Donna Hunt |
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Writing dances is not something I'm driven to do; with so many great and prolific choreographers out there it seems redundant. However, when someone invites me to celebrate their special day, or I'm moved to commemorate an event, or want a specific choreography, then I will put pen to paper and write a dance. I hope you find a few of these worthy of your collection. Let me know what you think. Enjoy, Donna
| Meet Your Neighbors | by Donna Hunt | Circle Mixer |
| A1 | Facing CCW in Circle as in the "Gay Gordon" couple dance (3 steps forward turn alone and 3 steps backward) Facing CW return to placeas in the "Gay Gordon" couple dance (3 steps forward turn alone and 3 steps backward. |
| A2 | Partner Balance and Swing (Try using a "High Ceilidh Swing" hold with Left hands arched over heads and Right hands on Partners waist) |
| B1 | Whole set Circle Left Into Center and come back out |
| B2 | Do-Si-Do the next Give Right hand to this one and pull by Right, Left, Right, Left (Gents scoop up with new Partner to start Gay Gordon) |
| Note: The Circle Left and Grand R&L allows the Gents to progress CW around the set and physically around the hall.
Conversely, the Ladies circle left and then grand R&L back to their previous position in the hall. This is important to mention
to the dancers as some Ladies feel as if they are going "nowhere", even though they meet several new Gents during the dance. If a circle right is used here, then the Ladies move CCW around the hall and the Gents remain in one location. Or one could call Circle Left and Circle Right which would bring the dancers back to place and then for the Grand R&L, everyone is moving away from their position. Written January 2014. I wanted a different kind of circle mixer that had multiple progressions so dancers would meet more neighbors. |
| A 60th Birthday Dance | by Donna Hunt | Becket CCW |
| Tell the dancers that their next Neighbors are on Left diagonal but start A1 with original Neighbors | |
| A1 | Promenade over (original Gents pass Left shoulder then travel CCW along
set for 2 steps before facing new Neighbors) Pass thru to wavy line (Ladies have Left in center and Partner in Right) Balance the Wave |
| A2 | Allemande Right Partner 1/2, Gents pull by Left Swing Neighbor (Face down hall) |
| B1 | Down the Hall 4x4, Thread the Needle (all four hold hands, Gent on end make arch,
and Lady on the other end go under arch while Gent on end walks around to her place, Lady in the middle twirl under her arm.
This inverts the line, the couples have changed sides of the set and all face up) Dance up the hall, bend the line and make a Ring |
| B2 | Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl 1x Partner Swing |
| Note: This will have a new title as soon as Chris finds the inspiration.
Chris Deephouse celebrated his 60th birthday in January 2014 |
| This Could be the Start of Something | by Donna Hunt | Becket CW |
| A1 | Circle Left 3/4, Pass through up/down Do-Si-Do next Neighbor 1+ (end in Wavy Lines with Ladies in middle) |
| A2 | Balance and Rory O'More Twirl Right past Neighbor, Balance and Rory O'More Twirl Left past Neighbor, (Ladies twirl further so they can catch each other's Right hand) |
| B1 | Ladies Allemande Right 1x Swing Partner |
| B2 | Down the hall 4x4, Turn as couples and return |
| Note: I deliberately wrote a strong story line in this dance to reflect the early stages of a new relationship. A1: We're each busy with our lives (circle), meeting new people (pass through)and spending time with them (Do-Si-Do). A2: Maybe we have good friends that we hang around with (hold hands and twirl with same neighbors). B1: Then, we notice someone new (after Ladies have right hands they are close to their partners) but we can't get together because we have plans with our friends (Ladies Allemande away). When we do connect, we enjoy spending quality time with this "new someone" (swing). B2: And we decide to be together for awhile (perhaps even traveling through life together). Chris and I celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary on March 29, 2013 |
| Carrot Cake and Candles | by Donna Hunt | Becket CW |
| Tell the dancers that their next Neighbors are on Left diagonal but start A1 with original Neighbors | |
| A1 | Promenade over (original Gents pass Left shoulder then travel CCW along set for 2 steps
before facing new Neighbors) Ladies begin 1/2 Hey (pass Right in center) |
| A2 | Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2 Swing Neighbor |
| B1 | Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2, Pass Partner Right to begin 1/2 Hey for four (Ladies pass Left in center)) |
| B2 | Partner Gypsy and Swing |
| Written for Julianne Schieffer's 50th Birthday in September 2012 |
| The Teddy Bear's Promise | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Neighbor Do-Si-Do Neighbor Swing |
| A2 | Circle Left 1x Right & Left Through |
| B1 | (As a Couple go forward) Give and Take to Ladies side (Ladies take Partner back with them) Partner Swing |
| B2 | Ladies Chain over Star Left |
| Written in honor of the Civil Union Wedding of my BFF Doug Heacock and Brian Buckley in September 2007 |
| Dancing Through the Decades | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Neighbor Balance and Swing |
| A2 | Ladies Allemande Right 1 1/2 Pick up Partner for Star Promenade 1/2 (with Butterfly Whirl, Gents go forward, Ladies back up) |
| B1 | Gents begin 1/2 Hey (Gents pass Left in center) Partner Swing |
| B2 | Long Lines Forward and Back Ladies Chain over |
| Written to honor Tom Coles' 60th Birthday in June 2007. Credit for the title goes to his family. |
| Roy! Roy! The Lasagna Boy! | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Star Right Swing Neighbor |
| A2 | Long Lines Forward and Back Couple #1, 1/2 figure 8 up and around Couple #2 (to end Proper) |
| B1 | Couple #1 turn Contra Corners |
| B2 | Couple #1 Balance and Swing Partner |
| Note: The original title was Roy! Roy! The Birthday Boy!, and it was later learned that Roy loves Lasagna...who knew?? Roy Gruver decided not to pospone his joy and had a dance for his 59th Birthday in October 2006. |
| Ken's 60th Birthday Bash | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Neighbor #1 Balance and pull by Right Neighbor #2 pull by Left Neighbor #3 Balance and Box the Gnat with Right |
| A2 | Neighbor #3 pull by Right, Neighbor #2 pull by Left, Swing Neighbor #1 |
| B1 | Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2 Partner Swing |
| B2 | Promenade across set Ladies Chain |
| Note: Credit for A1 and A2 goes to Steve Zakon-Anderson's 3-33-33 Ken Crawford turned 60 in August 2006 and had a Big Bash in September to celebrate. |
| A Perfect 10 | by Donna Hunt | Becket CW |
| A1 | (As a couple go forward)
Give and Take to Gents's side (Gents take your Neighbor back with you) Neighbor Swing |
| A2 | Ladies Chain across (on Left Diagonal) Right & Left Through |
| B1 | Balance ring & Petronella twirl Balance ring & Petronella twirl |
| B2 | Partner Balance and Swing |
| Written in 2006 to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Valley Contra Dance (in Bethlehem, PA) |
| 365 Kisses O'More | by Donna Hunt | Becket CW |
| A1 | (on Left Diagonal) Circle Left 3/4 Neighbor Swing |
| A2 | Ladies Chain (turn your back on your Partner to locate your Shadow) Shadow Do-Si-Do (give right to Partner and Gents take Left in middle of wavy line of four) |
| B1 | Balance Wave (R & L) and Rory O'More twirl Right past Partner Balance Wave (L & R) and Rory O'More twirl Left past Partner |
| B2 | Partner Balance and Swing |
| Note: The title refers to the number of days in a year, the number of Kisses "or more" in that year
and the short lived folly of attempting to kiss your partner and neighbor as you balanced right and left while performing Rory O'More twirls.
(This was rarely satisfying, often hilarious and sometimes resulted in bashed and bloodied lips). Written in March 2006, to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of John Vadnais and Barbara Simpson's Wedding. |
| Swing Around Some More | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Swing Neighbor (*only 8 counts*) Active (#1) Couple Swing (face up) |
| A2 | Same Gender Swing (*only 8 counts*) Inactive (#2) Couple Swing (face down) |
| B1 | (With same Neighbors) Down the Hall 4x4 Turn Alone, return up the hall 4x4 (bend the line) |
| B2 | Right and Left through (across the set) Star Left |
| Note: It is thrilling for me to catch my partner (or for him to catch me) out of a swing and then continuing to swing with constant momentum.
It's best to demonstrate the technique and have dancers practice it during the walk through. Written in May of 2006. Credit to Gene Hubert's dance Swing Around for the inspiration for this dance. |
| Dance Gypsy's Honeymoon | by Donna Hunt | Becket- CCW |
| A1 | Balance Ring of four, Petronella twirl 1 1/2 (face new Neighbors up and down) Balance Ring of four, Petronella twirl 1x (face across) |
| A2 | Ladies Allemande Left 1 1/2 Neighbor Swing |
| B1 | Long Lines Forward and Back Pass the Ocean (4 ct) (Gents cross to opposite side and Ladies take left with each other and turn 1/4) Swing through (4 ct) (all turn your Neighbor by the right 1/2, and Gents pull by the left) |
| B2 | Partner Gypsy and Swing (Begin the dance with these same Neighbors) |
| Note: When Couples are out at the top or bottom of the set they should stand "sashayed" with Ladies on the Left. If not, it will still work out as they will twirl to the same side of the set as their partner, however the ring of four will be Lady/Lady, Gent/Gent Written to honor the wedding of Mike and JoEllen Jendzeizyk (April 2005). Best paired with the tune "Wizard's Walk" by Jay Ungar Mike and JoEllen told me that they love "Wizard's Walk", Petronella Twirls and Gypsies, so that's what they got. |
| Eight is Not Enough | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Neighbor Balance and Square Through 2 (Right hand to Neighbor, Balance, pull by,
Left hand to Partner, pull by) Neighbor Balance and Square Through 2 (Right hand to Neighbor, Balance, pull by, Left hand to Partner, pull by) |
| A2 | Neighbor Balance and Swing |
| B1 | Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2 Partner Swing |
| B2 | Right and Left Through Ladies Chain |
| Written in 2004 to commemorate the 8th Anniversary of Valley Contra Dance (in Bethlehem, PA) |
| Mark and Robin's Nest | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| Start with Actives (# 1 couple) in the center of line of 4 facing down the hall. | |
| A1 | Down the hall as in the "Gay Gordon" couple dance (3 steps forward turn alone and 3 steps backward) Repeat up the hall to place (3 steps forward turn alone and 3 steps backward. Note: dancers end facing down the hall) |
| A2 | (Bend the line) Circle Left 1x Do-Si-Do Neighbor |
| B1 | Actives Gypsy Neighbor Swing |
| B2 | Long Lines Fwd and Back Actives Swing |
| Note: B1 was originally written as noted above, to reflect the occasional fickleness during dating prior to a
commitment (swing) in B2.
Alternatively one could call a Neighbor Balance and Swing in B1 instead. To honor the wedding of Mark and Robin Schaffer on Oct 19, 2003, and the home (nest) they created. |
| The Belle and the Sound Man | by Donna Hunt | Becket CW Double Progression |
| A1 | Right & Left Through across on Right diagonal Right & Left Through (identify your Shadow by turning away from Partner) |
| A2 | Hey for Four straight across (Ladies begin passing Right in center) |
| B1 | Partner See Saw 1 x (find your Shadow) Star Left with Shadow and Neighbor |
| B2 | Partner Balance & Swing |
| For Terry and Donna Mutchler to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary April 2002. The title is a play on words as Terry is a professional sound engineer and Donna is, of course, a lady. |
| Valley Flourish | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Neighbor Do-Si-Do Neighbor Swing (Face down the hall) |
| A2 | Down the hall 4x4 (Gent #2 turns the Ladies "R hand high, L hand low" to invert those three,
while Gent #1 turns alone) Return up the hall 4x4 (Bend the line) |
| B1 | Circle Left 1x Partner Swing |
| B2 | Long Lines Forward and Back Ladies chain to Neighbor |
| Written in 1999 to commemorate the 3rd Anniversary of Valley Contra Dance (in Bethlehem, PA) |
| Rolling Hey is Work | by Donna Hunt | Duple Improper |
| A1 | Circle Left 1x Neighbor Swing |
| A2 | Circle Left 3/4 Partner Swing |
| B1 | Ladies Chain Ladies Allemande Right 1x, Neighbor Allemande Left 1x |
| B2 | Hey for four (Ladies begin passing Right in center) |
| Circa 1995. This dance is a combination of Roll the Hey (Roger Diggle) and Women's Work is Never Done (Bob Borcherding) |