to a wave
....balance the wave

Clear the Aisle by Sarah Kaiser  Improper Contra

A1 Gents walk to the center, form a long wave & balance -stay put
Ladies walk to the center, form another long wave & balance
A2 Give & Take to Gent's side
Partner Swing
B1 Ladies Chain
Ladies Dosido 1x
B2 Neighbor Balance & Swing
...Gents to the center

Note: The Ladies chain in the B1 is the first contact with new neighbors, if the lines are jogged from the give and take it may help to emphasize this.

Matheney's Magic  by Sarah Kaiser  Improper Contra

A1 Balance a Ring & Petronella Turn (R 1/4)
(Catch) Partner Swing
A2 Long Lines Forward & Back
Circle Left Full
B1Pass Through - Ladies Catch Left hands as you pass 
Ladies Allemande L 1/2 to (Catch) Neighbor Swing
B2 Gents Start Full Hey
...new ring balance

Named for Hall of Fame Catcher Mike Matheney - catch!

Atom Heart  by Sarah Kaiser  Improper Contra

A1 Neighbor Allemande 1 1/2
Next Neighbor Swing
A2 Ladies Chain
Star by L Full
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Long Lines Forward & Back
Balance a Ring & Petronella
....Allemande THIS neighbor 1 1/2

Warson Wave  by Sarah Kaiser  Improper Contra

A1 Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2 Pass through across, Ladies catch L, Allemande 1/2
Partner Allemande R 3/4, Shadow Allemande L 1x
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Ladies Chain
Right & Left Through
....New Neignbor Balance & Swing

NOTE: The A2 is Zesty and operates like a multi direction swing through. The ladies begin as soon as their hands meet, the gents are finishing their pass through, they arrive in time to Allemande with thier  partner and send each other up or down the line to the shadow allemande before returning to the rewarding swing. When it locks into place it's very satisfying.

You Send Me  by Sarah Kaiser   Improper Contra

A1 Circle L 3/4
Dosido Partner
A2 Partner balance & Swing
B1 Ladies Chain
1/2 Hey
B2 Neighbor Balance & Swing
...New Circle Left

Note: watch the transition on this, the neighbor swing has to release to facilitate the circle - You Send Me -to a circle with new neighbors.

Rouleau  by Sarah Kaiser  Improper Contra

A1 Balance Ring, Roll Neighbor ladies to trade thier places
Balance Ring, Roll Neighbor Gents to trade their places
A2 Star by Right 3/4
Partner Swing
B1 Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2
Neighbor Swing
B2 Long Lines Forward & Back
Righ & Left Through
...New Ring balance

Note: There is no 1/2 sashay on the roll aways here the RollER stays put, the RollEE moves. It's an assisted ECD corner swap in a contra style.

Call the Plumber  by Sarah Kaiser  Beckett Contra

A1 Circle Left 3/4
Neighbor Swing
A2 Hands Across Star by Right 3/4, gents drop out
Ladies Allemande Right 1X (twice is fine too)
B1 Partner Balance & Swing
B2 Long Lines Forward & Back
Long Lines Forward & Slice
...to new circle Left

Inspired by a conversation with Doug Plummer regarding simpler dances with flow.

Shakedown Breakdown
Improper Contra by Sarah Kaiser

A1 Down the hall in line of 4 (1s between 2s)
Turn Alone, return up the hall
A2 Bend the line to a Star by the Right 3/4
Neighbor Swing
B1 Long Lines Forward & Back
Circle Left All the Way
B2 (2s drop out) 1's Swing, break swing between new 2's

Sunday Swing
Improper Contra by Sarah Kaiser

A1 Neighbor Balance & Swing
A2 Ladies Chain, 1/2 Hey
B1 Partner Gypsy & Swing
B2 Long lines forward & Roll Away back
Star by the Right 3/4 to new neighbor

There is a strong chance this is just a dance that I remember and really liked doing. If it's yours, let me know and I'll take it down/ credit you.
Smooth flow is the order of the day here.