Easy Contra Dances,   Compiled  by Michael Fuerst   
Last updated Mar 20 2023

Notes:
    The  dances here are in several formats but  easy to read
    There is no shortage of  other   dances that would equally merit a place on this list.
    Dates a dance  was written, notes about a dance  and source are sometimes given.
    Email me with any errors you find

Here are links to threads on  the Country Song and Dance Society callers discussion list which should be helpful  to those seeking to call for groups with low experience dancers
(a) Identifying easy-peasy dances:  https://lists.sharedweight.net/hyperkitty/list/contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net/thread/LMYDR3SAASHG2UR3GDSETSTTFK4YHKXO/
(b) next steps between barn dance & contra, focus on fun figures
https://lists.sharedweight.net/hyperkitty/list/contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net/thread/3CF6C65EDER634PRJTNIZPPACAFDCI4V/

Very Basic Dances for new dancers
Dances with basic moves 
     (LL F&B, Alm, Chain, Circle, Swing, Down the hall, Circle Bal, California Twirl)
Dances with Heys
Dances with Mad Robins
Dances with connectivity which keep newer dances from wandering off
Dances I especially like 

Appetizer         Improper    Scott Higgs
1-2  N’s B&S
3:     LL &B
4:     W ch
5-6:  W alm rt (4);  P’s swing (12)
7:      Circle left 3 places 
8:      Bal the ring, pass N by right to progress

Easy Peasy      Improper      Diane Silver
1-2:  N’s B&S
3:     LL  F&B
4:     M alm left 1 ½
5-6   P’s B&S
7:     Circle left 3 places
8:     Bal the ring, California twirl

Haste to the Wedding   Traditional   Sicilian Circle
1-2:  Circle left,   Circle right
3-4:  Star right, Star left
5:    Partner dosido
6:    Clap twice (2), Partners swing (6)
7:    Neighbor dosido
8:    Clap twice (2);  Pass through (6)
Notes by Alan Prince Winston (edited):  
Sicilian formation helps convey to new dancers  get the idea of progression without having to deal with standing out and changing roles. The clap-claps part re-enforces things having to happen at the same time. 
Source:  https://contradb.com/dances/670

Thursday Night Special #1   Improper    Larry Jennings   
1-2:  Neighbor balance and swing, end facing down in a line of four
3-4:  Down the hall, turn as couples, come back, bend the line
5-6:  Circle left 3/4,  Swing partner
7:      Ladies chain
8:      Long Lines

The Nice Combination    Improper       Gene Hubert
1-2:   Neighbor balance and swing, end in a line of four facing down
3-4    Down the hall, turn as couples, come back, bend the line
5-6:   Circle left 3/4, swing partner
7-8:   Ladies chain,   Star left

Broken Sixpence     Improper      Don Armstrong
1-2:     N dosido,  L dosido
3-4:     M dosido,  
           1s Swing, face down
5-6:     Down hall, turn alone, come back
7-8:     L Chain over and back

The Baby Rose       Improper       David Kaynor
1-2:   N Balance and Swing 
3-4:     Circle L ¾   Dosido P
5-6:    P Balance and Swing
7-8:    Ravens Chain (to N);   Star L

Jed's Reel          Improper     Penn Fix
A1 Dosido neighbor. Women dosido.
A2 Men: balance; dosido; allemande right once-and-one-half.
B1 Balance and swing partner.
B2 Half promenade. Circle left three-quarters and pass through along the set.

 
Hey In The Barn           Improper        Chart Guthrie 
 1-2:    N's B&S
 3:       W ch to P
 4:      1/2 Hey, W start rt shoulders
 5-6:    P's B&S
 7:       W Ch to N
 8:      1/2 hey, W start rt sh, and face new N
The Long Island dances are or were once held in a barn (in Syosset)
Source:    http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_63.html 

Monday Night in Ballard        Improper       Mike  Richardson   1988
 1-2:  N's B&S
 3:     Long lines F&B
 4:     W alm rt 1 1/2
 5-6:  P's swing
 7:     M Dsd
 8:     Cir L 3/4, pass thru
 Ballard is the N'shood in Seattle where a weekly open band/caller evening is (or was once)  held
Source:  http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_99.html 

 Cedar Street Shuffle      Improper     Penn  Fixx      1983
 1-2:  N's B&S
 3:     W ch
 4:     Cir lt
 5-6:  Pass through across set, Ps Sw
 7:     W Ch
 8:     R&L thru
Source:  http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_30.html 

Bluemont Reel      Improper    Warren  Hofstra   
 1-2:  Cir lt,  Ns sw on side
 3-4:  Cir lt 3/4,   Ps sw on side
 5-6:  Dn the hall 4 in line, turn as a cpl, return
 7:     W ch
 8:     Long lines F&B

The book Zesty Contras  by Larry Jennings contains a more interesting version
1.     Circle lt 1/2
2.     N's Sw
3.     Circle lt 3/4
4.     P's  Sw
5-6:  Line of four down the hall, turn as couple return (face across)
7:     W ch to N
8:     R&L through

Roadblock Reel         Improper    Bob  Dalsemer  
 1:    Long lines F&B
 2:    Pass through across set; Ns alm rt 3/4 to wave of 4, W in cntr
 3:    W alm lt 1 1/2    (or Bal wave, W alm lt 1/2)
 4:    Ps sw
 5-6: Dn the hall 4 in line, turn alone, return
 7-8: Cir lt 3/4; Ns sw
Bob named this dance after being stopped  a police roadblock following a Charlottesville, Virginia Festival Saturday night dance.  Bob thought the Charlottesville P.D. might be able to use it as a sobriety test for contra dancers!
Source:  http://bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Contras.html 

Awesome Double Progression     Improper   Double Progression      Donna Calhoun   
 1-2:  Dn hall 4 in line, 1's in cntr, turn alone, return  Bend line,
 3:      Cir lt
 4:     Star lt
 5-6:  With new Ns, B&S, face across
 7:     Long lines F&B
 8:   1's sw, end facing down
Source:  http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/midwest_folklore/adpd.html 

Double Your Pleasure           Improper     Larry Smith     
 1-2:  Long lines F&B; Ns sw
 3:     Long lines F&B
 4:     Rt hand star
 5-6:  W rt hand bal, pullby; Ps sw
 7:     W Ch
 8:     Cir lt

 Colorful Corner      Improper     Tom Thoreau   
 1-2:  Cir lt; Ns sw
 3:     Long lines F&B
 4:     M alm lt 1 1/2 to form wavyline of 4
 5-6:  Bal the line; Ps sw on W's side
 7:     Cir lt 3/4
 8:     Bal cir, Cal twirl

Harmony Supper Table      Improper    Jim  Saxe      1987
 1-2:  Ns B&S
 3:     M alm lt 1 1/2
 4:     Ps sw
 5-6:  Dn hall 4 in line; turn as cpls, return
 7:     R&L thru
 8:     Cir L 3/4, pass thru
Source:  http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_61.html 

California Contra       Improper      Tony  Parkes    
 1-2:  Ns Dsd and sw
 3:     Long lines F&B
 4:     W Ch to P
 5-6:  Alm lt a shadow; Sw P, face across
 7-8:  Cir lt 1 1/4; Cal twirl
Source:   http://www.dancerhapsody.com/handouts/DancesMixedCrowds.pdf 

Mustard Day Reel      Improper    Scott Russell   
 1:     Ns dsd 1 1/4 to line of 4, W in cntr
 2:     Bal, W alm lt once
 3-4:  Ns B&S, face across
 5-6:  Rt hand star 3/4, W turn back; Ps sw
 7:     Long lines F&B
 8:     Cir lt 3/4, pass thru

New Harmony Reel      Improper    Gene Hubert    
 1:    Long lines F&B
 2:    W alm lt 1 1/2
 3-4:  Ps B&S
 5-6:  Cir lt, Ps roll away with 1/2 sashe (on M's orig side), Cir rt 3/4
 7-8:  Ns B&S
Source:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEOkydWXARo 
                First published in “Dizzy Dances, Vol III,”  by Gene Hubert 1990

Cascades     Improper   Orace Johnson
1-2:  Gypsy and swing N
3-4:  M alm left 1 1/2,  P' s sw
5-6:  Down hall 4 in line, turn as a couple
         Return
7-8   Cir left 3/4, bal circle, California twirl

Buttercup Reel        Improper   Gene  Hubert    
 1-2:  Cir lt; Cir rt
 3:     Ns alm lt 1 1/2
 4:     Dsd a next N's
 5-6:  Original Ns B&S
 7:     Long lines F&B
 8:   1's sw (if enough room, all can sw), end facing new Ns
Source:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gws2ux4vDxw 
               First published in “Dizzy Dances, Vol III,”  by Gene Hubert 1990

#11        Improper       Mike  Richardson    1987
 1-2:  Cir lt 1/2; Ns sw, face dn
 3-4:  Dn hall 4 in line, turn as cpl, return
 5-6:  Cir lt 3/4; Ps sw
 7:     Long lines F&B
 8:     Cir lt 3/4; Cal twirl
Source:   http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_108.html

May Day      Improper      Bob Dalsemer     1993
 1:    N's dsd
 2:    W dsd
 3:    M alm lt 1 1/2
 4:    Ps sw
 5:    Prom across
 6:    W alm rt 1 1/2
 7:    Ns sw
 8:    Long lines F&B
Source:  http://bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Contras.html 

Small Potatoes      Improper   Jim  Kitch     
 1-2:  Ns B&S
 3:     Cir lt
 4:     W ch
 5:     W dsd
 6:     Ps sw
 7:     Cir lt 3/4, pass thru to new N
 8:     Dsd new N
Source:  http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/235-small-potatoes 

Early Evening Jig      Improper  by Tom Hinds
1-2:   Neighbor balance and swing
3:      Half Right and left through
4:      Women's Chain
5-6:   Pass through across the set,   Partner swing
7       Circle Left ¾,  pass through
8       New N  dsd

Bumbling In the Shower     Becket-CW    Eric Smith
 1:     Long lines F&B
 2:     M alm L 1 1/2
 3-4:  Ns B&S
 5:     W ch
 6:     Pass through across turn alone ¼ to right and walk forward along set face new Ns
 7:     Cir lt once
 8:     P's sw

Kiss the Bride       Improper      Jeff  Spero        1995
 1-2:  Ns dsd & sw
 3:     Long lines F&B
 4:     W alm rt 1 1/2
 5-6:  Ps gypsy & sw
 7:     Ps prom across
 8:     Cir rt 3/4, pass N's  lt sh to face new N
Source:  http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_81.html 

Mid Winter Gypsy      Improper   Bob Dalsemer     1993
 1:     Long lines F&B
 2:     2's sw; face up
 3:     Symmetrical gypsy with N's 1 1/2 (2's splitting 1's)
 4:     1's sw, face down
 5-6:  Dn hall 4 in line, turn alone, return, bend line
 7-8:  Cir lt; Ns' sw
Source:  http://bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Contras.html 

Slapping the Wood      Improper    Don Flaherty  
 1:    Dsd Ns as cpl
 2:    Ns sw
 3:    W ch
 4:    1/2 hey, W st rt shoulder
 5-6:  Ps B&S
 7:     Cir lt 3/4
 8:     Bal cir, Cal twirl
Source:   http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2000.pdf 

One for Little Josie     Improper   Mike  Boerschig 
 1:      Ns dsd
 2:      Cir lt
 3:     2's 1/2 fig 8 above
 4:     2's sw
 5-6:  Ns gypsy & sw
 7:     Long lines F&B
 8:    1's sw, face dn
Source:  http://ravitz.us/mike/ 

That Old Time Elixir       Improper    Mike  Boerschig 
 1-2:  Ns B&S
 3:     R&L thru
 4:     W ch to P
 5:     Bal the cir; Petronella turn
 6:     Bal the cir; Petronella turn
 7:     Ps sw on side of set
 8:     Cir lt 3/4; pass thru

I obtained the version above directly from Mike around 1994
However, Mike eventually revised the dance as follows, (from Cary Ravitz's website)
1-2:  N's B&S
3:     M alm lt 11/2 
4:     1/2 hey, P's start rt
5:     P's sw
6:     Pass through across and California twirl (or right and lt through across).
7:     Cir bal, Petronella turn
8:     Cir bal, California twirl	

Don's Dawn Dance               Improper     Don Theyken   1984
 1-2: Dn cntr 4 in line (1's in cntr), turn alone, return, bend line
 3:    Cir lt
 4:    N's sw
 5:    M dsd
 6:    W dsd
 7-8: 1's B&S
Source:  http://www.theyken.net/don/Dances/DawnDance.pdf 

Kimberly’s House Party   Improper      Bill Olson  
1-2   DSD N, Sw N
3-4  M allem L x 1.5, ½ hey (start Partner R Sh)
5-6  Pt B&S
7-8  Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru

Roll in the Hey      Improper     Roger Diggle
1-2:  Cir lt  once, N's sw
3-4:  Cir lt 3/4, P's sw
5-6: Long lines F&B,  W Ch
7-8: Hey, W start rt sh. 
       After M pass rt shoulders for 2nd time, all step to face new N's

Snake Oil Reel   Roger Diggle        Written in 1980's
 1:   W go into center to form a long wavy line and Bal  (4)
 2:   WHILE W return to original places, 
            M go into center to form a long wavy line (4); and Bal  (4)
 3:   M allm L 3/4 (4); take R hands with N's to form a wavy line across the set, and Bal (4)
 4:   N's alm R 1/2, to form wavy line across, with W in center (4), and Bal  (4)
 5:   W alm lt 1/2;
 6:   P's swing, end facing across
 7:   Cir lt
 8:   W ch
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_R-KNgo0Pc 
Git Goin’ -         Improper   Drew Delaware 
1-2:   Neighbour Balance & Swing
3-4:   Larks Allemande Left 1.5x; 
         Partner Swing 
5-6    Long Lines Forward and Back; 
         Right & Left Through B2 - 
7-8    Circle Left 3 places;
         Balance the Ring; Pass through to new neighbours 
Source:   Shared Weight discussion Oct 23, 2022

DogLeaf Reel    Proper  Lisa Grrenleaf
1-2:  Circle left,  1’s swing
3-4:  Down the hall 4 in line, 1’s in center,  turnalone, return
5-6:  N’s B&S
7-8   1’s ½ Fig 8 above;  2’s swing, end facing up

Hypnosis   Improper   Melanie Axel-Lute
1-2:  Ones in the middle, line of four goes down the hall; turn alone
        Return and face neighbor
3-4:  Ns B&S
5-6   Men allemande left 1-1/2
        Partner swing
7-8:  Circle left 1-1/4, putting 1's above (12)
        2's arch, 1's dive thru to new couple (4)
Author's Note: I borrowed a lot of Tony Parkes' "Hyperinflation" for this dance, so I thought I'd borrow the first three letters of the name too. 

Airpants      Improper       Lisa Greenleaf
1-2:    N’s B&S
3-4     Long lines forward & back
          Ladles allemande right 1½
5-6:   P’s B&S
7-8:   Circle left 3 places
         Neighbors do si do 1½ 

Open Rehearsal     Improper   Jacob Bloom
1:      W dsd
2:      P's  dsd
3:      M dosido
4:      N's sw
5:      Down four in line, turn as couple
6:      Return, bend the line
7-8:   W ch over and back
For a group of very new or unskilled dancers

Contra-accordians      Improper      Scott Higgs and James Hudson
 1:    Pull  rt past N; alm lt a next N
 2:    Pull  rt orig N; alm lt a different (actually previous) N
 3-4: Original Ns B&S
 5:    M alm lt 1/2 to wavy line of 4, Bal towards & away from P
 6:    P's sw
 7:    Prom across
 8:    Cir lt 3/4, pass thru

A-1 Reel    Becket  (CCW progression)    Chris Weiler   2008
 1:     Cir L 3/4
 2:     Bal the ring, California Twirl 
 3-4:  New N's Bal & Swing 
 5:     Right & lt Thru 
 6:     W almande Right 1 1/2
 7-8:  Partner Bal & Swing 
Written at the A-1 Diner in Gardiner, ME October 24th, 2008. Called for the first time that same evening at the North Whitefield contra dance.  Plus it ends with a P's sw without any changes from the caller. Call it in Improper formation starting with the 3-4 for a more standard experience.    
   
Daffy's Becket  Becket    John Gallagher
1:    W ch; 
2:    1/2 hey W pass R
3:    W alm R 1.5, 
4:    1/2 hey, P’s start rt shoulders
5-6:  B&S P
7:     Long lines F&B; 
8:     Cir L x1. slide L to next couple
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTolXu9nHCE 
	
Cows Are Watching       Becket CW     Bill Pope 
 1:       F&B.  
 2:      W alm R 1 ½
 3-4:   N's B&S
 5:       Bal ring,  roll away  across  (W roll in front of M)
 6:       Zig lt, zag rt far enough so new neighbor men  can take left hands in order to...
 7-8:   M alm L once, P's sw
Source:  http://ravitz.us/miscdances/#cw 

 Casbah Queens    Improper   David McMullen
 1-2: N's dsd and swing
 3-4: M alm lt 1 1/2, P's alm right 1 1/2
 5-6: W left  shoulder round, P's swing
 7:   Promnade across set
 8:   Cir lt 3/4, Pass through up and down
Source:  http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2009-February/001947.html 
   
The Carousel   Improper   Tom Hinds 
 1:    Long lines F&B
 2:     W alm L 1+1/2  to face your partner
 3:     Hey, P's start rt shoulder  
 5-6:  Partner Bal & Swing (can also Gypsy instead of Bal )
 7:     Cir L 3/4
 8:    N's Swing
Source:  http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/192-the-carousel 

Al's Safeway Produce   Improper   Robert Cromartie    1989
 1:. Star lt
 2:  N's alm lt1&1/2. 
 3:. W alm right 1&1/2; 
 4:  P's swing 
 5:. Cir L 3/4; 
 6:  N's sw   
 7:. Long lines F&B
 8:  Star rt, face new N's
Source:   http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_9.html 

You Can't Get There From Here    Improper       Carol Ormand   1994
     Dance begins in a wave of four, with W in the middle
 1:    Bal; alm Right 3/4 (to long waves, W facing in);  
 2:    Bal; alm Right 3/4 (to waves of four, M in the middle) 
 3-4:  Bal; N's swing 
 5-6:  Cir lt 3/4;  P's swing
 7:    Cir lt 3/4;  
 8:    N's dsd 1.5 (to wave of four with the next)
Source:  http://carolormand.com/dances.html 

Rollin' and Tumblin'    Improper   Cis Hinkle
 1-2:  N's B&S
 3:    Long lines F&B, W roll away on the way back 
 4:    Same again, but M roll away on the way back
 5:    W alm Right 1 1/2
 6:    P's sw
 7:    W ch to N
 8:    Star lt 
Source:  http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/434 

Lanny's Back    improper   Erik Weberg    ~1997
1-2:  N's right shoulder round and swing
3-4:  Cir lt 3 places, P's swing
5:      Cir Bal , W exchange places by tt sh;   
6:     Cir Bal , M exchange places  rt sh
7:     Cir Bal , shift and spin right one place;   
8:     Cir Bal , California twirl
Source:  http://www.kluberg.com/eriksdances.html 

Midwest Folklore  Becket  Orace Johnson   1986
 1:    Slide L, circle L 3/4
 2:    N's dsd
 3-4: N's  B&S
 5:    Circle L 3/4
 6:    P's dsd
 7-8: P's B&S
Source:   http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/midwest_folklore/midwest_folklore.html 
               First published in “Midwest folklore and other dances“    1995   
                            http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-folklore-other-dances-collection/dp/0964840901 

Dave Found the Missing Coffee Cup      Becket Clockwise     Michael Fuerst      1991                               
1-2:  Slide lt to new N's, circle lt 3/4.  N's sw
3:     Circle lt 3/4 and pass partner  rt shoulder up and down set, to face a shadow 
4:     Alm L lt shadow,  alm rt partner 1/2, so W face into center.
5-6:  Hey, W start passing L sh, continue until partners meet on side they started  dance.
7-8:  P's B&S

A Dance for Dan    improper   Bill Olson   1998
1:     LL F&B;
2:     W alm. L 1-1/2
3:     P's  RH bal, box the gnat; 
4:     Pull  partner, 1/2 hey (W lt,  N's right, M lt)
5-6:  P's  B&S
7:     M alm 1-1/2; 
8:     N's  Sw
Source:  http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2012.pdf 

Centrifugal Hey    improper   Gene Hubert
1:      N's alm  R 1-1/2; 
2:      M alm L 1-1/2
3-4:  :Hey for 4 (sP's start rt sh)
5-6:   P's  B&S
7:      R&L
8:      Circle L 3/4; pass through
Source:    http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_31.html 
                First published in “Dizzy Dances, vol II” by Gene Hubert    1986

Cranky Ingenuity improper   Bill Olson
1:      Circle lt 1X
2:      N's dsd as couples (hold onto your partner)
3:      N's dsd (as singles)
4:      N's  Sw 
5:      M alm  L 1-1/2 (to  partner)
6:      Partner swing
7:      Circle L ¾
8:      Balance the circle, ;  Calif. Twirl 
Source:  http://www.math.ufl.edu/~squash/contradance.dances-composers.html 

Delphiniums & Daisies       improper    Tanya Rotenberg  1985
1-2: N's alm. L lt 1-1/2; W ch
3-4: Hey, W start rt
5-6: P's swing
7-8: Cir lt 3/4; N's alm. R 1-1/2
Source:   http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_275.html 
               This popular dance exists in multple places on the intrnet

Heartbeat Contra    improper    Don Flaherty
1-2: Bal/Petronella x 2
3-4: N's BS
5-6: W gyp R 1-1/2 (alt. alm)
7-8: Cir L 3/4; Bal ring, CA twirl
Source:  http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2013-January/005698.html 

Hocus Pocus       improper      Lisa Greenleaf
1-2    N's gyp & Sw  (variation N's B&S)
3-4    W's ch
          1/2 Hey, W passing right shoulders in center
5-6     Partner Bal  and swing
7-8     Circle lt 3/4 (1s face up)
          Bal the ring   California Twirl

Joel’s in the Kitchen      Becket-CW       Sue Rosen   2000
1:    LL F&B
2:    W ch to N
3:    Bal ring, spin right (petronella)
4:    Bal ring, spin right (petronella)
5:    Bal the ring;    Cross trail through (NO Bal ), pass P  R, N's  L
6:    New N's Sw
7-8: Cir lt 3/4;  P's Sw
Source:  http://suerosencaller.com/ 
              http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2004.pdf 

Kitchen Stomp     improper      Becky Hill
1-2: N's B&S
3-4: M alm L 1-1/2; P Sw
5-6: W ch; bal/Petronella
7-8: Bal/Petronella; Star L 1x
Source:    http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-September/001010.html 
                Originally published in book “Twirling Dervish Returns” by Becky Hill 1997

Little Girl with the Curl     Becket – CCW       Bob Isaacs
1-2:  Circle R 1x; ladies alm L 1-1/2
3-4: N's Gyp & Sw
5-6: Circle L 3/4; P Sw
7-8: R&L; ProMade across and slide right to meet new Ns to circle R
Note: The last move is more like a curl/candy cane rather than a slide. ProMade across and curl over lt shoulders - wide turn to move one place along the line and met new Ns. Use all 8 counts so as not to start the circle too early.

Mad Hey for Shadrack    improper     Martha Wild
1-2: LL F&B; Mad robin, W in front
3-4: Full hey (W pass lt)
5-6: W cross the set  L; P Gyp & Sw
7-8: ladies alm. R 1-1/2; N's Sw

Simplicity Swing     improper     Becky Hill
1-2: N's B&Sw
3-4: Circle L 3/4; P Sw
5-6: LL; W ch
7-8: Star lt 1x; New N's dsd
Source:  http://www.dancerhapsody.com/handouts/NoBrainers.pdf 

Trip to Lambertville     improper     Steve Zakon-Anderson      March 1986
1-2:  W walk forward to long wave in center;  Bal the wave
        W back out while M walk forward to long wave
        Bal the wave
        M alm lt 3/4
3-4: N's B&S
5-6: M alm lt 1-1/2
       P's Sw
7-8: R&L thru
       W ch
Source:  http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_161.html 

United We Dance   improper     Bob Isaacs    Sept 2001
Start in long wavy lines, N's rt hands joined
1:     Bal  and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More)
2:     Bal  and slide to the lt (as in Rory O’More)
3-4:  N's B&S
5-6:  Cir lt ¾; P's swing
8:     lt Hand Star into new long wavy lines with old and new N 
Source:  http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2010.pdf 

Mary Cay's Reel     Becket,  clockwise    David Kaynor    1987
1:       Cir lt 3/4;  and pass through along the set
2:      Next N alm lt  1x (return to original N)
3-4:   N B&S
5:      LL F&B
6:      W alm rt  3/4;  w/NEXT W alm  lt 3/4 (end facing partner, M shift lt)
7-8:   P's   B&S
        (W who almd lt are now in same foursome)
Source: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus1997.pdf 

A Last Hurrah     improper   Erik Hoffman       Sept 2000
1:     Long Lines F&B, roll away  with a Half Sashay; 
2:    Half hey, M st lft 
3-4: M alm lt  1½, P's Sw 
5:    Cir lt  3/4 
6:    N's dsd
7-8: N's B&S 
Source:   http://www.erikhoffman.com/contrariandance.html 

Fairport Harbor     improper   Paul Balliet    Aug 1994
1:      M alm lt 1 1/2
2:      N's prom ccw around large oval 
3-4:   W turn back, and gyp and sw  new N  
5:      N's prom cw back to P
6:      W Chain to P
7:      Pass thru across, P's swing
Source:  https://sites.google.com/site/contradancesbypaulballiet/ 

Summer of '94   Improper      Mike Richardson / Lisa Greenleaf's variation
1:     LL F&B
2:     W alm L 1 1/2  to wavy line of 4  (P's holing rt hands0
3:     Bal, walk forward (w/o partner) to  line of 4 (W in cntr, shadows have rt hand hands joined)
4:     Bal, alm rt ｾ to meet P
5-6:  P's B&S
7:      Cir L ｾ
8:      N's Sw
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4w5wRqXpgc 

Spring Fever      Improper     Tony Parkes
1-2.   LL  F&B, N's Sw
3-4.   M alm L 1½, P's Sw
5-6.   Cir L,  Star L.
7-8.   ProMade across. W ch. 
Source:   Almost every caller's collection probably contains this
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApVYUu2XZ5M 
               First published in Shadrack's Delight and other dances� by Tony Parkes, 1988

Travels with Rick and Kim   Improper     Shari Miller-Johnson
1-2:   N's B&S
3:      Bal Cir,  Pass thru across set
4:      Walk around circle single file 3/4
5-6:   P's B&S (on side of set M started dance)
7:      W Ch to N
8:      Star lt
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJTkip51Tbs 

A Dance for Dan    Improper      Bill Olson   Apr, 1998
1:     LL F&B
2:     W alm  L  1 ½
3:     P's Bal, Box the gnat
4:    1/2 half hey, P's start R shoulder
5-6: P's B&S
7:    M alm lt 1 1/2
8:    N's Sw
Source:  http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2012.pdf#page=36c 

Ben's Spinoff #3   Improper   Gene Hubert
1:      N's alm rt;  W alm lt 1/2 
2:      P's alm rt; W alm lt 1/2
3-4:   N's B&S
5-6:  Cir lt ｾ,  P's SW
7:      LL  F&B
8:      W Ch
Source:    http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_20.html 
                First published  in  "More Dizzy Dances, vol III"  by Gene Hubert  1990

Bicoastal Contra     Improper     Pete Campbell
1-2:   N's B&S
3:      M alm lt  1 1/2  
4:      M pick up partner, star prom; butterfly whirl
5-6:   W gyp 1 1/2;  P's Sw
7:       W Ch
8:       Star lt
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=heu572-r9u8 

Butter     Beckett  CW    Gene Hubert     Oct 1990
1:      Slide lt to next couple;  Cir lt 3/4 
2:       N's sw
3:       LL F&B
4:       W ch
5-6:   Hey, W st rt shoulders
7-8:   P's B&S
Source:   http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/437-butter-by-gene-hubert-becket 
               http://web.archive.org/web/19990504064232/http://kooshball.kcomputing.com/contra/genescontras.html#n4 
 
Easy Street               Bob Isaacs
1-2:   N's B&S
3-4:   M alm lt 1 1/2;  P's sw
5-6:   LL F&B; W Ch
7-8:   R&L thru:  Star lt
Source:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxsjcvVSInQ 

A Gypsy for Jessica     Improper  Tom Lehmann     Aug 2004
1:      Hands across star lt 
2:      M drop out, W alm lt 1 1/2  to face partner 
3-4:   P's gyp & sw
5-6:   Circle lt 3/4;  N's sw 
7-8:   LL F&B;  star rt  
Source: https://sites.google.com/site/ptlehmann/contra-page/dances 

Gypsy Madness    Improper    Bob Isaacs
1:     Gypsy star 
          (M have rt hands joined and move forward, W have lt hands joined and move backwards)
2:     N's sw
3-4:  LL F&B; M alm lt 1 1/2 
5-6:  P's gyp & sw
7-8:  Cir lt 3/4;   Bal & Cal twirl
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84s_AWNnkVo 

Heart of Glass    Becket     Cary Ravitz    October  2000
1:     Cir lt 3/4 and pass thru up and down
2:     New N's sw
3:     M alm lt 1 1/2 
4:     M keep lt hands, pick up P for star prom across, and butterfly whirl to face in
5-6:  W pass right to start a hey
7-8:  P's  B&S
Source:  http://ravitz.us/dance 

Hey Man     Becket    Paul Balliet
1-2:     M dsd; M  bal alm rt to face P
3-4:     Hey, P's start lt sh
5-6:     P's B&S
7-8:     Cir lt;  F&B while slidin lt to face new N's
Note:   W instead of M can do 1-2, or M and W can alternate
Source:  https://sites.google.com/site/contradancesbypaulballiet

Hortensia’s Cravat    Improper   Bronwyn Woods
1-2:   N's B&S
3:     M alm  lt 1 1/2    
4:      P's bal and box the gnat
5:      1/2 hey
6:      P's swing 
7-8:  W ch;   
8:      Star lt and face new N's
Source:  http://dancingwoods.com/dance/?page_id=6#HorCrav 

Judah Jig     Improper    Charlie Fenton
1-2:  N's B&S
3-4:  Cir lt ¾ P's swing
5-6:  Cir lt;  Star rt
7-8:   W ch;  star lt
Source:   http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/judah_jig.html 

Less is More     Becket     William Watson
1-2:  Cir lt  3/4;   N's alm rt 1 1/2 to form long waves 
3:      Bal rt then lt; spin by N, reforming wavy lines with N in lt hand
4:      Bal lt then rt, slide by N
5-6:   N's B&S
7-8:   Cir lt 3/4; P's sw
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oq1Iv6nM7s 

Mirror, Mirror     Improper   Jim Kitch
1:     N's bal and Box Gnat
2:     Mad Robin   (M in middle  first)
3-4:  M pass lt, P's sw      
5-6:  Cir lt 3/4; N's sw        
7-8:  R&L; Star L  
Source:  http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2006-May/000440.html 

Momma Loo's Reel     Improper  Gene Hubert   Aug 1995
1-2:  Cir L, N's Sw
3-4:  F&B, W Alm rt 1 1/2
5-6:  P's B&S
7-8:  W ch, Cir R
Source:  http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2009.pdf 

Sarah's Journey      Improper   Gene Hubert     Apr 1995
1-2   N's box the gnat, M pull by L,  P's sw
3-4   Cir L, P's dsd
5-6   P's box the gnat, W pull by lt ,  N's sw
7-8   R&L, Star L
Source:  http://web.archive.org/web/19990504064232/http://kooshball.kcomputing.com/contra/genescontras.html#n33 

Passion Breakdown A    Improper   Cary Ravitz     Feb 2008
1-2:    N's bal & sw
3:       W pass right to start a 1/2 hey 
4:       W step forward  and lt to start a mad robin (see-saw N's facing partner) 
5:       W walk straight across the set (2).
6:       P's sw (14).
7:       Circle lt 3/4 (8).
8:       Bal cir(4);  California twirl (4).
Notes:   At the start of 5-6:, W should not step forward into the swing, but should wait for their partner to cross the set.
           W can turn around in the 1/2 hey to lengthen the eye contact with their partner. 
Source:   http://www.ravitz.us/dance/ 

Passion Breakdown B    Improper    Cary Ravitz     Feb 2008
1-2:    N's B&S
3:       M pass lt to start a 1/2 hey
4:       M step forward and right to start a mad robin (do-si-do N's facing partner) (8).
5-6:    M walk straight across the set and P's sw
7:       Cir lt 3/4 
8:      Bal and pass through to a new N's
Notes:   At the start of 5-6: the W should not step forward into the swing, but should wait for their partner to cross the set. 
             W can turn around in the 1/2 hey to lengthen the eye contact with their partner. 
Source:   http://www.ravitz.us/dance/ 

Within a dance, Passion Breakdown A and B can be alternated or periodically switched between

Pedal Pushers   Improper    Bob Dalsemer      Sept, 1989
1-2:  M alm lt 1 1/2, hold on, pick up partner around waist as in star proMade, bring her back to gent's side, 
           wheel around ("butterfly whirl") as a couple (gent backing up). 
3-4:  W gypsy  by rt sh, return to partner, P's sw 
5:     Bal in a circle, pass thru 
6:     Turn individually to the right and in your group of four proMade in single file 3/4 around to progressed places (6) , 
        M turn around
7-8:  N's B&S
Source:  http://bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Contras.html 

Pittsboro Pattycake     Improper     Gene Hubert       March 1997
1:      N's alm rt 1  1/2  
2:      N's alm lt 1 1/2
3-4:   N's B&S
5-6:   Cir lt  3/4   P's sw
7-8:   W ch;  lt hand star
Source:  http://web.archive.org/web/19990504064232/http://kooshball.kcomputing.com/contra/genescontras.html#n28 

Salmonella Evening     Improper  (Louie Cromartie and Steve Zakon-Anderson)
1:    N's alm rt 1 1/2
2:     M alm  lt 1 1/2
3-4:  P's  gypsy and sw
5-6:  Bal and twirl twice ( ala Petronella)
7:     Bal and twirl
8:     Bal and pass thru to the next
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6adIX4HlcAU 

Slice of Life       Becket CW      Bob Isaacs
1:    Long lines F&B as all slide lt to face nr N's
2:    W chain
3-4: Hey, W st rt sh
5-6: N's B&S
7-8: Cir lt 3/4  and Ps sw
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxzzBKIO4kk 

Summer of '84  Improper  Gene Hubert  and Steve Schnur
1:   LL F&B
2:     M alm rt 1/2;  P's alm lt once to short waves, M in middle
3:     Bal, step forward to wavy lines to join lt hands with  shadow, M still in center with rt hands joined
4:     Bal, shadows  alm lt 3-4 to return to P
5-6:  P's B&S
7:      R&L thru
8:      RHS
Source:  http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/gene_hubert/summer_of_84.html 
              First published in booklet 泥izzy Dances, Volume II� 1992   http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/DD2.txt 

Synchronicity      (reverse) Improper   (1's, those moving away from the music, are crossed over, but below the 2's)
    by Rick Mohr     
1-2:   M alm lt 1 1/2 (8)
         Half hey (P's pass rt sh to start) (8)
3-4:   P's gypsy and swing
5-6:   Circle lt;  W chain (to N) (8)
7-8:   lt hand star;   Sw next N's (8)
Notes:
(1) Smooth transitions, unbroken moMtum, and a mid-7-8: progression make this a dynamic dance using standard figures.
(2) Technically it doesn't start in the normal "improper" formation, but don't tell the dancers.
      Begin the first walk-through with a N swing; then when you're ready to start the dance leave everyone 
      next to the N's they've just swung rather than backing up to original places.
(3) There's not much extra time, so encourage the dancers (M especially) to keep the momentum
      going between figures―particularly the swing to alm in 1-2: , swing to circle in 5-6:, and chain to star in 7-8:.
Source:    www.rickmohr.net/Contra/Dances.asp#Synchronicity

The Second Time Around   Improper   Jim Kitch
1-2:    N's gypsy and swing 
3:       M alm Lt 1 1/2
4:       1/2 hey, P's start rt sh 
5-6     P's right shoulder round and sw
7:       Long lines 
8:      Circle Lt 3/4, pass through 
Source:   http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/attachMts/20041014/66bb6ed1/CDNYRepertoire-0001.pdf 

To Turn a Phrase    Improper   Bob Isaacs
1:   F&B
2:   Large oval (everyone in set as one large circle) circle lt
3:   Back to the rt
4    W alm lt 1 1/2 
5-6: P's gyp and sw
7-8  Cir lt  3/4; N's sw 

The Turning Point   Improper     Gene Hubert   Jan 1990
1:    W exchange places with a half gypsy, all four circle lt halfway
2:    P's sw
3:    M exchange places with a half gypsy, all four circle lt halfway
4:    N's dsd
5-6:  N's B&S 
7:    R&L across 
8:    lt-hand star
Source:  http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2008.pdf 

Treasure of Sierra Madre   Improper    James Hutson
1:    N's bal and box the gnat
2:     M alm lt 1 1/2 
3:     P's bal and box the gnat
4:     1/2 hey, P's start rt sh
5-6:  P's B&S
7:     W ch to N
8:      lt hand star
Source:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVsLeycoB4I 

Trip to Cleveland     Improper  Becky Hill
1-2:  N's B&S
3:     F&B
4:     Cir lt once around
5:     M dsd 1 1/2 
6:     P's sw
7:     ProMade across (with N)
8:     W ch
Source:    http://www.youtube.com/all_comMts?v=tR-4CkJPBMk
                Also published in a 2005 book “The RosenHill Collection”    http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/RHC.txt  

Trip to IHOP     Improper    Danner Claflin and the IHOP crew      June, 2006
1-2: N's B&S
3:   W to center, make a long wavy line, bal line, stay there
4:   M do the same, stay there
5:   M let go lt, W let go right, gypsy star clockwise (i.e. star 3/4, M moving forward, W backing up)
6:   P's sw on side of set M started the dance
7:   W ch to N
8:   lt hand star, and on to the next
Source:  http://www.jefftk.com/contras/dances/ihop 

Winter Storm     Becket CW     Linda Leslie
1:     Cir lt 3/4
2:     N's Dsd to line of 4,  W in center   
3-4:  Bal the line, step forward and new N's sw
5:     M alm lt 1 1/2  
6:     Half hey, P's start rt shoulder
7-8:  P's B&S
Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoKlv5HF9o 
           
Square Affair                    Becket CW   Becky Hill
1:     LL F&B
2:     W ch to N
3-4   Across set, RH to P & Bal,  pull by P with rt hd, pull by N with lt hd (2X)
5-6:  New N's B&S
7:     Cir. L 3/4
8:     P's  Sw  (on orig. side)
Originally published in the book RosenHill Collection”  (2005) 

Mood Swings     Improper   Sue Rosen
1:    LL F&B, on the way back,  roll away with 1/2 sashay, W roll lt to right in front of M
2:    M alm lt 1 1/2 
3-4: P's B&S
5:    Cir lt 3/4 to position of wave of four (W in center) but do not take hands
6:    1/2 hey, N's start rt sh
7-8: N's B&S
Source:  http://suerosencaller.com/ 

Round the House      Improper         Bob Isaacs
1-2: Square through (N's Bal , N's pull by rt, partner lt, repeat all that)
3-4: N's B&S
5-6: Cir lt 3/4, P's sw
7-8: W chain, star lt
Source::   Email from Chris Page 

Sneak Peek      Improper,     Bob Isaacs, starts in long waves, right to N's
1-2:  Bal  long wave, alm rt  3/4 to wave of four
         Bal  wave of four, alm rt  3/4 to long waves
3-4: N's  B&S
5-6: Cir lt 3/4, P's sw
7-8: W chain, star lt to long waves
Source::   Email from Chris Page 
  
Walk the Walk     Improper    Bob Isaacs
1-2: N's B&S
3-4: N's prom counterclockwise around entire set, turn as couples, return
5-6: Cir lt 3/4, P's sw
7-8: W chain, star lt
Source::   Email from Chris Page 

Hang Time      Improper    Bob Isaacs & Roger Auman
1-2: N's gypsy and swing
3-4: Cir lt 3/4, P's sw
5-6: Bal ring, petronella, Bal  ring, petronella
7-8: Star lt 3/4, N's alm lt 1 1/2 
Source::   Email from Chris Page 

I Wish They All Could Be California Twirls      Improper,    Jim Kitch
1-2: Cir lt 1/2, N's swing
3-4: M alm lt 1 & 1/2, star promenade partner, whirl
5-6: W alm right 1, P's sw
7-8: Bal ring, petronella turn, bal ring, P's California twirl 
Source::   Email from Chris Page 

Mad Robin in Love    Improper  Greg Frock
1-2:  N's dsd & Sw
3       LL F&B
4       Mad Robin - gents in front first
5-6    Gents pass L,  P's Sw P
7       Circle L 3/4
8       Balance ring; California Twirl
Source  Caller's Weight forum

Portland Plain & Fancy   Becket CW    by Jim Kitch
1:      Circle left, 
2:       W chain to neighbor
3-4:   Hey, W start right, until N's meet for 2nd time
5-6:  Next neighbor gypsy and swing
7-8:  Circle left 3/4, partner swing

Fetchin' Gretchen      Improper     Jeff Spero       
1-2:     N B&S
3:       Circle L 1x (give good weight to get all the way around)
4:       Mad Robin gents pass in front of N to start
5:        Keeping eye contact with P Gents pass L Shoulder
6:        P Sw
7:       ½ Hey (ladies pass R Sh to start)
8:       When N’s meet on their original sided,  N’s alm L ¾ to face new N
Note from Gretchen Caldwell: This dance was written for me in 2004 by Jeff Spero (of the Syncopaths) and James Hutson, LA-area callers, for the "Farewell Gretchen" dance when I left there after 8 years.  I'd run the local monthly dance in LaVerne CA for 7 of those years, but didn't start calling until I got to Charlotte.  The dance is still a strong little community dance, and Jeremy Korr is a frequent caller.  He'd taught international dance for years, but his first contra was at my little dance.  I've always wanted to get back there to call a dance some second Sunday

The Eyes Have It        Becket  CW     Becky Hill
TUNE NOTES: Smooth, flowing dance.  No gypsies, but smooth nevertheless.  This COULD take "driving" tunes, but needs to be just a tiny bit slow, as the A1 is busy.
1:     Circle Left 1x, slide left
2:     Ladies Chain
3:     Mad Robin L pass to left in front of M 
4:     ½ Hey (L start w/ rt sh)
5-6:  B1    N B&S
7:      Gents Alle L 1½
8:      P Sw

A Sure Thing    Improper    Chris Page (San Diego) 
1-2:  Half-pousette around Neighbors, women push
        Swing Neighbor
3:     Men allemande L 1 1/2
4:      Meet P and pass R for half a hey
5-6:  Gypsy and swing P
7:     Women chain
8:     Circle RIGHT into half-pousette

Sharon of the Green Contra     Improper   Jane Ewing
1:     Mad Robin, ladies in front
2:     Circle left (8)
3:     Ladies alle R 1 1/2
4:     P’s swing
5:      LL F&B
6:     ladies chain
7:     Star Left (8)
8:     Mad Robin, ladies in front 

Rings and Things        Improper    by Tom Lehmann  
1:     Circle left
2:     N’s sw
3:     W chain, 
4:     Half hey W start  right shoulder
5-6:  P’s B&S
7:     Balance a ring, petronella spin right, 
8:     Balance ring again, partner calif twirl

,