Contra Dance

Contra Good Tummas

By Jeff Kaufman (4/17)

A1

• (4) March single file left (CW) one place, then sharply turn right.
• (4) Repeat
• (4) March into the middle
• (3) Turn L back out
• (1) Clap

A2

• (16) Repeat, marching right (CCW). Ends at home.

B1

• (4) Ravens forward into wavy line in the middle
• (4) Ravens balance the wave
• (4) Ravens spin left as in Rory O'Moore
• (4) Ravens balance again

B2

• (4) Ravens allemande left to partner, Larks step left to meet them
• (12) partner (balance and?) swing

The A part is from Softly Good Tummas, an English Country Dance reconstructed by Andrew Shaw. This dance is intended to be a good fit for the tune, which is in Barnes II.

(I wrote this at Springforth in Richmond, when Gaye Fifer jokingly requested we play Softly Good Tummas for a contra set.)

As of 2017-04-09, this hasn't been tried at a dance or with test dancers, so I don't know for sure if it works.

First-draft B part:

B1

• (4) Balance neighbor across
• (4) Pull by across, turn left, walk one place, turn left to face in (progression)
• (4) Balance neighbor across
• (4) Square through

B2

• (16) Partner balance and swing