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Category Archives: Contra Dances
Complementary Corners – Singlet – Don Veino 20210201
Type: Singlet Progression: None Status: Proven Starts facing your PNR. Doesn’t care about particular roles or set orientation – fit as you have the room. If followed exactly, the two Contra Corners sequences will happen roughly at right angles to … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven, Set Dance, Set Dance, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged balance & swing, contra corners, dosido, reverse contra corners, See Saw
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Traditional Wines – Singlet/Solo – Don Veino 20210104
Type: Singlet or Solo Progression: None Status: Proven A parts riff off the zipper move from Beneficial Tradition with a special twist. Was briefly known as “Pin to Win”. This sequence was in response to a challenge to create more … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven, Set Dance, Set Dance, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged box the gnat, cast, dogbone, figure 8, grapevine, lead, right shoulder around, swat the flea, swing
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Sanitizer Shuffle – Singlet/Doublet/Solo – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet, Doublet or Solo Progression: None Status: Proven Another exploration about how simple partner-role-agnostic “new model” contra compositions might fit into the virtual dancing phenomenon (see Can You Spare A Roll? for more info on my “new … Continue reading
Can You Spare A Roll? – Singlet/Doublet – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Doublet Progression: None Status: Proven More exploration of purpose-built Singlet/virtual dances within my first group. Was deliberately playing with a concept I’ve been quietly advocating for in regards to “gender free” contra dancing – that … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged 2H Turn, allemande, balance, circle, forward & back, roll away, star through, swing, twirl to swap
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Stretch & Fold – Singlet/Solo – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Solo Progression: None Status: Proven Another exploration about how certain contra conventions might fit into the new model for distant dancing. This one looked at the use of “convenient Ghosts”. Notice that “Ghosts” are used … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Solo, Virtual
Tagged 2H Turn, balance, box the gnat, circle, contra corners, dosido, right shoulder around, swat the flea, swing
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Masked Compassion – Singlet/Solo – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Solo Progression: None Status: Proven Another from my early first set of purpose-built Singlet/virtual dances, continuing the exploration about how certain moves might fit into the new model for distant dancing. This considered how a … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Solo, Virtual
Tagged balance, forward & back, hey, partner hey, rory o'moore, short wave, swing, up a double
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New Perspective – Singlet/Solo – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Solo Progression: None Status: Proven Another from my early first set of purpose-built Singlet/virtual dances. Thinking about how certain moves might fit into the new model for distant dancing, I was playing around with some … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Solo, Virtual
Tagged 2H Turn, allemande, balance, circle, contra corners, rory o'moore, short wave, swing
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Equal & Opposite (v2) – Singlet/Doublet – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Doublet Progression: None Status: Proven Another from my early first set of purpose-built Singlet/virtual dances. Was striving for variety in simple yet satisfying dances, focused on just a few co-located dancers. This could be seen … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged allemande, dosido, forward & back, gypsy, left shoulder around, LH Chain, loop single, right shoulder around, swing, turn single
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Together in Spirit – Singlet/Doublet – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Doublet Progression: None Status: Proven Another from my first set of purpose-built Singlet/virtual dances. Was playing around with how basic moves could form a simple yet satisfying dance for a few co-located dancers with the … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged 2H Turn, balance, california twirl, circle, down the hall, petronella, swing
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Infectious Energy – Singlet/Doublet – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Doublet Progression: None Status: Proven My second purpose-built Singlet/virtual dance. I wanted something very up energy and memorable so calling could taper quickly. As is likely becoming obvious, my naming scheme for these dances all … Continue reading
Posted in Ceilidh, Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged balance, box the gnat, dosido, petronella, swat the flea, swing
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Sourdough Starter – Singlet/Doublet – Don Veino
Type: Contra Dance, Singlet or Doublet Progression: None Status: Proven This is the first of my purpose-made remote/virtual dances in a genre that I began referring to as “co-contras.” I had previously composed The Spaniard’s Latte (To Go) for similar … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, Family Dance, My Dances, Proven, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged circle, contra, contra dance, down the hall, star, turn single
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Guidelines for Interpreting My Virtual Dance Choreography – Don Veino
Starting in spring of 2020 I began writing purpose-built dances for socially-distanced “virtual” (a.k.a. “Zoom”) dancing. This work in progress post is intended to help folks considering one of my virtual dances understand my general approach to them and provide … Continue reading
Posted in Ceilidh, Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, English, English Country Dance, Family Dance, Mixer, My Dances, Set Dance, Set Dance, Singlet, Triplet, Virtual, Waltz
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The Spaniard’s Latte (To Go) – Set Dance – Don Veino 202003
Type: Set Dance Status: Proven Due to the 2020 COVID-19 health issue, April’s New England Folk Festival (NEFFA) was canceled. As a scheduled performer I was invited to submit material for a “Virtual NEFFA” to be presented on-line via video. … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Doublet, English, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven, Set Dance, Set Dance, Singlet, Virtual
Tagged circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, fall back, gypsy, hole in the wall, petronella, siding, star, swing
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Kitty Awesome! – Becket – Don Veino 20200124
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Status: Proven The name and artwork for this one comes from our daughter. She’s currently crazy about kitties and her highest compliment is when something is “kitty awesome.” Unusual enough to be interesting, this one … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged big oval, contra, contra dance, Dance, give and take, poussette, star
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A Long Courtship – Becket – Don Veino 20181209
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Status: Proven This dance came out of a discussion Will Mentor and I had about writing a dance which built up and defied expectations regarding when you’d get together with your partner. It was briefly … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged bounce back, circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, hey, mad robin, RH Chain
1 Comment
Dreaming of Dolphins – DI – Don Veino 20190123
Type: Longways, Duple Improper Status: Proven The title pretty much says it all. I was in a period where I was thinking about Dolphin Heys repeatedly, generating gobs of DH dances. Between this Duple Improper dance and two other 4-Face-4 … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, cross trail, Dance, dolphin hey, down the hall
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Becky’s Boulder – DI – Don Veino 20180522
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT One of several related dances composed this date which were inspired by the new Becky Tracy tune Black Rock, off the Eloise & Co. album with Rachel Bell. Yeah, I love the tune. … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged becky tracy, black rock, contra, contra dance, Dance, give and take, orbit, pass the ocean, rory o'moore
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Rockslide – DI – Don Veino 20180522
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven One of several related dances composed this date which were inspired by the new Becky Tracy tune Black Rock, off the Eloise & Co. album with Rachel Bell. Yeah, I love the tune. … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged becky tracy, black rock, california twirl, contra, contra dance, Dance, epic reel, petronella, rory o'moore
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You Caught My Eye – DI – Don Veino 20180522
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven For Sage, who caught my eye. ♥ One of several related dances composed this date which were inspired by the new Becky Tracy tune Black Rock, off the Eloise & Co. album with … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged becky tracy, black rock, contra, contra dance, Dance, diagonal progression, give and take, pass the ocean, rory o'moore, swing through
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Pumpkin Spice Madness – DI – Don Veino 20181006
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven We’re in that season again – where everything gets offered in some form of pumpkin spiced variant. I find most such things (but for pancakes or other baked goods) totally foul but the … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, dosido, mad robin, roll away
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Fun With Flipper – Triplet – Don Veino 20181006
Type: Proper Triplet Status: Proven Yep, I’ve been on a real Dolphin Hey compositions run – which led me to research the history of that move back toward its origin. It appears the Dolphin Hey first appeared in the modern … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven, Triplet
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, dolphin hey
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Feeling Gravity’s Pull – DI – Don Veino 20180710
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven I wanted something smooth and stately which swapped around the idea of who typically does certain sorts of moves (e.g.: in this dance, it’s the Ladies who gate the Gents – not the … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged bounce back, contra, contra dance, Dance, gate, hey, pass through
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Mad For Ogontz – DI – Don Veino 20180808
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven At CDSS Ogontz Family Camp 2018 Steve Zakon-Anderson wanted to teach Mad Robin to the 11s & 12s group but didn’t have a suitable dance. We couldn’t find one in my deck either, … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, gypsy, hey, mad robin, RH Chain
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Bonus Round/Repeatronella (in Dublin) – DI – Don Veino 20180726
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven This is a set of dances approaching the same two-Neighbor-Swing theme in different variations. Dancers seem to really like these and they can scale in difficulty from working with more beginner dancers or … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, down the hall, dublin bay, petronella
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Fairly Nicked From Nick – Becket – Don Veino and Nick Howe 20180815
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Status: Proven In a conversation with Nick Howe following Ogontz Family Week 2018, we reviewed a draft of his 2017 “The Cuckoo and The Robin.” Nick’s dance features a double Mad Robin sequence (CCW into CW) … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, mad robin, slice
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So Long and Thanks for All the Fish – 4 Face 4 – Don Veino 20180528
Type: Contra Dance, 4 Facing 4 – single progression, alternating sides Status: Proven I’ve become slightly obsessed with Dolphin Hey dances. In this case I was striving for one that automatically alternates who gets to act as the traveling pair, … Continue reading
Posted in 4 Face 4 Dances, Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, dolphin hey, hey, ring/8, sapphire sea, weave the ring
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Hey, Ack is Back! – DI – Don Veino 20180711
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT Named in celebration of Lynn Ackerson having completed her Veterinary Tech program and, hopefully, her return to the contra dance community. Lynn’s an all around good egg and was very welcoming and helpful … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, down the hall, dublin bay, hey, LH Chain, petronella
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(Home Again, Home Again) Jiggity Jig – DI – Don Veino 20180430
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven This dance was a bonus spin-off while thinking through my dance The Right In Tension. It was intended to be useful as an easy frame for the Right Hand High, Left Hand Low … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, down the hall, right hand high left low
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The Bubbles Incident – Becket – Don Veino 20180620
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Status: DRAFT I was playing with new ways to do a Down-the-Hall dance – in particular, how to achieve the progression. I hit on the idea of a ring of dancers going down and then … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, down the hall, hey, RH Chain, ring/4, roll away
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Totally Ridiculous Utterly Mad Proposition – DI – Don Veino 20160112
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: EXPERIMENTAL – NOT INTENDED TO EVER BE ACTUALLY DANCED! On January 11, 2018 the Third Occasional Bad Contra Choreography Contest was announced by Gregory Frock. The goal of this contest was to write the … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, Experimental, My Dances
Tagged bad, contra, contra dance, Dance
2 Comments
The Oddball In Charge – Mixer for 5, 7 or ? Dancers – Don Veino 20171210, rev. 20180112
a.k.a. “The Magic Charm” Type: Circle Mixer for odd number of dancers, Gender-free Status: Proven At smaller venue dances you may find yourself at the beginning or end of the evening below the comfortable number of dancers for a contra … Continue reading
Posted in Circle Mixers, Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged box the gnat, circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, gender free, oddball, petronella, small crowd, swat the flea, swing
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Force of Nature – DI or Becket – Don Veino 20180620
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper or Becket Right/CCW Status: Proven Shel Michaels made me write this… just kidding ;-). But he did suggest I write a dance to commemorate this event. On 6/18/18 a microburst/tornado struck our neighborhood. Nobody was … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged california twirl, contra, contra dance, courtesy fling, Dance, dosido, LH Chain, petronella, short wave, swing
1 Comment
Clap Happy – Gender Free Longways or Circle – Don Veino 20180115
Type: Longways or Circle Family/Ceilidh Dance – Gender Free Status: Proven This dance always gets smiles with the right crowds. Very useful for those community dances where you want want to sense the crowd or provide some variety without the … Continue reading
Posted in Ceilidh, Circle Mixers, Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English, English Country Dance, Family Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged circle, circle mixer, clapping, Dance, elbow turn, gender free, longways, swing
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The Right In Tension (a.k.a. Synchro de Mayo) – Becket – Don Veino 20180430
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Status: Proven I’ve written a series of dances playing with the residual tension from the last contact in a roll-away and this one I feel is my simplest solution to date for it feeding a … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, down the hall, gypsy, hey, right hand high left low, roll away, synchronize, tension
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Two Hearts Beat As One – DI – Don Veino 20180203
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven For my wife Sage on our 10th Valentine’s Day. Written independently but likely strongly inspired by my recollection of Don Flaherty’s Heartbeat Contra – the A parts are the same and the B … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged Arch & Duck, circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, petronella
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Filet Mignon – DI – Don Veino 20170918
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven The instant I heard Simon Riopel’s tune L’Air Mignonne played by Eric Boodman I knew I must write a dance to match. This dance plays with dancer expectations re: Rory O’Moore moves, so … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged box circulate, circle, contra, contra dance, Dance, funky hey, hey, ocean wave, rory o'moore, short wave
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¡Que Linda! – DI – Don Veino 20180211
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven, Public Here’s a contra in honor of Linda Leslie. I wanted to give Linda a dance more likely to be regularly called than my prior dance Linda’s Gifts (which is a waltz-time Contra … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged california twirl, contra, contra dance, Dance, mad robin, RH Chain, short wave
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Swinging Chainsaws – DI – Don Veino 20171006
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT (but proven via transitive property…) This dance is one of a set that grew out of my work on (Like) Juggling Chainsaws. There is a mirror role and move dance to this one, … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, RH Chain, See Saw
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Dosi Dude – DI – Don Veino 20171006
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven This dance is one of a set that grew out of my work on (Like) Juggling Chainsaws. There is a mirror role and move dance to this one, Swinging Chainsaws, which could be … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, dosido, hey, LH Chain
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The Devils A Swinger – DI – Don Veino 20171012
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT The actual title of this dance is “The Devil’s A Swinger” but WordPress currently won’t show the post if any form of apostrophe is used in the post title, so this is the … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged allemande, contra, contra dance, Dance Dance, devil's dream, down the hall, hey, mirror
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I ♥ Devil Dogs – DI – Don Veino 20171012
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT Yep, named for the snack cake that was my second favorite in the Drake’s lineup when I was a kid, right behind Ring Dings and just before Yodels. OK, so maybe behind Yodels … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged allemande, contra, contra dance, Dance, devil, devil's dream, down the hall, give and take, mirror
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Oh, The Indecency! (v2) – Indecent – Don Veino 20170802
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Indecent Status: Proven Indecent formation = ones proper, twos crossed over Not much to say about this one other than I hope dancers really enjoy the novelty of the formation and somewhat uncommon moves. I’m guessing … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, cross trail, Dance, hey, indecent, LH Chain, petronella
2 Comments
Counter Clock-Weiss – DI – Don Veino 20170729
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT, EXPERIMENTAL This dance was written in memoriam to Eph Weiss. Eph was an active dancer in many folk styles in the Boston, MA area up until nearly his 93rd birthday and was known … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, Experimental, My Dances
Tagged ccw, contra, contra dance, Dance, gypsy, hey, reverse swing, Star 3/4
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Ephervescence – DI – Don Veino 20170729
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven This is a conventional respin of my all-reverse dance Counter Clock-Weiss, written in memoriam to Eph Weiss. Eph was an active dancer in many folk styles in the Boston, MA area up until … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, gypsy, hey, roll away, Star 3/4
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Wicked Smooth – Becket or DI – Don Veino 20170803
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper or Becket Left/CW Status: Proven There’s been a dance “seed” on my whiteboard for some time, which germinated today into what I think is a wonderfully smooth dance (what we New Englanders might describe as … Continue reading
Poussettey Spaghetti – DI – Don Veino 20170715
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT This dance came out of a comment my wife, Sage, once made while we were walking down to the dance hall at Ogontz camp in Lyman, NH. There was an English Country Dance … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, give and take, hey, poussette
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Poussette in Boots – Becket – Don Veino 20170715
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Status: Proven This dance came out of playing with Poussettes towards my dance Poussettey Spaghetti, intended to be simpler than that dance. At the time of it’s composition, our daughter Raeden was obsessed with getting … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, give and take, hey, poussette
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(Riding in the) Zoomy Car – DI – Don Veino 20170717
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven The A parts of this composition were inspired by Lindsey Dono’s work-in-progress composition Working Title (WT), which I’d become involved in discussing. Lindsey, several others and I were challenged to date in finding … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, down the hall, figure 8, gate, handy hand, left hand high right low, mirror
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Horseplay – DI – Don Veino 20170714
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT A riff on our daughter Raeden’s Pony Fun, leveraging the A parts of that dance. I’ve been on the lookout for an opportunity to get Gents in on the Rory O’Moore “super twirl across … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged pass the ocean, ponies, promenade, raeden veino, rory o'moore, star, super twirl
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Dance No Evil – Becket – Don Veino 20170710
Type: Contra Dance, Becket CW/Left Formation Status: Proven Another in a series of my “not evil” Star 3/4 explorations. See Shining Sparkle for my original Star 3/4 composition and motivation. This dance counts on the “New England Style” Promenade and … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged big oval promenade, contra, contra dance, Dance, evil, shadow, Star 3/4
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Trip Through Athol – Becket – Don Veino 20170609
Type: Contra Dance, Becket CW/Left Formation Status: Proven US Route 2 is a significant road connecting contra dances in the eastern and western parts of Massachusetts (in particular at the Concord Scout House and Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield). To … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, evil, petronella, rory o'moore, Star 3/4
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Shining Sparkle – DI – Don Veino 20170609
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven Alternate Title: During testing this was temporarily known as “The 75% Solution” and “Stellar Redemption.” While discussing a caller’s draft dance with colleagues, one persisted that a Star 3/4 was always “Evil, Don. … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, evil, rory o'moore, Star 3/4
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House of Love – DI – Don Veino 20170529
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Proven This is a re-imagining of my dance Soft Gummy Tummies to provide everyone partner and neighbor swings plus allow for greater tune flexibility. Note the A-parts marching direction is reversed here vs. SGT in … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged give and take, marches, petronella, softly good tummas
2 Comments
Dark Side of the Moon – DI – Don Veino 20170526
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Proven In the Contra Dancers Facebook group Emma Rushton posted to ask if anyone had or was planning to write a contra themed for the August 21, 2017 total eclipse of the sun. I originally … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, couple dosido, Dance, eclipse, gypsy, orbit, shadow
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Super Robin – DI – Don Veino 20170523
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven Dedicated to Robin Humes – family friend and super volunteer in service of the Concord Scout House area contra community. It’s only fitting this dance include a Mad Robin (besides the obvious eponymous … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, gypsy, mad robin, rory o'moore, short wave
1 Comment
Bang a U-Ey! [V2] – DI – Don Veino 20140321
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Proven but revised 20170528 I wanted to create an improper dance which provided the opportunity for cross-set play so often available in proper contras. Originally the A1 action was for the ones and then … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged contra, contra dance, Dance, interrupted square through
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The Mighty Mommy Mole – Proper Triplet – Don Veino 20160327
Type: Proper Triplet Status: Proven This is my first Triplet dance. I was inspired to come up with this after seeing Bob Isaacs’ dance Cinnamon Cruller on the SharedWeight Caller’s List. I love the transition from the star into the … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven, Triplet
Tagged contra, contra corners, contra dance, Dance, figure 8
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Oh, Yeah! – DI – Don Veino 20170428
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT Alternative Title: When I’m Sixty Four as in (sung to the refrain of the Beatles tune of the same name): Am I too dizzy? Will you still dance me? When I’m sixty four? More … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged contra, contra dance, couple dosido, Dance, gypsy, mad robin, orbit, zig-zag
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The Love Pirate – Becket Right/CCW – Don Veino 20170331
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Becket Counter-Clockwise Status: Public, Proven This is a spin-off of my dance Ladies, Whirled. The ends must participate in the big oval promenade and interleave between the two neighbor-partner dyads coming out of the endmost star … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged becket-right, big oval, contra dance, hole in the wall
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Hey, Aren’t You With Me? – Becket – Don Veino 20170416
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Formation Status: DRAFT Another dance playing with Mad Robin transitions (see similar posts). In a way this is a return to one of my earliest dances (Raeden’s Curls), which used a Mad Robin 1+1/4 – … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged contra dance, hey, mad robin
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(Like) Juggling Chainsaws – DI – Don Veino 20170406
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT For this dance the Chain to See Saw[1] progression idea (the “experimental” part) came first. Then the title[2], which implied there must be more than a single Chain/Saw, which drove the rest of the … Continue reading
Soft Gummy Tummies – DI – Don Veino 20170415
Type: Contra (or ECD), Duple Improper (or Gender Role Free) Status: Proven The inspiration for this dance came from Jeff Kaufman on Facebook. He related a story where his band The Free Raisins were asked to play the English Country … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, English, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged ECD, family dance, figure 8, softly good tummas
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Spring Fling – Becket – Don Veino 20170404
Type: Contra, Becket Left/CW Status: Proven A relatively simple/straightforward composition containing two uncommon points: a Mad Robin figure (easy, once taught – and which I feel flows wonderfully into a chain) and a Courtesy Fling*. Dancers often rush a Mad … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged courtesy fling, mad robin, rory o'moore
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The Whole Slice – Becket – Don Veino 20170401
Type: Contra, Becket CW/Left Status: Proven I was reviewing candidate dances for the 2017 New England Folk Festival, and this dance literally wrote itself. It came to me in a straight stream of consciousness, in a little under a minute. … Continue reading
Posted in Contra, Contra Dances, Dance, My Dances, Proven
Tagged diagonal, hey, hole in the wall, slice
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Ladies, Whirled [V2] – Becket Right/CCW – Don Veino 20160716
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Becket Counter-Clockwise Status: Public, Proven but REVISED since (3/31/2017) and likely to be significantly revised once more. See my dance The Love Pirate for my recommended current variation. This dance is a further refinement of an … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged becket-right, big oval, contra dance, hole in the wall
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Holy Cannoli! – DI – Don Veino 20160415
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Proven I wrote this dance on the way home from the 2016 New England Folk Festival’s Friday session, after indulging in some delicious cannoli in the food hall. Suggest dancers take hands in Long Lines … Continue reading
Sage Thoughts – 4 Face 4 – Don Veino 20170315
Type: 4 Facing 4 Status: Proven, reviewing B1 timing This dance’s feature sequence is all in the Bs. My wife, Sage, really liked the feel of the Butterfly Whirl in my dance Give the Gents a Whirl (where Ladies whirl … Continue reading
Posted in 4 Face 4 Dances, Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged Butterfly Whirl, contra dance, Star Promenade
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Tale of the Tricky Triple Timer – DI – Don Veino 20170218
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT, EXPERIMENTAL I’m still playing with this one a bit. This dance features two “deconstructed” chains – one for each role. Regular chains with Courtesy Turn would be functionally equivalent and may be used instead, … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, DRAFT, Experimental, My Dances
Tagged cross trail, gypsy, interrupted square through, walk around
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Madly in Love (with Mermaids) [V2] – DI – Don Veino 20160430
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven Dedicated to all those who’ve found their joy through our Concord Scout House Monday dance (we’ve hosted several weddings!). Another dance in my “Mermaid” series – which all feature a Diagonal Pass The … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged diagonal pass the ocean, mad robin, mermaid
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Dirty Rotten Double Crosser [V2] – DI – Don Veino 20140723
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven My second double cross-trails dance, see also Double Crossed Again! Rewritten 6/15/15 to retain the main theme but make the timing more forgiving in light of feedback I’d received on Double Crossed Again! … Continue reading
Double Crossed Again! [V2] – DI – Don Veino 20140721
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven My first double Cross-Trails dance. Revised 6/15/15 per trial feedback from Lisa Greenleaf, to better meet dancer expectations (add balances pre-cross trails), ease timing and to allow for dropping calls sooner. Revised dance … Continue reading
Linda’s Gifts (of Time) – Longways Duple Proper in Waltz Time – Don Veino 20160818
Type: Longways Contra or English Dance, Duple Proper Status: Public, Proven In grateful recognition of Linda Leslie‘s investments of time in the folk dance community and in particular her consultation and mentoring given me as I hone my dance calling … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, English Country Dance, My Dances, Proven, Waltz
Tagged cloverleaf, figure 8, hole in the wall, rights and lefts, waltz
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(I’ll Take) What’s Behind Door #2 – DI – Don Veino 20160822
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven A1 Star Right Neighbor Allemande Rt. 1+1/2 A2 Next Neighbors Star Left Original (Allemande) Neighbor Swing B1 Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing [alt. music fit: Give and Take to Gent’s Side, Swing] B2 … Continue reading
Hey, Mary Cay! – Becket DP – Don Veino 20160723
Type: Contra, Becket Double Progression Status: DRAFT In the past I’d played with the idea of a butterfly whirl to a Ladies allemande in the center leading into a diagonal hey, but didn’t write a complete dance with that (and … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged diagonal, double progression, give and take, hey
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Slice AlleMANde – Becket – Don Veino 20160918
Type: Contra, Becket Status: DRAFT One of two takes on a similar theme – for a less zesty dance, see my Slicing the Waves. A1 Slice Forward Left Gents Allem Rt 3/4 *WHILE* Ladies Loop over their Left shoulder 3/4 … Continue reading
Slicing the Waves – Becket – Don Veino 20160918
Type: Contra, Becket Status: DRAFT One of two takes on a similar theme – for a zestier dance see my Slice AlleMANde. A1 Slice Forward Left, to Gents form Wave in Center Gents Wave Balance Right & Left *WHILE* Ladies … Continue reading
Charlie’s Free Flowing Elixir – DI – Don Veino 20160827
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven Updated 8/18/2017 (see below and comment). Charlie Harvey wrote a nice dance, New Elixir, which I liked in concept and used several times but it had some flow issues which I’d had dancer … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged california twirl, interrupted square through, petronella
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Reluctant Robin – Becket – Don Veino 20161103
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven I really like Mad Robins, just in case that isn’t obvious. I was wondering what else could be done with them, whether they could be used as a progression, facing direction changed, etc. … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged box circulate, hey, mad robin, rory o'moore
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Pony Fun – DI – Raeden Veino 20161012
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven This isn’t, strictly speaking, one of my dances. On 10/12/2016 at bedtime my 5 year old daughter and I had the following interaction: Raeden: “Daddy. I want to write a new dance, Pony … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged give and take, ponies, raeden veino, star
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Gary’s Reel Too – DI – Don Veino 20161113
Type: Contra, Duple Improper Status: DRAFT Role reversed re-imagining of my dance Ruth’s (For) Reel; Gary is Ruth’s husband. In contrast to the common case, the Gents get to do most of the running around in this one. A1 LLF, … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, DRAFT, My Dances
Tagged gary potwin, mad robin, role reversal, roll away, ruth potwin
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Ruth’s (For) Reel – DI (swapped w/N) – Don Veino 20161113
Type: Contra, Duple Improper but with 1s below the 2s Status: Public, Proven Written for Ruth Potwin’s 60th birthday celebration. Have dancers briefly swing their Neighbor to swap places from duple improper hands-4 position before walk-through, so 1s below 2s. … Continue reading
Mermaids & Seahorses [V2] – Becket – Don Veino 20160510
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Formation Status: Public, Proven To the best of my knowledge, this is another unique transition/progression sequence that I’ve come up with. I have a whole series of “Mermaid” dances I’ve written, which all feature this … Continue reading
Greenfield Tornado – Becket – Don Veino 20161218
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Formation Status: Public, Proven The Chain to Allemande Left 1+1/2 (the “Tornado”) is another instance of an “I’ve not encountered it yet” transition – to the best of my knowledge it’s an new use (but… … Continue reading
Wavy Star Slice – Becket – Don Veino 20170120
Type: Contra Dance, Becket Left/CW Formation Status: Proven, Public Respin on the theme from my dance Wavy Star Shuffle to move from a 4 Face 4 to Becket formation contra. First called at the Monday Contras series at the Concord … Continue reading
I ♥ Faeries – DI – Don Veino 20170125
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven Writtten in response to a challenge on the Shared Weight Caller’s Discussion List, here’s my take on a non-glossary way out of the Dublin Bay style Down-the-Hall figure – via a believed … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances, Proven
Tagged down the hall, dublin bay, duple improper, figure 8, longways, mad robin, mirror
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I ♥ Unicorns – DI – Don Veino 20170203
Type: Contra Dance, Duple Improper Status: Public, Proven The “♥” in the title is spoken as “Heart” – the title for this dance was given by our 5 year old daughter Raeden and inspired the unique Mirror Mad Robin and … Continue reading
Posted in Contra Dances, My Dances
Tagged contra dance, down the hall, duple improper, figure 8, longways, mad robin, mirror
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